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Jezebel (1938 film)

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Jezebel
File:Jesebel movieposter.jpg
Theatrical poster
Directed byWilliam Wyler
Written byClements Ripley
Abem Finkel
John Huston
Robert Buckner
Story:
Owen Davis
Produced byExecutive Producer:
Hal B. Wallis
Producer:
William Wyler
StarringBette Davis
Henry Fonda
George Brent
CinematographyErnest Haller
Edited byWarren Low
Music byMax Steiner
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
March 10, 1938
Running time
103 minutes
Country United States
LanguageEnglish

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.

Fonda and Davis

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

The Turner Classic Movies Database states that the film was offered as compensation for Bette Davis after she failed to win the part of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind.[1] Despite a radio poll showing Bette Davis the audience favourite for the role, Selznick did not consider her suitable for it.[2]

Main cast and characters

Bette Davis as Julie Marsden Henry Fonda as Preston Dillard
George Brent as Buck Cantrell Donald Crisp as Dr. Livingstone
Fay Bainter as Aunt Belle Massey

Awards

In 2009, it was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant and will be preserved for all time.[3]

Wins

Nominations

Adaptations

The movie was adapted into the March 30, 1946 episode of the 30 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.

DVD commentary

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..

Footnotes

  1. ^ "Trivial for Jezebel". Turner Classic Movies.
  2. ^ Haver, Ronald (1980). David O. Selznick's Hollywood. Bonanza Books. p. 243. ISBN 0-517-47665-7.
  3. ^ "25 new titles added to National Film Registry". Yahoo News. Yahoo. 2009-12-30. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
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