LESLIE HOWARD'S MASOCHISTIC PERSONA

Whether as Philip Carey here or as Ashley Wilkes in GWTW, there is a 'softness at the center' of every Howard performance. In 'The Petrified Forest' as well he is dreamy, moody and despairing. But notice how in each of these performances I mentioned, Howard is PERFECT for the role. And of all his roles 'Of Human Bondage' goes the furthest into his essentially masochistic personality.