MovieChat Forums > Of Human Bondage (1964) Discussion > movie didn't deliver

movie didn't deliver

posted 16 years ago by muchado
3 replies | jump to latest

Yikes, nothing wrecks havoc in a British movie more than an American trying to deliver an English accent. This is where Ms Novak totally fails in this Somerset Maugham novel. If they could get a real English male lead, why not for the leading lady? We all know the reason for this. This was clearly another one of "THOSE" MGM made-in-England budget exercises. Then there was the terrible unimaginative music score. Repeatedly, every 60 seconds for 100 minutes, the same repetitive melody came along to try to give this movie some dramatic credibility. Very monotonous and woefully distracting. Like Syphilis, there is no cure for this movie except abstinence!

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] littlekaren 16 years ago

Agree with you about the accent.

[–] mackjay2 14 years ago

I wouldn't say it wreaks havoc, but Novak's inconsistent accent is a distraction. She is always a limited and self-conscious actress and the accent only took more away, although I think this is one of her better efforts.

I assume Novak was cast in this film as a box-office draw. Laurence Harvey,as always, is superb along with the rest and the film is well-directed and beautifully shot