DramaRomance

Dark Victory

- I've crammed every minute so full of waste. And now there's so little time. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid!

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.

Release Date : 1939-04-20

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Warner Bros. PicturesFirst National Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Judith Traherne

Original Name : Bette Davis

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Frederick Steele

Original Name : George Brent

Gender : Male

Character Name : Michael O'Leary

Original Name : Humphrey Bogart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ann King

Original Name : Geraldine Fitzgerald

Gender : Female

Character Name : Alec

Original Name : Ronald Reagan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Parsons

Original Name : Henry Travers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carrie

Original Name : Cora Witherspoon

Gender : Female

Character Name : Miss Wainwright

Original Name : Dorothy Peterson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Martha

Original Name : Virginia Brissac

Gender : Female

Character Name : Colonel Mantle

Original Name : Charles Richman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Carter

Original Name : Herbert Rawlinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Driscoll

Original Name : Leonard Mudie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miss Dodd

Original Name : Fay Helm

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lucy

Original Name : Lottie Williams

Gender : Female

Character Name : Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Original Name : Marian Alden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Original Name : Wilda Bennett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lucy (uncredited)

Original Name : Diane Bernard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judith's Horse (uncredited)

Original Name : Black Ace

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Bond

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Sidney Bracey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Nat Carr

Gender : Male

Character Name : Headwaiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Glen Cavender

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nightclub Singer (uncredited)

Original Name : Mary Currier

Gender : Female

Character Name : Anxious Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Darien

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trainer (uncredited)

Original Name : Edgar Edwards

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Original Name : Paulette Evans

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack A. Goodrich

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Graham

Gender : Male

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

Original Name : John Harron

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Original Name : Leyland Hodgson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Stuart Holmes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Specialist #2 (uncredited)

Original Name : Alexander Leftwich

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Mayo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Will Morgan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Veterinarian (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Mower

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Original Name : David Newell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Wedgwood Nowell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : Ila Rhodes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man Making Crack About Judith (uncredited)

Original Name : John Ridgely

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Steele's Assistant Henry Curtiss (uncredited)

Original Name : Speirs Ruskell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Moving Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Cliff Saum

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Jeffrey Sayre

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Original Name : Amzie Strickland

Gender : Female

Character Name : Girl in Box (uncredited)

Original Name : Rosella Towne

Gender : Female

Character Name : Specialist #1 (uncredited)

Original Name : William Worthington

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Original Name : Maris Wrixon

Gender : Female

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-03-22

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.