Dark Victory

1939, Drama, 1h 46m

25 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Bette Davis does it her way with a tour de force performance in Dark Victory, a moving melodrama that snatches triumph from the jaws of mortality. Read critic reviews

You might also like

Coal Miner's Daughter
The Good Earth
As It Is in Heaven
Penny Serenade
Tea With Mussolini

Where to watch

Rent/buy from $3.99 Rent/buy from $3.99 Rent/buy from $3.99

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Dark Victory Photos

View All Photos (14)

Movie Info

Socialite Judith Traherne (Bette Davis) lives a lavish but emotionally empty life. Riding horses is one of her few joys, and her stable master (Humphrey Bogart) is secretly in love with her. Told she has a brain tumor by her doctor, Frederick Steele (George Brent), Judith becomes distraught. After she decides to have surgery to remove the tumor, Judith realizes she is in love with Dr. Steele, but more troubling medical news may sabotage her new relationship, and her second chance at life.
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Edmund Goulding
  • Writer:
    George Emerson Brewer Jr., Bertram Bloch, Casey Robinson
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Key Video, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
  • Sound Mix:
    Mono

Cast & Crew

Bette Davis
Judith Traherne
George Brent
Dr. Frederick Steele
Humphrey Bogart
Michael O'Leary
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Ann King
Ronald Reagan
Alec Hamm
Cora Witherspoon
Carrie
Henry Travers
Dr. Parsons
Virginia Brissac
Martha, housekeeper
Dorothy Peterson
Miss Wainwright
Charles Richman
Col. Mantle
Herbert Rawlinson
Dr. Carter
Leonard Mudie
Dr. Driscoll
Fay Helm
Miss Dodd
Edmund Goulding
Director
George Emerson Brewer Jr.
Writer
Bertram Bloch
Writer
Casey Robinson
Writer
David Lewis
Associate Producer
Hal B. Wallis
Executive Producer
Max Steiner
Original Music
Howard Jackson
Original Music
Edmund Goulding
Non-Original Music
Elsie Janis
Non-Original Music
Ernest Haller
Cinematography
William Holmes
Film Editing
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Dark Victory

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (3)
Full Review… Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting Full Review… Nell Minow Common Sense Media Full Review… Emanuel Levy Variety Full Review… Keith Uhlich Slant Magazine Full Review… Nell Minow Movie Mom Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Full Review… James T. Hamada The Nippu Jiji (Honolulu) Full Review… Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Full Review… Matt Brunson Creative Loafing Full Review… Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Full Review… Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Full Review… Jennie Kermode Eye for Film
View All Critic Reviews (25)

Audience Reviews for Dark Victory

  • Apr 05, 2021
    1939 is considered one of the greatest years in Hollywood filmmaking and this tearjerker is among the best movies of that year. A Bette Davis performance that will leave you stunned with her beauty and acting range.
    Aldo G Super Reviewer
  • Oct 10, 2013
    A woman discovers that she has a brain tumor and falls in love with her doctor. When viewed vis a vis Ikiru, Akira Kurosawa's brilliant film, Dark Victory has a lot to learn. The film posits that a patient's knowledge of his/her condition is detrimental, but Kurosawa is wiser, and the ruminations on mortality and life's usefulness are more poignant and inspiring. Though its embrasure of love, marriage, and romance feel petty against its betters, Dark Victory is a good film in and of itself, propelled by a great Bette Davis performance and George Brent's soulful gazes. Davis is delightful, and the film is saccharine in all the right places. Overall, you should watch this if you can't get a hold of Ikiru.
    Jim H Super Reviewer
  • Jul 23, 2013
    A four hanky tearjerker...well if you are overly sensitive and weep when little children lose their balls down sewer drains. Make no mistake that Bette Davis is great. She always is but the viewer feels too manipulated.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Feb 17, 2013
    Its a pretty silly melodrama that even Bette Davis' absurd acting choices can't save. On a side note, this film also features a terrible supporting performance by Ronald Reagan.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Movie & TV guides