Directed by William Wyler
Written by Clements Ripley, Abem Finkel and John Huston from the play by Owen Davis
1938/USA
Warner Bros
Repeat viewing
#120 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
Aunt Belle: Child, you’re out of your mind. You know you can’t wear red to the Olympus Ball.
Julie Marsden: Can’t I? I’m goin’ to. This is 1852, dumplin’. 1852, not the Dark Ages.
William Wyler was some director and this is a polished well-acted drama.
Neither her aunt (Faye Bainter) nor her guardian can make headstrong Julie Marsden (Bette Davis) behave according to the rules of antebellum New Orleans society. Julie is determined to win the same battle with her fiance Pres Dillard.. In a fit of pique after Pres refuses to leave an important business meeting to go to a fitting with her, Julie decides to wear a red dress to a ball. This is simply something not done by unmarried girls, who traditionally dress in virginal white. Julie loses the battle of the sexes and the story follows the many bad consequences of her stubbornness. With George Brent as a rival beau, Donald Crisp as a doctor, and Spring Byington as a society matron.
This role suited Bette Davis perfectly. She is magnificent as the haughty, catty Julie. William Wyler, with whom she was having an affair at the time, made her look radiantly lovely as well. The rest of the cast is excellent, with the possible exception of Margaret Lindsay who gets on my nerves for some reason. The production was lavish and expensive and Wyler sets off the beautiful surroundings with a fluid moving camera. The ball scene is particularly notable.
I never can make sense of the ending. Why would anyone trust Julie to return her husband? I certainly wouldn’t.
Bette Davis and Faye Bainter were awarded with Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress Oscars. Jezebel was nominated in the categories of Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Music (Scoring).
Trailer
I will guarantee you that Bette was not going to let Fonda go back to the insipid Margaret Lindsay if they survived……which I like to think they did. I really like this film and only Davis could have gotten away with being such a bitch but still likeable. I’m not sure if Fonda was good enough for her.
I thought the George Brent character would have been a better match for her.
George Brent remains unappreciated.
I thought he was quite good in this.
Yes, the ending is an enigma. My own interpretation is that in the end she got what she wanted, but the price had gotten bittersweet. I do not think it is meant as an atonement or that she is bending to some sort of moral pressure. She is bitter and she got her price in the end and the end is death.
I like your interpretation. I didn’t go for the redemption at the end — it seemed like an act.
Love Faye Bainter!
William Wyler is one of the most interesting studio directors and I’m looking forward trying to dig up his entire filmography. Thanks for bringing light onto this title.
By the way, I’ve just nominated you for a Sunshine Blog Award: http://cinephiliaque.blogspot.ca/2013/11/a-sun-that-never-setsalmost.html
You deserve it!
Why thank you!