Fluffytoo ***slight spoiler*****I just finished watching Of Human Bondage on TCM. I kept thinking throughout as Paul Henried limped around how that man can wear the hell out of a suit. To add to what others have said, I was surprised by this version of the film. I was expecting a dull rendition, especially after the tours de force by Davis and Howard in an earlier rendition. Despite lukewarm reviews, I loved it! An elegant film overall and well crafted, beautifully decorated and photographed in high contrast black and white, full of angled looming shadows, almost oppressively so, and small pools of light, sometimes unkind light, a manifest expression of Philip Carey's inner life. Gestures and movement are also important, often more so than words.I thought Paul Henreid was fantastic in it as well as Eleanor Parker; I think he gets short shrift relative to the star power of the female role. He seemed like a man trapped, who knew he was trapped and was helpless to do anything about it except to careen between cruelty and kindness. His experience has a compelling immediacy, of the moment and so does his story. I never had seen Paul Henreid in such a different role, where he lacked confidence and could be awkward and despairing, coarse and primal in a way that made me uncomfortable to see such naked need and helplessness. And still, the character had a grace, a redemptive quality that would peek out in spare, quiet moments.I especially loved the simplicity of his wordless visit to Mildred at the end; it was as if he were carressing a dying animal. And then he was quietly, without fanfare, released. His obsession is never explained because it doesn't really matter. His experience matters. The director captures this beautifully.This film and the crafting of its themes reminds me very much of the 40's version of A Razor's Edge with Tyrone Power. It turns out Edmund Goulding directed both.8.5 stars out of 10

wes-connors In a London tea shop, young medical student Paul Henreid (as Philip Carey) meets ill-tempered waitress Eleanor Parker (as Mildred Rogers). Lacking in love due to his club-foot (defined online as, "a deformed foot that is twisted so that the sole cannot be placed flat on the ground"), Mr. Henreid is smitten with Ms. Parker. He wins a date, but is stood up on the second. Parker dumps Henreid for a more handsome man. The situation repeats and we wonder if and when Henreid will learn his lesson and hook up with beautiful writer Alexis Smith (as Nora Nesbitt) or pretty 16-year-old Janis Paige (as Sally Athelny)...The black-and-white photography, by Peverell Marley, is the film's main strength...This re-make of the more famous "Of Human Bondage" (1934) gets off to a bumpy start with a scene involving Henreid and Ms. Smith. Someone should have noticed Smith copying the phrasing of Bette Davis - for example, accenting the last word of sentences. After about 30 minutes, Smith does a Joan Crawford impression. This makes is more difficult for Parker. She's too perfect and proper-looking for the role, anyway. The story (or, this part of Somerset Maugham's larger novel) would work well (better) with Henreid's character aged - unfortunately, this alteration was not made; instead, his youth is firmly noted.***** Of Human Bondage (7/5/46) Edmund Goulding ~ Paul Henreid, Eleanor Parker, Alexis Smith, Edmund Gwenn

marbleann A lot of people must not have read the book. None of the versions of this movie is close to the book simply because Mildred does not even show up in the book until the middle. She is a important character but not the main character. I believe people misread the Philip character because they leave so much out about his life before he met met Mildred. And there is the flaw of all of the versions. Someone mentioned that Bette Davis was not pretty enough for Philip to be obsessed with. Well in the book it mentions she was not pretty. Actually Davis is the one character out of all of the versions that comes close to the character in the book. The way he describes Mildred is the way Davis looks to a tee.In the book Philip was not a nice guy. He had a chip on his shoulder because of his foot and he treated people badly. He treated the family with contempt who took him in as a child. He would make nasty remarks about people who wanted to befriend him. One woman even commits suicide over him. We see none of this in the movie. So I see Mildred differently. And his obsession makes sense because of the book. He is not the sympathetic man we see in the movie.I believe Henried is better in the role then Howard. Parker is way too pretty for the Mildred part. Even though she is a good actress here her good looks get in the way. Henreid is age appropriate for the film because in the book he took a lot of years off discovering what he wanted to do. He even spent time in Germany. Sally is the character that betrays the book the most. In the book she much more outgoing and she sleeps with Philip even though were just good friends. She was the only woman in the book that Philip had a relationship with that he did not destroy even though he almost did. I like Janis Paige in the role. I believe this is a better version then the 34 version, even though Davis is better in the Mildred role. But once again I must mention if people are looking for something that is close to the book none of the versions are.

whpratt1 If you love old great classic films in B&W and great actors, this is a must see film. This 1946 Film Classic had all time greats, like Paul Henreid,(Philip Carey),"Casablanca",'42 who was very handsome and had a handicap, and fell in love with the wrong lady, Eleanor Parker(Mildred Rogers),"A Hole In The Head",'59. Mildred took advantage of Philip's great love for her and wound up in many other men's beds. Edmund Gwenn,(Athelmy),"The Keys of the Kingdom",'44 came to the aid of Philip and gave a great supporting actor's role through out the entire picture. Athelmy even introduced his daughter, Janis Paige(Sally Athelmy),"Two Guys From Milwaukee",'46 to Philip, who seemed to warm to her beautiful good looks and warm and kind ways! A great actress Alexis Smith,(Nora Nesbitt),"Rhapsody in Blue",'45, also appeared in this film and gave a great supporting role. Edmund Gwenn and Eleanor Parker made this film into an all time film Classic for many generations to view and enjoy!