Of Human Bondage (1934) in Color — Starring Leslie Howard & Bette Davis

Of Human Bondage (1934) — Buy This Classic in Color

Of Human Bondage (1934) is a powerful drama starring Leslie Howard and Bette Davis, directed by John Cromwell. An idealistic medical student finds himself trapped in a destructive obsession with a heartless cockney waitress who drags him to the brink of ruin. Based on W. Somerset Maugham’s celebrated autobiographical novel, this professionally colorized version brings the emotional intensity and 1930s London atmosphere to vivid new life. Buy your colorized copy today for €15.00 and own this unforgettable classic movie in color.

Plot Summary

Philip Carey (Leslie Howard), a sensitive and introspective young man burdened by a painful clubfoot that has made him self-conscious since childhood, abandons his art studies in Paris after realizing he lacks true talent and travels to London to pursue medicine. At a modest Lyons Corner House tearoom, he meets Mildred Rogers (Bette Davis), a sharp-tongued, brassy cockney waitress who treats him with undisguised contempt and indifference. Despite her cruelty, her vulgarity, and her obvious lack of interest in him, Philip becomes hopelessly and obsessively infatuated with Mildred, unable to understand or control the masochistic pull she exerts over him.

Philip sacrifices everything to keep Mildred near — his medical studies fall behind, his savings are drained on gifts and dinners she accepts without gratitude, and his self-respect crumbles as she mocks him openly. She repeatedly abandons him for other men, first running off with a coarse salesman named Emil Miller (Alan Hale), then later with Philip’s own friend Griffiths (Reginald Denny). Each time, Philip tries to rebuild his life. The kind and intelligent Norah (Kay Johnson), a writer who genuinely loves him, offers stability and warmth, but Philip cannot stop himself from returning to Mildred whenever she reappears, pregnant and destitute, needing money and shelter.

The cycle of exploitation and return grows increasingly destructive. Mildred’s cruelty escalates — in one devastating scene, she destroys Philip’s medical books, his paintings, and his savings bonds in a frenzy of spite. Philip is left penniless and nearly expelled from medical school. Only through the genuine kindness of his friend Sally (Frances Dee) and the steady support of her father Athelny (Reginald Owen) does Philip finally begin to heal. As Mildred descends into poverty and illness, Philip must confront the ruins of his obsession and decide whether to let compassion or self-preservation guide his future. This classic movie is a devastating portrait of obsessive love that marked a turning point in Hollywood drama.

Cast & Crew

Director: John Cromwell

Stars: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Frances Dee, Kay Johnson, Reginald Denny, Alan Hale, Reginald Owen, Reginald Sheffield, Desmond Roberts

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This colorized version of Of Human Bondage reveals the contrasting worlds Philip inhabits with striking visual clarity. The bohemian artist studios of Paris come alive with warm ochres, scattered canvases, and the soft light filtering through skylight windows. London’s modest tearooms and boarding houses take on their proper Edwardian character — starched white tablecloths, dark wood paneling, the muted greens and browns of a respectable middle-class world. Mildred’s cheap finery and gaudy accessories become meaningful character details in color, revealing her pretensions and desperation. The hospital wards where Philip studies gain clinical authenticity with their white-tiled walls and surgical instruments catching the light. The original black and white film captured Bette Davis’s raw, fearless performance brilliantly — her physical transformation in the film’s later scenes is genuinely shocking — and the professionally colorized restoration brings every tearoom confrontation, every moment of devastating cruelty, and every flicker of hope to life with frame-by-frame precision. Watch this restored classic film in vivid, emotional color. Now also available in colour.

Buy Of Human Bondage in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Of Human Bondage is the film that made Bette Davis a star and changed the Academy Awards forever. Her fearless, deliberately unglamorous portrayal of the grasping, vulgar Mildred Rogers — complete with a convincing cockney accent and a shocking physical deterioration in the film’s final act — was so unanimously acclaimed by critics and audiences that when she was not nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, it caused a public outcry. The resulting controversy led the Academy to change its nomination rules, allowing write-in votes for the first time, and Davis received enough write-in support to nearly win. RKO initially resisted lending Davis to Warner Bros. for the role, and Davis herself had to fight to be cast, as the studio considered her too glamorous. The film is a faithful adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s 1915 semi-autobiographical novel, widely regarded as one of the great English-language novels of the twentieth century. Leslie Howard brings quiet dignity and intelligence to the role of Philip, making the character’s inexplicable attachment to Mildred heartbreakingly real. The colorization adds striking visual depth to this landmark drama that launched one of Hollywood’s greatest careers.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 83 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this the Bette Davis breakthrough film?
A: Yes, Of Human Bondage is widely considered the performance that made Bette Davis a major star. Her portrayal of Mildred Rogers was so acclaimed it changed the Academy Award nomination process.

Q: Is this the complete version?
A: Yes, this is the full 1934 RKO theatrical release at approximately 83 minutes, presented in its complete colorized version.

Q: Is this based on the Somerset Maugham novel?
A: Yes, the film is a faithful adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s celebrated 1915 autobiographical novel of the same name, considered one of the great works of English literature.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: DRM-free MP4, compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: €15.00 for instant download. The colorization process ensures every scene looks stunning in color.

Q: Can I watch on multiple devices?
A: Absolutely. The file is DRM-free, so you can watch on your TV, tablet, phone, or computer.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Bride Wore Red (1937)
• Arch of Triumph (1948)
• Ladies of Leisure (1930)
• The Valley of Decision (1945)
• Indiscretion of an American Wife (1953)