Leslie Howard, Phillip, is a Doctor turned Artist turned Doctor again in this film. We first meet him in Paris where he is trying to make it as an artist. He loves the city but his paintings are not selling very well. However, he really doesn't want to leave the place he loves. When he finally comes to terms that he is not going to make as an artist he goes back to plan one. During the transition from artist to doctor he meets a young woman, Mildred (Davis), who is rude and vulgar and yet somehow he falls for her. Phillip eventually proposes and she denies him. Claiming that she is going to marry someone who can really support her and take care of her. After she leaves, Phillips moves on with his studies and end up falling in love again with a woman named Norah. She is supportive and comforting and safe. Everything seems to be wonderful until Mildred shows up again, this time a baby on the way. Claiming to have been abandoned by the baby's father, Phillip sets up house for her and can't help to fall for her again. He plans to marry one once the baby is born. Mildred can't help her wandering eyes has she falls for one of Leslie's best friends and they end up running away together. Phillip is once again forced to pick of the pieces of his life the Mildred left in her escape. The process starts all over again. His studies help, he falls in love with another girl, and once again Mildred shows up with the baby and another sob story. He takes her in again, and tries keep things from getting romantic. However, this time is works better. He doesn't fall in love with her again but sees that it's a possibility again. Mildred's charms are not working as they once used to. She becomes enraged when she learns that he is not totally twisted around her finger again. She gets so made that she destroys his apartment, burns all of his savings and leaves again. Now unable to pay his tuition for school he is forced to drop out. The girl that he had been keen on through all of this, Sally, her family owns a small store that they offer for him to work at. Not long after he finds that his uncle has died and left him some money. Not a lot but enough for him to go back to school. Then, you guessed it, Mildred shows again. This time no baby. Her life went down hill since their last meeting. The baby died, she is sick, and she has no where to go. Phillip takes her to the hospital and says he will visit, but never gets the chance. She dies before he can get back. However, the bond is broken after that and Phillip is able to marry Sally without any more unwanted interruptions.
When my mom asked me what movie I was watching the other day and I told her Of Human Bondage she had no idea what I was talking about. I then told her the plot to Jezebel which is totally the wrong movie. I am not sure how in the world I got the to mixed up but I did.
I do have to say that the was a little bit of an annoying movie to watch. Manly because I can't really stand Leslie Howard. Of the now three movies that I have seen him in he plays the same person! They are all Ashley Wilkes in disguise! However, Bette Davis was phenomenal in this film! I mean if you see her in the last scene of the movie it haunts you a little bit. She looks like she was out in the wild for about 6 week before she was found on the side of the road.
It was interesting for her part but honestly, I am done with the Ashley Wilkes act... I;m just saying.
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