[5]

Bette Davis stars in this Oscar-bait melodrama about a spoiled socialite who learns she has an inoperable brain tumor. After co-star George Brent performs an operation, Davis is told she’s all better — when really her doctor and close friends are keeping a secret from her. The tumor will return and she will die. While waiting for Bette to discover the truth, Dark Victory gets a little boring. Once she sees the writing on the wall, her character must decide whether to keep boozing and gambling, or to try dying with some dignity. I don’t mind sappy melodrama sometimes, but Davis isn’t one of my favorite stars and at least half of this performance feels forced and unnatural. She’s best when she’s subdued, tired or drugged, maybe even at death’s door at the end. In any case, Bette was Oscar-nominated for her performance but lost to Vivien Leigh for Gone with the Wind in one of the most contentious races in Oscar history. Look for Humphrey Bogart and Ronald Reagan in supporting roles.

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Bette Davis), Best Score (Max Steiner)