Rating: 
Summary: REVIEWS HAILED THIS AS DAVIS'S FINEST ACHIEVEMENT!
Review: In one the the best remembered films of the thirties,Bette Davis gives beautifully modulated performance as Judith Traherne, the dying wealthy Long Island playgirl. Geraldine Fitzgerald is superb as Judith's friend and secretary, Ann King,a character written especially for the movie. Humphrey Bogart plays Michael O'Leary, an Irish horse trainer with somewhat less conviction, although George Brent gives his finest performance as Dr. Frederick Steele (whom Judy eventually marries.) Ronald Reagan (in a role he reportedly despised) plays the weak, drunken Alex, one of Davis's swains. Davis is magnificent throughout; her Judy is wild, spoiled and cheeky in the beginning and her amazing metamorphisis to a vibrantly happy and humbled young married woman is fascinating to observe on film. Legendary columnist Hedda Hopper claimed Davis always gave her best performances when she was in love and here it was apparent (the object of her affections was George Brent!).The famous planting scene in the garden had to be re-shot many times; Davis felt such empathy for her character that she would be reduced to tears. Tallulah Bankhead flopped when she played Judith Traherne on stage in 1934. Highly recommended as a prime example of just why people rave about this legendary first lady of the silver screen!
Rating: 
Summary: Deliciously campy little melodrama
Review: It always amazes me that my fellow campy queens who run around quoting Bette Davis lines ("Fasten your seat belts..." blah blah blah what a dump blah blah blah) don't have any quotes from this particular show of Betteness. Running around like a well-oiled piston from room to room with excitement and verve as headstrong socialite Judith Traherne, Davis looks like she's begging on her knees to be satirized. But she's also wonderful (of course), and though the film is dated and somewhat cornball (movies from this period up until The Three Faces of Eve that deal with medical subject matter tend to be so) it's always a very enjoyable tearjerker. Judith learns that her brain operation wasn't a success and that she has a lethal brain tumour and will go blind before she dies. How does she deal with it? Sporting the latest fashions, of course! Davis had seen the play with Tallulah Bankhead (she filmed another Bankhead vehicle play a year later when she did The Little Foxes and told Jack L. Warner it would make a great vehicle for her. His response, now famous: "Who wants to see a dame go blind?" He was wrong, though, and the film became one of Davis' biggest hits. Lots of fun for such a sad movie.
Rating:
Summary: Prognosis Positive For Davis' Fans
Review: It seems Bette Davis' character is having splitting headaches and double vision, and long before her character figures it out, the audience knows what's happening and where the story is going. Yet as morbid as a story about a brain tumour should be, this film isn't. In fact, it gets stronger as it goes along, with a very moving ending that ranks up there with the best. I found some of the dialogue to be heavy handed, and the pacing of the film isn't the best. But the film succeeds in spite of that. Of course, much of the film's success belongs to Davis, who plays the character's crisis full throttle, from party girl to bitter victim to radiant fighter. George Brent, as the doctor who tries to save her and falls in love with her, is ... well ... George Brent. Never much of an actor, Brent probably gives one of his strongest performances here, although that is hardly a compliment. Geraldine Fitzgerald as secretary and best friend comes off very well, while Ronald Reagan and especially Humphrey Bogart seem out of place and uncomfortable. Fans of Davis and melodrama will definitely want to catch this one, and even if this type of story isn't what you like, there's no denying the power of the lead performance or the impact of the final ten minutes.
Rating:
Summary: "What does 'prognosis negative' mean?" asks this tear jerker
Review: Judith Traherne (Bette Davis) is young, rich, beautiful and living life to the hilt. However, she is drinking and smoking a bit more than she should and has been experiencing frequent headaches. Knowing Judy will never see a doctor, her friends arrange for her to meet a brain specialist, Dr. Frederick Steele (George Brent) at a cocktail party. Although initially she is ticked, eventually Judy gives into being examined and Steele is able to confirm his original diagnosis: she has a brain tumor. The surgery is successful and by the time all is said and done she is in love with the doctor, who proposes. However, Steele then confides to Judy's secretary, Ann King (Geraldine Fitzgerald), that the tumor will return within a year and this time prove fatal. Judy inadvertently learns the truth, decides Steele is just marrying her out of pity, and proceeds to go on a massive binge. However, Michael O'Leary (Humphrey Bogart), the man who trains her beloved horse Challenger, finally convinces her to take what happiness she can.Davis and Fitzgerald are far and away the best thing in "Dark Victory." The script by Casey Robinson, based on the play by George Emerson Brewer, Jr. and Bertram Block, is as manipulative a tear jerker as you are ever going to see come out of Hollywood. Brent's performance is okay, although his character is a tad too saintly, and Bogart's accent is strange but passable, but Ronald Reagan's performance as Alec Hamin, who tends to get a bit tipsy at the parties, is pretty laughable. However, as Judith Traherne, Bette Davis certainly redeems most of the flaws of this 1939 film directed by Edmund Goulding. "Dark Victory" was remade as a TV movie with Elizabeth Montgomery, and while the script was vastly improved, even the talented Montgomery could not touch Davis' performance. This is one of her fan's favorite films with a memorable final scene during which they get to cry their eyes out.
Rating:
Summary: Great 1930's Movie and Fine Bette Davis Performance
Review: Most people have only seen Bette Davis in older roles as her career came to an end. But this is a great movie with the young Bette Davis near her prime. It is in black and white but is an excellent movie with small roles by Ronald Reagan and Humphrey Bogart, but there should be no mistake - this is a Bette Davis gem. If it was in color it might be a more popular classic.
I came across this film by accident while I was researching and viewing old Bogart movies. I thought on the first viewing it was a bit slow and I stopped watching, but on the second viewing was more impressed with the effort. Clearly for the time period made this is a 5 star effort by Bette Davis. She is the center of attraction through most of the movie, each and every scene. Personally I preferred her performance in Petrified Forest also with Bogart made in 1936, but both movies show her on screen magnetism and almost hyper energy level. The earlier movie - Petrified Forest - showed a young woman barely an adult overflowing with positive emotions and energy. The present movie of course is about a tragedy. In any case, it is easy to see why Davis was such a big star.
For Bogart fans this is an interesting performance. It is hard to believe that this actor - who plays the heavily Brooklyn accented horse trainer - could be Rick in Casablanca just three years later.
Also the part by Ronald Reagan, Alec, the Bette Davis drinking companion was interesting to view.
Worth the watch, more than a touchy feely show. Easily 5 stars for a 30's movie.
Rating:
Summary: A Pure Classic
Review: One of my very favorites of Bette's films. When the movie begins she is so self absorbed, as are the people she surrounded herself with. Then, she meets the Doctor and eventually falls in love, only to find that she is dying of a terminal illness, that will cause her to go blind at the very end. Her best friend is by her side till the end. A true chick film. I loved it!!!
Rating:
Summary: Powerful Drama
Review: THe title gave me an impression of some type of war movie. Truly Davis's character has adversity that strikes at the core of emotion. The war all humans can find themselves in when life struggles present themselves. Light pierces in through her darkness through by the powerful force of love. One will be pleased if a tear jerker is what you need.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent Davis!
Review: The year 1939 was an amazing one for Bette Davis, who starred in four classics, among them the incomparable, Dark Victory. Viewed today, it's amazingly modern: the dress styles, the hair-dos, the backdrops. Davis is mesmerizing as the tragic Judith Traherne. Max Steiner's musical score ranks with his other masterpieces like Gone With the Wind, Now, Voyager and Beyond the Forest (another Davis Classic!)A sense of haunting loss imbues each frame of this movie, filmed in ravishing black and white. Favorite scene: when Davis, knowing she is already dying, asks her husband, George Brent, on the staircase,"Have I been a good wife?" You'd better stockpile plenty of kleenix for this all-time champion.
Rating:
Summary: A real tear jerker
Review: There is something about women that requires them to cry now and then for their well being. Do not ask me what it is. Viewing this movie periodically seems to accomplish that purpose. It evidently was the custom to withhold information from each other and be stoic about medical problems. If you tried that today you would be sued and there would be no movie. However if this one works for her then you are ready for the big time "Now Voyager (1942) ASIN: B000021Y6K" where they say "Don't ask for the moon--we have the stars" Of course if you just like stoic doctors then watch "People Will Talk (1951) ASIN: 630310245X" with Cary Grant
Rating:
Summary: Ahead of its Time
Review: This could have been just another Hollywood tearjerker but thanks to good direction and realistic performances by Bette Davis and George Brent this turns out to be a very emotional yet intelligent tale. Some of the performances are really against stereotype. For instance Humphrey Bogart with an Irish accent and Ronald Reagan in a role where he seems to be in a state of constant inebriation (though happy) are innovative pieces of characterization. This is both a very entertaining and innovative film. Outstanding.
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