Editing Dark Victory (section)

==Reception==
[[File:Oakwood Theatre in 1924.png|thumb|right|Marquee at the Oakwood Theatre in Toronto promoting ''Dark Victory'']]
[[Frank S. Nugent]], in his review in ''[[The New York Times]]'', observed: "A completely cynical appraisal would dismiss it all as emotional flim-flam, a heartless play upon tender hearts by a playwright and company well versed in the dramatic uses of going blind and improvising on ''[[The Lady of the Camellias|Camille]]''. But it is impossible to be that cynical about it. The mood is too poignant, the performances too honest, the craftsmanship too expert. Miss Davis, naturally, has dominated—and quite properly—her film, but Miss Fitzgerald has added a sentient and touching portrayal of the friend, and George Brent, as the surgeon, is—dare we say?—surprisingly self-contained and mature. This once we must run the risk of being called a softy: we won't dismiss ''Dark Victory'' with a self-defensive sneer."<ref>{{cite news|last=Nugent |first=Frank S. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/21/archives/the-screen-in-review-bette-davis-scores-new-honors-in-dark-victory.html |title=THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; Bette Davis Scores New Honors in 'Dark Victory'; George Brent Also Is Seen in the Music Hall Feature |work=The New York Times |date=April 21, 1939}}</ref>

An article in [[Neurology (journal)|Neurology]] says the film marked "the beginnings of the depiction of neurologic disease in cinema. Bette Davis' cinematic portrayal of a young woman dying from a brain tumor is close to the reality of denial, bargaining, a hope for a cure, and final acceptance." Although the film "shows an implausible clinical course (an abrupt peaceful ending)...the cinematic portrayal of the vicissitudes of living with a brain tumor is often close to reality."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wijdicks |first=Eelco F.M. |date=April 12, 2016 |title="Dark Victory" (prognosis negative): The beginnings of neurology on screen |journal=Neurology |language=en |volume=86 |issue=15 |pages=1433–1436 |doi=10.1212/WNL.0000000000002571 |issn=0028-3878}}</ref>

''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called the film "intense drama" and "a nicely produced offering [with] Bette Davis in a powerful and impressive role."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/1938/film/reviews/dark-victory-1117790247 |title=Dark Victory (1939) |work=Variety |date=December 31, 1938 |access-date=March 14, 2024}}</ref>

''[[Time Out London]]'' critic Tom Milne writes: "[Davis] and [director Edmund] Goulding almost transform the soap into style; a [[Rolls-Royce (car)|Rolls-Royce]] of the weepie world."{{sfn|Milne|2008|p=242}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Dark Victory |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/film/dark-victory |website=Time Out |access-date=22 June 2024 |date=March 15, 2012}}</ref>

On [[Turner Classic Movies]], Margarita Landazuri said: "''Dark Victory'' was a three-hanky hit. Filmgoers and critics alike knew their emotions were being manipulated, but so expertly and touchingly that they couldn't help but cheer."<ref name=tcmart />

The film is mentioned in the play ''[[Steel Magnolias (play)|Steel Magnolias]]'', by Clairee in Act Two, Scene 1.<ref>{{cite book| title=Steel Magnolias| first=Robert| last=Harling| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-7ZjzyeEJOYC&q=dark+victory| page=45| publisher=Dramatists Play Service| year=1988| isbn=978-0-8222-1078-8}}</ref> It is also mentioned in the 2015 movie ''[[The Frontier (2015 film)|The Frontier]]'' by the Luanne character as a missed opportunity in her career.

''Dark Victory'' currently holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on twenty-three reviews. The site's consensus states: "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."<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes | id=dark_victory | type=movie | title=Dark Victory | access-date=April 11, 2023}}</ref>