History Film / DarkVictory

* IllGirl: Judith, whose terminal brain cancer drives the plot.

Adapted from a 1934 play of the same name (which featured Creator/TallulahBankhead as Judith), ''Dark Victory'' was a critical and commercial hit for Davis and Creator/WarnerBros Creator/HumphreyBogart, playing Michael, the Irish manager of Judith's stable of horses, is billed third. Bogart had been a character actor for years with Warner, and would not break out as a star until ''High Sierra'' and ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1941}}'' in 1941. Even more interestingly, none other than future President UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan is billed fifth, playing Alec, one of Judith's Long Island society pals. This part was an early-career highlight for Reagan, who spent most of his time at Warner Bros. in [[BMovie B-movies]].

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bettedavisdarkvictory.png]]

Davis plays Judith Traherne, a carefree, hard-partying, rich Long Island socialite who becomes less carefree when she starts suffering from headaches, blurred vision, and dizziness. Pressured by Ann, her secretary/assistant (Geraldine Fitzgerald), Judith finally goes to see neurosurgeon Dr. Frederick Steele (Brent). Dr. Steele diagnoses Judith with a brain tumor and performs surgery. Unfortunately the surgery, while relieving the symptoms that sent Judith to the doctor, fails to cure her condition, leaving her with less than a year to live. Dr. Steele and Ann decide not to tell Judith about her diagnosis. Meanwhile, Judith and Dr. Steele fall in love.

''Dark Victory'' was a critical and commercial hit for Davis and Creator/WarnerBros Creator/HumphreyBogart, playing Michael, the manager of Judith's stable of horses, is billed third. Bogart had been a character actor for years with Warner, and would not break out as a star until ''High Sierra'' and ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1941}}'' in 1941. Even more interestingly, none other than future President UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan is billed fifth, playing Alec, one of Judith's Long Island society pals. This part was an early-career highlight for Reagan, who spent most of his time at Warner Bros. in [[BMovie B-movies]].

Davis plays Judith Traherne, a carefree, hard-partying, rich Long Island socialite who becomes less carefree when she starts suffering from headaches, blurred vision, and dizziness. Pressured by Ann, her secretary/assistant (Geraldine Fitzgerald), Judith finally goes to see neurosurgeon Dr. Frederick Steele (Brent). Dr. Steele diagnoses Judith with a brain tumor and performs surgery. Unfortunately the surgery, while relieving the symptoms that sent Judith to the doctor, fails to cure her condition, leaving her with less than a year to live. Dr. Sterne and Ann decide not to tell Judith about her diagnosis. Meanwhile, Judith and Dr. Steele fall in love.

''Dark Victory'' is a 1939 {{Tearjerker}} romantic tragedy directed by Edmund Goulding, starring Creator/BetteDavis and George Brent.

''Dark Victory'' was a critical and commercial hit for Davis and Warner Bros. Creator/HumphreyBogart, playing Michael, the manager of Judith's stable of horses, is billed third. Bogart had been a character actor for years with Warner, and would not break out as a star until ''High Sierra'' and ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1941}}'' in 1941. Even more interestingly, none other than future President UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan is billed fifth, playing Alec, one of Judith's Long Island society pals. This part was an early-career highlight for Reagan, who spent most of his time at Warner Bros. in [[BMovie B-movies]].

''Dark Victory'' was a critical and commercial hit for Davis and Warner Bros. Creator/HumphreyBogart, playing Michael, the manager of Judith's stable of horses, is billed third. Bogart had been a character actor for years with Warner, and would not break out as a star until ''High Sierra'' and ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'' in 1941. Even more interestingly, none other than future President UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan is billed fifth, playing Alec, one of Judith's Long Island society pals. This part was an early-career highlight for Reagan, who spent most of his time at Warner Bros. in [[BMovie B-movies]].

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bettedavisdarkvictory.png]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dark-victory-12_3652.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Young Future Famous Presidents.]]

!!Tropes:

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Ah, the days before vaccines.
--> '''Judith''': I've had measles, mumps, and whooping cough at all the proper ages.

* YourDaysAreNumbered: Judith has to live through this trope after finding out the truth about her condition. She resolves to grab what happiness she can.

* TheRemake: A 1976 MadeForTVMovie version starred Elizabeth Montgomery (of ''Series/{{Bewitched}}'' fame) as an updated version of the protagonist, now named "Katherine Merrill" and employed as a television producer. Creator/AnthonyHopkins played her doctor and love interest, Steele.

* AltarTheSpeed: Judith basically asks Dr. Steele to marry her, saying she wants a wedding and happiness before she croaks.

[[caption-width-right:350:Young Future Famous Presidents]]

''Dark Victory'' was a critical and commercial hit for Davis and Warner Brothers. Creator/HumphreyBogart, playing Michael, the manager of Judith's stable of horses, is billed third. Bogart had been a character actor for years with Warner Brothers, and would not break out as a star until ''High Sierra'' and ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'' in 1941. Even more interestingly, none other than future President UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan is billed fifth, playing Alec, one of Judith's Long Island society pals. This part was an early-career highlight for Reagan, who spent most of his time at Warner Brothers in [[BMovie B-movies]].

''Dark Victory'' is a 1939 {{Tearjerker}} romantic tragedy starring Creator/BetteDavis and George Brent, and directed by Edmund Goulding. Davis plays Judith Traherne, a carefree, hard-partying, rich Long Island socialite who becomes less carefree when she starts suffering from headaches, blurred vision, and dizziness. Pressured by Ann, her secretary/assistant (Geraldine Fitzgerald), Judith finally goes to see neurosurgeon Dr. Frederick Steele (Brent). Dr. Steele diagnoses Judith with a brain tumor and performs surgery. Unfortunately the surgery, while relieving the symptoms that sent Judith to the doctor, fails to cure her condition, leaving her with less than a year to live. Dr. Sterne and Ann decide not to tell Judith about her diagnosis. Meanwhile, Judith and Dr. Steele fall in love.

* TheAlcoholic: Alec (who, to repeat, is played by UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan) is drinking, drunk, or hung over in every single scene he appears in.

* TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed: A singularly weird example. Dr. Steele calls Judith's problem a "glioma" (a medical term for a malignant brain tumor) and a "growth", and even uses the word "malignant" once. The word "cancer" is never uttered in the movie.

* TheRemake: A 1976 MadeForTVMovie version starred Elizabeth Montgomery (of ''Series/{{Bewitched}}'' fame) as an updated version of the protagonist, now named "Katherine Merrill" and employed as a television producer. Creator/AnthonyHopkins played her doctor and love interest, renamed Steele.

* DeathWithDignity: "Is that you, Martha? [[DyingAlone I don't wish to be disturbed.]]"

* DawsonCasting: 31-year-old Bette Davis playing a 23-year-old woman.

''Dark Victory'' was a critical and commercial hit for Davis and Warner Brothers. Creator/HumphreyBogart, playing Michael, the manager of Judith's stable of horses, is billed third. Bogart had been a character actor for years with Warner Brothers, and would not break out as a star until ''High Sierra'' and ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'' in 1941. Even more interestingly, none other than future President RonaldReagan is billed fifth, playing Alec, one of Judith's Long Island society pals. This part was an early-career highlight for Reagan, who spent most of his time at Warner Brothers in [[BMovie B-movies]].

* TheAlcoholic: Alec (who, to repeat, is played by RonaldReagan) is drinking, drunk, or hung over in every single scene he appears in.

'''Judith''': I've had measles, mumps, and whooping cough at all the proper ages.