Helio This "review" is almost as much about the other comments as the movie itself. Had I read the book I reckon I would have rated the film lower. I believe many of the reviewers missed the significance of the term bondage, assigning it a sexual attraction, when it was a matter of being inexplicably smitten. The Mildred character, as portrayed by Davis, makes that hard to understand as does not touching on Philips upbringing.He was lucky to have had two other women attracted to him but due to the entrapment, the bondage, he is unable to reciprocate adequately. It is a disabilitating affliction. The story is intriguing on interweaving the off again on again abuse of the relationship and consequences to the characters. As noted by some other reviewers Philip has some dark sides of his own, allowing the viewer to distance themselves from being sympathetic and even chagrined at the unsatisfactory ending. Given the elegance of Somerset Maughn's short stories I suspect justice has not been done to the novel.

skinner-c This movie is as fascinating as it is timeless. The movie itself motivated me to buy and read W. Somerset Maugham's novel from beginning to end.Both this 1934 original and the 1946 remake with Eleanor Parker are treasures, and while the remake was essentially a reproduction of the earlier version, that makes it no less intriguing for me.While this original (and the 1946 remake) primarily encapsulate Philip's eventful and traumatic encounter with Mildred Rogers, this episode only comprises about 40 percent of the pages of Maugham's 1915 masterpiece. The episode, however, effects Philip to the very end.The screenplay was adopted from the book with some modifications for a happier ending, while being very faithful to the essence of Maugham's dynamic characters, taking many of Mildred's cockney'd lines ("I don't mind") verbatim. In the movie versions Philip's clubfoot is healed through surgery, but in Maugham's novel he seems to bear the handicap to the end, although an operation to correct it was attempted without apparent success.You can't leave this movie (or the book) unchanged, and I am grateful to have experienced it. As for Mildred, we have in life met her, all of us. And perhaps - in one way or another - we are all Philip.

Hot 888 Mama . . . but a Critic's Cabal of a Certain Perspective has Cowed the World into thinking that ANYTHING dashed off on Willie Maugham's note pads during the 1900s must be the Best Thing since Will Shakespeare put down his quill. WRONG!! You needn't be a Maugham Completist to realize that almost ALL of his twisted tales stem from personal grievances involving his unhappy childhood. Anyone exposed to Willie's dozen "best" stories will see that they share a monotonous misogyny and outrageous themes of Sadomasochism. OF HUMAN BONDAGE pretends to offer some deep Goldilocks Theory about Love: Norah's too hot, Mildred's too cold, but Sally's just right. Yet after Mildred croaks with a lit cigarette in her hand (eerily foreshadowing infamous Hollywood Chain Smoker Bette Davis' Real Life Breast Cancer Demise), Teaching Hospital Resident Phil's smirk as he rushes into the Autopsy Theater to dissect his Dead Crush is unmistakable. No, nothing here smacks of Family Values, which is why Kino Lorber includes an 87-minute expose on Willie's sordid personal life to help mainstream people decide whether it's safe to touch BONDAGE without a ten-foot pole.

gavin6942 A young man finds himself attracted to a cold and unfeeling waitress (Bette Davis) who may ultimately destroy them both.While I am not familiar with the original book (blasphemy?), I thought this was a pretty decent film. The man with clubfoot who is treated poorly by society, possibly even within the medical profession. His friends and colleagues, and even his own supposed girlfriend, treating him like dirt.A younger Bette Davis leads the way, with many saying she deserved an Oscar for this. That may well be true. Not to be superficial, but it is interesting to note that her "Bette Davis eyes" make her look exotic, which would actually work against her later in life. She did not age gracefully.