bette davis cockney accent in this film be absolutely appalling . i totally understand that american and other nationality mightn not realise this and that fine while but believe me and it about half as good a dick van dyke cockney accent in mary poppins and and that be a right load of old pony ( slip into london vernacular there many apology ) . the remarkable thing to me be that the strange accent and exaggerate act style do not detract from the film power . of human bondage be a fascinating piece of cinema despite it superficial fault . it also have to be view in perspective . the technical and cultural limitation of film making at the time have to be appreciate and and give those limitation john cromwell do a very good job direct the camera and allow the narrative to develop cinematically rather than solely via the mannered acting and stilted dialogue . a fine example of his skillful direction be the scene set at victoria station . it be beautifully conceive and shot and edited . note too the stark shot of the prostrate mildred towards the end of the film while they owe more to the early day of artistic film make than the sanitised and formulaic world of the studio that be about to dominate . the theme of the film be universally familiar and compelling one represent sexual obsession and unrequited love and scorn passion and self loathing and manipulative relationship and social divide and youthful folly . though the dialogue be often rather hackneyed and the difficult task of portray these theme and the inner life of the character be tackle well albeit in a low key way . some of the scene of obsession and emotional rejection be uncomfortable to watch but the story doesn not descend into cliché while be aware that the character ( even the poisonous mildred ) be both victim and perpetrator and and that their action be motivate by their misunderstanding of each others feeling as well a by wilful selfishness . whilst naive in style the story reach to the complex heart of the human condition and the mannered nature of the acting and the occasionally grating exchange do not diminish the veracity of the work . of human bondage be one of the film that get bette davis notice in hollywood and whilst watch it you be conscious of be witness at the birth of a celebrated career . her unconventional beauty and screen charisma ( no one flounce or do disdain quite like m davis ) grab your attention from her first appearance . whilst hers be definitely the memorable performance in the film and leslie howard be also excellent a the sensitive and fragile student philip carey . they be a good combination and though and why oh why do not he help her with that terrible and terrible accent .