Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Bette Davis vehicle
Review: "Dark Victory" is atypical for a Hollywood movie made in 1939 [or for that matter, for one made today] because it deals with terminal illness and it doesn't have a happy ending. The medical profession back then was less honest about the subject. A common procedure was to assure the patient that they were doing fine, even when the prognosis was negative. This deceptive practice and other factors date the movie, but Bette Davis' stunning performance as Judith Traherne always has and always will define the movie. For that reason alone, it is still eminently watchable. Judith is a vivacious, carefree member of Long Island society. Her passions are parties, her friends and her horses. After being thrown from her favorite horse, she admits to her best friend, Ann [Geraldine Fitzgerald] that the cause of the accident was a sudden blurring of her vision. This, she admits, is not the first time she's had this problem. After much cajoling of the stubborn, frightened Judith, Ann gets her to a specialist, Dr. Frederick Steel [George Brent], who diagnosis her as having a rare illness. An operation, which is unsuccessful, ensues, but the truth is withheld from Judith. During all this, patient and doctor fall in love with each other. Both the illness and Steel's well intended but deceitful way of dealing with it led to serious complications. Fitzgerald is excellent as Ann, George Brent [a matinee idol in his time] is adequate, but Humphrey Bogart, whose stardom was sill several years away, is wasted as Michael, Judith's horse trainer. His Irish accent is not at all good. You'll hardly notice, though, because your thoughts and eyes will always be on Davis. She displays virtually every human emotion, seemingly without effort. One of her great scenes is the one in which Dr. Steele is examining her for the first time. Her voice is bright and gay as she makes light about her problem, but her eyes and hands are telling us something completely different - fear to the point of terror. Reams have been written about how difficult Davis was to work with. In "Dark Victory", one can see part of the reason. She was so gifted that finding someone who could successfully play opposite her must have been a nearly impossible task. She made movies in which, I suspect, she was so angry and/or depressed that, consciously or not, she played a parody of herself. These movies created Davis the caricature. "Dark Victory" is not one of them. Here, Davis brilliantly plays an ordinary woman dealing with her own mortality. Highly recommended for this reason alone.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful performances rise above the soapiness
Review: "Dark Victory" stars the legendary Bette Davis as wealthy socialite Judith Traherne. She leads a life of non-stop fun and partying until a life-threatening disease begins to affect her. The supporting cast includes George Brent as surgeon Frederick Steele and Humphrey Bogart as Judith's horse trainer. The film has a "soap opera" feeling throughout, and I found some of the plot elements to be hard to believe. But aside from those flaws, this is one classic film that is still compelling and entertaining. Davis is the center of the film, and her performance is wonderful. She brings fire and strength, as well as vulnerability and serenity, to this memorable character. The supporting cast is up to the high standard set by Davis. It's particularly fun to see a young Ronald Reagan as one of Judith's party set. Unfortunately, Bogart's character seems to be neglected by the time the film is over. The opulent set and costume design make the film a real pleasure to watch, and are superbly enhanced by the film's glorious black-and-white cinematography. Max Steiner's appropriately melodramatic musical score also fits well into the mix. If you love classic movies, I recommend this film highly.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful performances rise above the soapiness
Review: "Dark Victory" stars the legendary Bette Davis as wealthy socialite Judith Traherne. She leads a life of non-stop fun and partying until a life-threatening disease begins to affect her. The supporting cast includes George Brent as surgeon Frederick Steele and Humphrey Bogart as Judith's horse trainer. The film has a "soap opera" feeling throughout, and I found some of the plot elements to be hard to believe. But aside from those flaws, this is one classic film that is still compelling and entertaining. Davis is the center of the film, and her performance is wonderful. She brings fire and strength, as well as vulnerability and serenity, to this memorable character. The supporting cast is up to the high standard set by Davis. It's particularly fun to see a young Ronald Reagan as one of Judith's party set. Unfortunately, Bogart's character seems to be neglected by the time the film is over. The opulent set and costume design make the film a real pleasure to watch, and are superbly enhanced by the film's glorious black-and-white cinematography. Max Steiner's appropriately melodramatic musical score also fits well into the mix. If you love classic movies, I recommend this film highly.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful performances rise above the soapiness
Review: "Dark Victory" stars the legendary Bette Davis as wealthy socialite Judith Traherne. She leads a life of non-stop fun and partying until a life-threatening disease begins to affect her. The supporting cast includes George Brent as surgeon Frederick Steele and Humphrey Bogart as Judith's horse trainer. The film has a "soap opera" feeling throughout, and I found some of the plot elements to be hard to believe. But aside from those flaws, this is one classic film that is still compelling and entertaining. Davis is the center of the film, and her performance is wonderful. She brings fire and strength, as well as vulnerability and serenity, to this memorable character. The supporting cast is up to the high standard set by Davis. It's particularly fun to see a young Ronald Reagan as one of Judith's party set. Unfortunately, Bogart's character seems to be neglected by the time the film is over. The opulent set and costume design make the film a real pleasure to watch, and are superbly enhanced by the film's glorious black-and-white cinematography. Max Steiner's appropriately melodramatic musical score also fits well into the mix. If you love classic movies, I recommend this film highly.
Rating:
Summary: MISS D IN HER PRIME
Review: 1939 was a very good year for Bette Davis in Hollywood and this was ONE of the products she put out that year. It was a hit and you can see why. How people must have wept when seeing this at the time. There's no need to disect this movie. It's a true classic and beautifully acted by Davis and Geraldine Fitzgerald as her friend. Bogie's in it too as a stablehand(!) and noneother than Ronald Reagan in a nothing part shows up once or twice. The male lead (stalwart leading man George Brent as the doctor) is stiff as a board but who cares? You're not watching him anyway! It's Davis' show all the way. The plot of a swinging playgirl who finds she has a brain tumor is pure soap deluxe and we love it...all the way to the teary finale. You watch this and you know why Davis was who she was at the time in Hollywood. There was and never will be anyone like her. Top Grade entertainment.
Rating:
Summary: Bette Davis in her most fondly remembered role
Review: Bette Davis delivered one of her most emotionally taxing performances in this classic weepie from Warner Bros which appeared in Hollywood's golden year of 1939 when more memorable films were produced than in any other year. The heroine of the piece, flighty heiress Judith Traherne who is doomed by the appearance of a brain tumour just as she finds some meaning in her superficial life is one of the great performances by Davis and is the role which perhaps she is still most fondly remembered for. Indeed the whole film really has passed into movie folklore as a supreme example of emotional drama played to perfection. Up against the gigantic "Gone With The Wind" Davis had little hope of carrying off the 1939 Best Actress Oscar for which she was nominated for thi srole but even that disappointment is minor when one remembers that the film was a stunning success upon release and has lived on over the decades since as a classic. "Who wants to see a dame going blind?" was apparently Jack Warner's terse remark when first approached about producing this story which already had been passed around from studio to studio since appearing as a stage play back in the mid 1930's starring Tallulah Bankhead. Garbo had been an earlier possibilty for the role however she had turned it down as too depressing. Davis had no such qualms and attacked the role with gusto and delivered a heartfelt and unsurpassed performance that ranks among her best. It is still a wonderful viewing experience to witness Judith's journey from flighty party girl to a woman in love who learns trust for the first time in her life through the love of her doctor, to the inevitable conclusion of the story. It really is an amazing performance and a brave one at that time for Bette Davis who was never shy of taking risks in her career. Ably supporting Bette in this tragic tale is frequent costar and supporter George Brent in the role of her doctor husband Frederick Steele. Brent had a hard time on his hands playing against the Davis power house in such a role but to his credit he delivers a performance of controlled restraint and caring which contrasts well with Davis's flamboyant playing. Of special merit is the beautiful performance delivered by the lovely Geraldine Fitzgerald as Judith's secretary and devoted friend Anne. Hers is a stunning performance of restrained underplaying and quiet strength and her scenes with Davis work very well. The two actresses apparently got on well during this production and became life long friends and that chemistry is evident on screen and makes for many great acting moments. The famous Hyacinth planting scene near the film's climax is justly famous and the playing of Davis and Fitzgerald here is beautifully modulated to create the maximum effect. Indeed this scene is the emotional climax of the film and is guaranteed to bring tears to even the most critical viewer. Despite the bad choice of casting Humphrey Bogart as an Irish stable hand and a young Ronald Reagan as a drunken playboy all the supporting parts are carefully chosen to create the right supporting strength to Davis's central performance. For a beautifully played emotional drama teamed with a haunting musical score "Dark Victory" is unsurpassed. It is a unique viewing experience preserving as it does on film one of the greatest performances of the 1930's by an actress and possibly the finest performance by Bette Davis during her illustrious career. A definite four hankerchief viewing experience.
Rating:
Summary: This is Bette Davis's Best
Review: Bette Davis is at her tear jerking best in this one.If your a George Brent fan, you will be a happy movie going person too. It has a sad ending you will cry at,but you just have to see it if your a Davis fan.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT MOVIE GETS A DISMAL TRANSFER
Review: Bette Davis is outstanding as Judy Traherne, a Long Island rich girl with a fatal brain tumor. For a time Judy believes that she's been cured, a myth supported by her doctor (George Brent)who is starting to fall in love with her. Cameos by Ronald Reagan and Humphrey Bogart are welcomed inclusions that enhance the film's dramatic appeal.
Unfortunately, Warner acquired this title from a tired, worn print in the MGM library. The print is full of grain, chips, scratches, inconsistant shadow and contrast delineation and digital grit. There are several occasions where the entire image within the frame wobbles up and down, due to worn out sprocket holes. The visual experience during such instances is akin to riding a canoe through choppy seas. The audio is strident and scratchy. Overall this is a disappointing visual experience and one that Warner needs to rectify soon, before we lose this great classic forever to the ravages of time.
Rating:
Summary: POPEYE THE MAGNIFICENT
Review: Bette Davis is the whole show in this showcase for her amazing talents. As Judy Traherne, Davis slams through a gooey collection of cliches in her nerviest style and runs the gamut of emotions from A to Z. As a wealthy Long Island playgirl, Bette is first seen as a totally hedonistic girl of 23: she drives too fast, smokes, drinks, rides horses and generally carouses with her friends of the "station wagon set". Judy's loyal friend and secretary (beautifully played by Geraldine Fitzgerald) is concerned about the headaches which plague Judy and arranges for her to be seen by Dr. Parsons (Henry Travers).It is found that she has a brain tumor and immediate surgery is neccessary......The usually wooden George Brent is surprisingly good as Dr. Steele and Dorothy Peterson is fine as his assistant, Wainwright. I've always thought the music score is too loud in the scene in which Judy discovers the truth about her condition after the operation while sitting at the doctor's desk (PROGNOSIS NEGATIVE); a very soap-opera-ish sequence yet done well otherwise. Ronald Reagan plays Alec, one of Judy's drunken beaus. Cora Witherspoon is the snotty Carrie and Humphrey Bogart is ludicrously miscast as the Irish stable master Michael O'Leary (probably the film's greatest flaw). Davis is so intense in her early scenes and you can see why her kinetic mannerisms were widely imitated by mimics world-wide.The character of Ann King was written especially for the film and she helps immeasureably in the flow of the story (Geraldine Fitzgerald gives such an inspired performance that one cannot imagine the story without her character in it.) Tallulah Bankhead played the part of Judith Traherne on stage in 1934 and she flopped. The wide range of Davis's acting is apparent in the Vermont scenes: with Brent in the research lab, walking through the snow into the warm kitchen; she is peerless in her honest realism and her inner peace and acceptance of the inevitable is totally and astonishingly believable-definitely a multifaceted performance. This movie sold more kleenex than any other in it's day (Davis climbing the stairs to meet her fate while Max Steiner's choir of Angels sing is Hollywood craftmanship at it's vintage finest.) The original colorized version was awful; if it were colorized properly without those awful purples and greens it might be acceptable. The DVD is an improvement; the picture is clearer and the soundtrack sounds better.
Rating:
Summary: DAVIS' MOST OVERRATED PICTURE
Review: Bette Davis once said that her role in Dark Victory, Judith Traherne, was closer to her in personality than just about any other character she had ever played. I doubt this knowing what I have learned and read about Davis and the controlling woman she was. However, this famous film, for which she was expected to win the 1939 Best Actress Academy Award until Scarlett O'Hara came along, contains an uneven performance by Davis. In the beginning her rapid fire speech and distracting mannerisms, her constant wringing of her hands and neck, her body movements (which director William Wyler could have controlled had he directed this film)mar her performance which brings the picture down a couple of notches. The story is nothing more than mere soap, but its good soap thanks to fine production values, an intelligent script and a brilliant musical score by Max Steiner. Davis' mannerisms are considerably toned down by the end of the picture and the ending is poignantly touching. But, because of her uneven performance, I have to say that this movie, while good, is not Davis' best. The kudos here go to the production values and Geraldine Fitzgerald's performance as Ann, Davis' best friend. The DVD transfer is excellent and there is a trailer included but nothing else. The audio is fine. This picture was nominated for best picture of 1939 in a year when more quality films were released. If you want the best Bette Davis film of 1939 I suggest you try "The Old Maid" in which she gives a performance that, in my opinion, merited the Oscar nomination she received for Dark Victory. "The Old Maid" also has the distinction of being the biggest box office success of any Davis picture and is often overlooked. I'm waiting for it to come out on DVD. "Dark Victory" though, by its own merits is a fine film and will disappoint none of Davis' admirers.
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