Film Snail

7.0

Dark Victory

NR·1939·104m

Drama

Romance

Drama

Romance

Summary

Socialite Judith Traherne lives a lavish but emotionally empty life. Riding horses is one of her few joys, and her stable master is secretly in love with her. Told she has a brain tumor by her doctor, Frederick Steele, Judith becomes distraught. After she decides to have surgery to remove the tumor, Judith realizes she is in love with Dr. Steele, but more troubling medical news may sabotage her new relationship, and her second chance at life.

Cast

Bette Davis

Judith Traherne

George Brent

Dr. Frederick Steele

Humphrey Bogart

Michael O'Leary

Geraldine Fitzgerald

Ann King

Ronald Reagan

Alec

Henry Travers

Dr. Parsons

Cora Witherspoon

Carrie

Dorothy Peterson

Miss Wainwright

Virginia Brissac

Martha

Charles Richman

Colonel Mantle

Herbert Rawlinson

Dr. Carter

Leonard Mudie

Dr. Driscoll

Fay Helm

Miss Dodd

Lottie Williams

Lucy

Marian Alden

Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Wilda Bennett

Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Diane Bernard

Lucy (uncredited)

Black Ace

Judith's Horse (uncredited)

Richard Bond

Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Sidney Bracey

Bartender (uncredited)

Nat Carr

Doctor (uncredited)

Glen Cavender

Headwaiter (uncredited)

Mary Currier

Nightclub Singer (uncredited)

Frank Darien

Anxious Man (uncredited)

Edgar Edwards

Trainer (uncredited)

Paulette Evans

Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Jack A. Goodrich

Doctor (uncredited)

Eddie Graham

Doctor (uncredited)

John Harron

George, the Man Taking Judith's Coat (uncredited)

Leyland Hodgson

Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Stuart Holmes

Doctor (uncredited)

Alexander Leftwich

Specialist #2 (uncredited)

Frank Mayo

Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Will Morgan

Doctor (uncredited)

Jack Mower

Veterinarian (uncredited)

David Newell

Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Wedgwood Nowell

Doctor (uncredited)

Ila Rhodes

Secretary (uncredited)

John Ridgely

Man Making Crack About Judith (uncredited)

Speirs Ruskell

Dr. Steele's Assistant Henry Curtiss (uncredited)

Cliff Saum

Moving Man (uncredited)

Jeffrey Sayre

Doctor (uncredited)

Amzie Strickland

Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Rosella Towne

Girl in Box (uncredited)

William Worthington

Specialist #1 (uncredited)

Maris Wrixon

Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Edmund Goulding

Screenplay

Casey Robinson

Theatre Play

George Emerson Brewer Jr.

Theatre Play

Bertram Bloch

Reviews

Geronimo1967

March 22, 2024

Bette Davis always did know how to play the spoilt little rich girl character well, and my but she does it with aplomb here. She is "Judy", a young woman full of a privileged joie-de-vivre who starts to suffer from headaches and dizzy spells. Her family doctor recommends the specialist "Dr. Steele" (George Brent) who tells her that she has a brain tumour. An operation ensues, she is ostensibly cured and gradually she and "Steele" fall in love. The thing is, though, that her best friend "Ann" (Geraldine Fitzgerald) and her beau know that her prognosis isn't actually that hot - news that rocks the woman to the core when she finds out. A memorable scene around a dinner table demonstrates that skilfully and forcefully! It's hardly a surprise that "Judy" now goes off the rails a bit - plenty of booze and gentlemen friends to distract her from the inevitable, but maybe her friends can rally around and remind her that there might be a better way to live what's left of her life? This is a characterful drama loaded with emotion and chemistry between an on-form Davis and the understated but effective Brent. The writing provides for some strong dialogue and Edmund Goulding creates a working template for both actors to own the film from start to finish. It's not often you can say that Humphrey Bogart made little impact on a film, but here he is very much the oil to their wheels - and his enamoured "Michael" character is played well too. Max Steiner is at his most dramatic with the score and all-in-all this is a compellingly put together story well worth a watch.