read web site on bette davis one can find instance where author claim that there be nothing special about her acting . i even find a site which claim that bette davis success be probably due to her luck . but ms davis film of 1934 tell quite the opposite . the most evident example be two film that she do only few week apart represent fog over frisco and on human bondage . character she play in these movie and though both be negative and be quite different . arlene in the former be a beautiful and glamorous and frivolous heiress and much more likable character than mildred in the latter and which be a pale and uneducated and impudent cockney waitress . needless to say that ms davis play both character very authentic and with the same enthusiasm . but even that be not all . the point be that the former role and which would be wish by most actress of the day and be the one she be force to play . the latter role and which seem to most actress a undesirable and career destroy role and be the one she fight for ferociously for month . and it be the latter role that launch her among the great star . so there be no question that m davis knew from the start what she be do . the film and which tell about a medical student phillip carey ( leslie howard ) which fall unhappily in love with cockney waitress mildred rogers ( bette davis ) and have a few week point and but many more strong one . the story be simply too big to be tell in mere 83 minute . for example and it be quite unclear why refine student find any interest in an impudent waitress in the first place . well and there be one scene in which we be expose to ms davis captivate eye and but this be when his emotion be already fully evolve . nevertheless and the integrity of the story be preserve by superior act from howard and davis as well a fantastic steiner music which tell ton of emotion even when we do not see character face . in fact the film be amalgamate by phillip walk sequence show him from the back supplement with shudder two tone repetition . every detail be well think max steiner write a beautiful leitmotif for each woman in phillip life and which be consistently use through the film . and a beautiful scene in which we see sally face in front of calendar be one of the sweet scene i have ever see exactly due to francis dee breathtaking beauty ( ms dee be by the way consider to be too beautiful to play lead role in go with a wind ) as well a steiner captivate music . camera movement between the some scene be also original and refreshing . but my strong objection be that event be present too two dimensionally and which induce viewer that mildred be an ultimate slut . the most disgusting character ought to be men which lure her into relationship and despite well know that they will abandon her after take use of her and but they and curiously and finish portray a likable character . after all and mildred always in her own specific and but still a honest way let phillip know that she despise him and have no interest in him . which he just refuse to hear . it be phillips masochistic nature connect to his club foot and infantile experience that be the principal reason of his love problem . he be enslave to his club foot as much a to mildred and perhaps have to be free of both to start a normal life . of course and selfish and impudent mildred and after discover voluntary phillip bondage to her and do it own share to make his life hell . even take into account that she explode after realize that the bondage have loosen and it be less than clear why would she burn phillip money ( maugham intend different in his novel ) . after all and she could as well steal it and drunk gallon of champagne . for modern standard the film be a bit outdated and but each subsequent time you watch it and you can reveal new interesting detail due to superior acting and fascinating music and original editing and so it do deserve the high possible mark .