Of Human Bondage (1934)
“There's a fool like him in every family — and a woman next door to take him over!”
Streamed free from the Internet Archive · no signup, no cost — this film is in the public domain.
Synopsis
Philip Carey, a sensitive, club-footed Englishman who abandons painting for medicine, falls into a self-destructive obsession with Mildred Rogers, a coarse and contemptuous tearoom waitress. Despite her cruelty and indifference, Philip repeatedly takes her back, sacrificing his studies, his money, and a chance at a healthier relationship with the kind writer Norah. Mildred drifts in and out of his life — abandoned, then destructive and vindictive — dragging Philip toward ruin each time, until her downfall finally frees him to build a real life.
Cast
About the Director
John Cromwell — John Cromwell was a stage actor turned Hollywood director known for sensitive literary adaptations and well-handled performances. On 'Of Human Bondage' he championed casting the then-little-known Bette Davis as Mildred and directed with tightly controlled, atmospheric restraint, helping make the film the breakthrough that established Davis as a major dramatic actress.
Why It’s Free: The Public-Domain Story
'Of Human Bondage' is in the public domain because its copyright registration was never renewed during the required window, causing the film to enter the public domain in 1962. RKO did not file a renewal in its 28th year, as the law of the era required.
Behind the Scenes
RKO bought Maugham's 1915 novel as a vehicle for Leslie Howard, and Cromwell pushed for Davis after seeing her in 'The Cabin in the Cotton.' Jack Warner resisted loaning her out, fearing the unglamorous, "evil" role would damage her image — roles reportedly declined by Katharine Hepburn and others — and only relented as part of a studio actress trade. Davis insisted on playing Mildred's terminal illness with stark, unflattering realism, designing her own deathbed makeup. It premiered at Radio City Music Hall on June 28, 1934.
Did You Know?
- Bette Davis hired an English housekeeper to absorb an authentic Cockney accent for Mildred — without telling the woman she was being studied, to avoid an exaggerated result.
- Co-star Leslie Howard reportedly read books off-camera during Davis's close-ups, growing more attentive only once he realized "the kid was walking away with the picture."
- Davis's omission from the Best Actress nominations triggered a famous Academy "write-in" campaign; she reportedly finished third.
- Composer Max Steiner rewrote the entire score, giving each principal character a separate musical motif, after a preview audience unexpectedly laughed.
Reception & Legacy
Critics raved about both leads, and the film is widely credited as the role that made Bette Davis a star — the most acclaimed of the three screen adaptations of Maugham's novel. Its Oscar-snub controversy is frequently cited as one of the worst in Academy history.
The Man with the Golden Arm
Becky Sharp
Cyrano de Bergerac
Algiers