Jezebel is an American drama film released in 1938 and directed by William Wyler. It stars Bette Davis and Henry Fonda, supported by George Brent, Margaret Lindsay, Donald Crisp, Richard Cromwell, and Fay Bainter. The film was adapted by Clements Ripley, Abem Finkel, John Huston and Robert Buckner, from the play by Owen Davis, Sr.
The picture tells the story of a headstrong young Southern woman during the Antebellum period whose actions cost her the man she loves.
Plot
Spoiled, strong-willed New Orleans belle Julie Marsden (Bette Davis) is engaged to banker Preston 'Pres' Dillard (Henry Fonda). In retaliation for Pres refusing to drop his work and accompany her while she shops for a dress, she orders a brazen red one for the most important ball of the year, one where white dresses for unmarried women are expected. All of Julie's friends are shocked, but no one can convince her to give up her whim.
Pres escorts Julie to the Olympus Ball, where their entrance is met by the disdainful stares of all present. She finally realizes the magnitude of her social blunder and begs Pres to take her away, but by this time, he is implacable. He makes her dance with him. All the other couples gradually leave the floor, finally leaving them alone and isolated. When the orchestra conductor stops playing, Pres orders him to continue and they finish the dance.
Afterwards, Pres takes his leave of Julie, implicitly breaking their engagement. In a final bit of spite, Julie slaps him in the face by way of farewell. Aunt Belle Massey (Fay Bainter) urges her to go after Pres and beg his forgiveness, but she refuses, arrogantly confident that he will return to her. Instead, he goes north on business. Julie shuts herself up in her house and refuses to see visitors.
A year later, Pres finally returns, to help Dr. Livingstone (Donald Crisp) try to convince the city authorities to take measures against an outbreak of yellow fever. Before Pres can stop her, Julie humbles herself and begs for his forgiveness and a return of his love. Then Pres introduces her to his Northern wife Amy (Margaret Lindsay).
Julie then eggs on her admirer, skilled duellist Buck Cantrell (George Brent), to quarrel with Pres, but the scheme goes awry. Pres's inexperienced brother Ted (Richard Cromwell) is the one who is goaded into challenging Buck. In an unexpected twist, Ted emerges victorious; Buck is fatally shot.
Then something happens that overshadows everything else. As Pres and Dr. Livingstone had feared, a deadly epidemic of yellow fever sweeps the city, as it had numerous times before. Pres comes down with it and, like all other victims, is to be quarantined on an island. Amy prepares to go along to care for him, risking her own life, but Julie stops her. She tells the Northerner that she doesn't know how to deal with the slaves and Southerners on the island. She begs to go in her place, as an act of redemption. Amy agrees.
Background
Some claim[citation needed] this film was developed as a vehicle for Bette Davis after she failed to win the part of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. However, the movie was filmed and released in 1938, before the part of Scarlett was even cast for the latter film - which was released in 1939. That said, it would have been a classic bit of stiff competition between rival studios for Warner Brothers to produce a film with some minor but marked similarities a year in advance of Selznick's. In addition, Warner offered Davis's services to Selznick, along with Errol Flynn and Olivia DeHavilland (who did appear in the picture). But despite a radio poll showing Bette Davis the audience favourite for the role, Selznick did not consider her suitable for it.[1]
Main cast and characters
Awards
Wins
Nominations
Adaptations
The movie was adapted into the March 30, 1946 episode of the 60 minute radio program Academy Award Theater, with Bette Davis in the title role. Bette Davis also reprised the role on the August 12, 1949 episode of Screen Director's Playhouse. On October 27, 1940 it was adapted to The Screen Guild Theater with Jean Arthur. On November 27, 1940 it was adapted to Lux Radio Theater with Loretta Young.
In 2006, film historian Jeanine Basinger recorded a comprehensive scene-by-scene commentary as part of the re-issued DVD of the film. In her commentary about Davis, Basinger relates that this film is distinctive in the realm of women's pictures because of Orry-Kelly's brilliant costume designs for the actress. Basinger states that the viewer is compelled to watch Davis in four stylings in particular: the riding crop/outfit in the beginning of the film, the scandalous scarlet red dress at the Olympus Ball, the virginal white dress she wears when she attempts to woo back Henry Fonda, and finally the cape at the end of the film she dons when she must go to help care for Fonda. In Basinger's opinion, this was the performance at the height of Davis's career and that Jezebel is the quintessential American "woman's" film. The movie was filmed in black-and-white. But audiences were struck by the strong colors of the movie posters as they entered the theater. This stayed with them as they viewed the film. And the 'scarlet' red dress was most vivid of all despite being basically a shade of gray on the screen. The reference to the Old Testament character 'Jezebel' also heightened the movie experience for period audiences familiar with the Bible.
See also
References
- Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507678-8. .
External links
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Films directed by William Wyler |
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| 1920s |
The Crook Buster (1925) • The Gunless Bad Man (1926) • Ridin' for Love (1926) • The Fire Barrier (1926) • Don't Shoot (1926) • The Pinnacle Rider (1926) • Martin of the Mounted (1926) • Lazy Lightning (1926) • The Stolen Ranch (1926) • The Two Fister (1927) • Kelcy Gets His Man (1927) • Tenderfoot Courage (1927) • The Silent Partner (1927) • Blazing Days (1927) • Shooting Straight (1927) • Galloping Justice (1927) • The Haunted Homestead (1927) • Hard Fists (1927) • The Lone Star (1927) • The Home Trail (1927) • Gun Justice (1927) • The Phantom Outlaw (1927) • The Square Shooter (1927) • The Horse Trader (1927) • Daze of the West (1927) • The Border Cavalier (1927) • Desert Dust (1927) • Thunder Riders (1928) • Anybody Here Seen Kelly? (1928) • The Shakedown (1929) • The Love Trap (1929)
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