Why so much hype?

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

In the past year I've been making an effort to see as many Academy Award-nominated movies as possible, minus a few that don't look interesting. The latest that I've seen is Edmund Goulding's "Dark Victory". I don't know whether or not this was the first movie to focus on medical malpractice, but it's worth seeing nonetheless. Bette Davis plays a socialite who has a malignant tumor removed, except that not all of it can get removed. The doctor decides that he wants her to be happy, and so he doesn't tell her about this.Much of the story seemed hackneyed, but Davis's performance carried the entire movie. Also of note are early appearances of Humphrey Bogart, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Ronald Reagan. But what's probably most important is that they did not give it the typical Hollywood ending. Despite its flaws, the movie works out well overall. Not that I would expect less of Bette Davis. I recommend it.

bette davis was the biggest star of her time. everyone cites "all about eve" as her greatest performance, but if you want to see an actress displaying all her talents, subtley, watch this film. it's soap opera all the way, but bette raises the stakes so high, you really don't notice. when she's not on screen, you wonder why. of course, this was GWTW's year, so bette was passed over for the big prize.

I hated this movie as a kid and decided to see what I would think 40 years later. There is no doubt that it is well-made: well directed, well written and except for Davis and Brent (did he ever act, it was always the same performance)well acted. All the Davis mannerisms are there and it is amazing how unattractive she really was which doesn't work well forthis character. Judith Traherne is abrasive and crude. Davis could give her some sympathy if she would just shut up, slow down and listen for a second instead of divaing it up every chance she gets. I laughed when they went into the explanation of how this contrived disease would progress. But the noble thing about the actors is that they treat the material as if it was all intelligent and sensible.Fitzgerald was such a fine actress that it is a shame she wasn't used more in leads. Bogart gave a decent Irish accent and his scene where he finally puts the moves on Davis is believable and touching. Reagan's character stays drunk and it is funny how as president, he so much behaved like this guy.It is too long. But had the lead been played by a good actor, not Davis, I think it would have been easier to buy into the contrivances.Still, there is nothing on film as fun as the moment when Bette Davis reads the menu.

Bette Davis' personal favorite amongst her films this lovely picture is kept from slipping into melodrama too deeply by her insightful work. True she gets her big flashy moments but it is her quiet simple ones that score the most with the viewer in their understated simplicity. A flop on stage for Tallulah Bankhead this has what that didn't in the character of the faithful friend Ann, played beautifully by Geraldine Fitzgerald, who can rail at the fates so Bette's character Judy doesn't have to bemoan her troubles and seem a self pitying crybaby. Instead she is a life loving dynamo caught in a tragic situation who meets the challenge and finds peace. George Brent is adequate, as always, but even a stronger leading man would have been put in the shade by Bette here in what is one of her best if not the best performance in a career filled with so many. Reagan, an actor of limited skill, is the most relaxed and likable he would ever be on screen. Humphrey Bogart's Irish stable hand isn't quite the blight on a work of art that he himself considered it but there is not question that he is miscast and he sticks out like a sore thumb. A wonderful film with an ending that is wrenching and deeply beautiful at the same time.