Dark Victory is firmly grounded in character-driven storytelling, with no apparent attempts to shoehorn identity politics or modern ideology into its plot or casting. The characters are developed based on their personalities, struggles, and relationships rather than their demographic traits. Narrative is not sacrificed for moral messaging or ‘representation points’ in any discernible way, making it a paragon of narrative integrity by today’s standards.

Traditional values like family, love, duty, and dealing with mortality are at the film’s core. Masculinity, femininity, and faith are portrayed as normal and even aspirational, with no effort to undermine or subvert classic gender roles or religious sensibilities. If anything, the film upholds the norms and virtues of its time without revisionism.

There’s no heavy-handed moralizing or villainization of traditional viewpoints. Alternative perspectives are not mocked or misrepresented, and the film does not push a modern political agenda. Instead, it’s a straightforward melodrama that allows characters’ choices, outlooks, and flaws to shine, offering genuine complexity and sincerity.