Dark Victory (1939)

Director:

Edmund Goulding

Writers:

Casey Robinson (screen play)
George Emerson Brewer Jr. (from the play by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 April 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

"I've Crammed EVERY MINUTE SO FULL of waste. And now there's so little time. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid!"

Plot:

A young socialite is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, and must decide whether she'll meet her final days with dignity.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Doctor | Brain Tumor | Vermont | Horse

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Judith Traherne
George Brent	...	Dr. Frederick Steele
Humphrey Bogart	...	Michael O'Leary
Geraldine Fitzgerald	...	Ann King
Ronald Reagan	...	Alec
Henry Travers	...	Dr. Parsons
Cora Witherspoon	...	Carrie
Dorothy Peterson	...	Miss Wainwright
Virginia Brissac	...	Martha
Charles Richman	...	Colonel Mantle
Herbert Rawlinson	...	Dr. Carter
Leonard Mudie	...	Dr. Driscoll
Fay Helm	...	Miss Dodd
Lottie Williams	...	Lucy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Black Ace	...	Judith's Horse (uncredited)
Marian Alden	...	Judith's Friend (uncredited)
Wilda Bennett	...	Judith's Friend (uncredited)
Diane Bernard	...	Lucy - a Servant (uncredited)
Richard Bond	...	Judith's Friend (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Nat Carr	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Glen Cavender	...	Headwaiter (uncredited)
Mary Currier	...	Nightclub Singer (uncredited)
Frank Darien	...	Anxious Little Man (uncredited)
Edgar Edwards	...	Trainer (uncredited)
Paulette Evans	...	Judith's Friend (uncredited)
Jack A. Goodrich	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Eddie Graham	...	Doctor (uncredited)
John Harron	...	George - Man Taking Judith's Coat (uncredited)
Leyland Hodgson	...	Judith's Friend (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Alexander Leftwich	...	Specialist #2 (uncredited)
Frank Mayo	...	Judith's Friend (uncredited)
Will Morgan	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Veterinarian (uncredited)
David Newell	...	Judith's Friend (uncredited)
Wedgwood Nowell	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Ila Rhodes	...	Secretary (uncredited)
John Ridgely	...	Man Making Crack About Judith (uncredited)
Speirs Ruskell	...	Henry Curtiss - Dr. Steele's Assistant (uncredited)
Cliff Saum	...	Moving Man (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Rosella Towne	...	Girl in Box (uncredited)
William Worthington	...	Specialist #1 (uncredited)
Maris Wrixon	...	Judith's Friend (uncredited)

Directed by
Edmund Goulding

Writing credits
Casey Robinson		(screen play)
George Emerson Brewer Jr.		(from the play by) and
Bertram Bloch		(from the play by)

Produced by
David Lewis	....	associate producer
Hal B. Wallis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Ernest Haller		(photography) (as Ernie Haller)

Film Editing by
William Holmes		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Robert M. Haas		(as Robert Haas)

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns)

Production Management
Jack L. Warner	....	in charge of production
Robert Ross	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Heath	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert B. Lee	....	sound

Stunts
Audrey Scott	....	riding double: Bette Davis (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Hugo Friedhofer	....	orchestral arrangements
Howard Jackson	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Irving Rapper	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Leo Morton Schulman	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents) (as Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.) (A First National Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1939) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1939) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Epoca (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Key Video (1982) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (????) (USA) (video)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

104 min | West Germany:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #4835) | Germany:6 | Argentina:Atp | West Germany:12 | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

This was Bette Davis' third Oscar nomination in five years, and her second of five consecutive nominations.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Judith invades her doctor husband's garage lab, she runs out with a breakfast tray containing a metal dish cover and a porcelain teapot. As she crosses the yard, the tray now contains a different arrangement of ceramic dishes. Upon entering the kitchen, the tray reverts back, but is rotated 180 degrees, with the metal lid near her tummy.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Michael O'Leary:[on the phone] Hello, there. Is this the house? I've been trying to get you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983)

Soundtrack:

Vienna Blood

A great Bette Davis movie, but I was surprised it had a credit error.

I've seen this movie three times (once in a theater) and it seems to get better with each viewing. There is no question that this is one of the best movies Bette Davis had made, with her skill evident in every scene she's in. With an able supporting cast, especially by Geraldine Fitzgerald and George Brent, and a fine Max Steiner score, movies do not get much better. I loved the scene where she orders "prognosis negative" in a restaurant just to let Brent and Fitzgerald know that she knows she's been lied to about her condition. It's just a wonderful movie.

I was surprised that such a prestigious film would have a credit error. The end credits list Lottie Williams as playing Lucy, where in fact she plays Agatha. Lucy was played by Diane Bernard.