Dark Victory (DVD, 2005)

Great movie, really enjoyed it after all of these years. Though it's in black and white it's still a great movie that many enjoy. =)

A true classic that came out in one of Hollywoods if not Hollywoods greatest year. What really builds this films hype was the stupendess performance by Bette Davis. A great act on her behalf to say the least. Also interesting is the casting (Humphrey Bogart and Ronald Regean to name a few). Highly recommend it!!!

Another Bette Davis prize performance. This is a real tear jerker and who doesn't need a good cry from time-to-time. If you are a Davis fan--this has to be one of the movies to own.

... a must for any film buff. The commentary is adequate if you need it, but the film itself still holds up so well. Deft direction, pacing, and camera work. Top five tear jerker of all time, along with Sweetie, La Strada, Cocoon, and film of your choice. Davis is a wow.

Classic Bette Davis in one her best roles as a socialite coping with a dangerous brain tumor. A must see!

This is one of those 1939 movies that made that year the Golden Year of Movies. Along with "Gone With The Wind", "The Wizard of Oz", "Stagecoach", "Rebecca," and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," this movie was a sure winner of many Oscars had the field not been so crowded. Nominated for Best Actress, Bette Davis gives a virtuoso performance in a movie that Warner Brothers did not want to make.

Judith Traherne (Bette Davis) has it all in the beginning. She owns a ranch in New York, has a championship horse in a stable run by Michael O'Leary (Humphrey Bogart), has a secretary who is also her best friend Ann King (Geraldine Fitzgerald), and finally has a sort-of beau Alec (Ronald Reagan). The weird thing is that she is having daily headaches and sometimes sees double. So after a riding accident, she goes to Dr. Frederick Steele (George Brent), who discovers the malignant brain tumor. They operate and remove the tumor, but all doctors agree that the tumor will come back. Dr. Steele and Ann keep it a secret for a long time, but when Judith accidentally discovers the truth, all hell breaks out--Bette Davis style.

Actually, Judith Traherne is a nice role for Bette Davis, who doesn't mind playing evil, ugly, old, or manipulating characters. The movie is about her growth from the feeling of being cheated by her illness to acceptance of it and actually looking at the bright side of dying. That is her Dark Victory.

In her biography, Bette lists George Brent as one of her favorite leading men. He certainly contributes to making this movie a real tearjerker.

In addition to a Best Actress nomination, this movie was also nominated for Best Picture and packed them in at the theatres. We are still watching this movie and are amazed at the performances.

It's ironic that Jack Warner commented before the movie was begun, "Who wants to see a dame go blind?" Evidently, many of us still do.