Jezebel (1938) | |
| Director(s) | William Wyler |
| Producer(s) | William Wyler, Henry Blanke (associate uncredited), Hal B. Wallis (executive uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Top Topics | Based on Play, Book-Based, Old South |
Featured Cast:
Jezebel Overview:
Jezebel (1938) was a Drama - Romance Film directed by William Wyler and produced by William Wyler, Hal B. Wallis and Henry Blanke.
SYNOPSIS
The role perhaps most closely associated with Davis is an utter triumph. As a coquettish belle in the Civil War South, Davis taunts and teases the men who desire her (Fonda and Brent) until her options vanish and she's faced with life alone. She realizes her shallowness and the depth of her potential loss when Fonda becomes ill. Wyler and Davis were famous combatants, but the director was able to elicit her best work (here and in The Little Foxes, 1941). He was noted for endless takes and for allowing scenes to develop in one shot rather than by intercutting close-ups and reaction shots. This required discipline and concentration from actors. The results, as in this, were worth the effort.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.Jezebel was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2009.
Academy Awards 1938 --- Ceremony Number 11 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actress | Bette Davis | Won |
| Best Supporting Actress | Fay Bainter | Won |
| Best Cinematography | Ernest Haller | Nominated |
| Best Music - Scoring | Max Steiner | Nominated |
| Best Picture | Warner Bros. | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
“Jezebel”: A Southern Firebrand’s Descent from Scandal to Redemption
By Stephen Reginald on May 12, 2026 From Classic Movie Man“Jezebel”: A Southern Firebrand’s Descent from Scandal to Redemption Released in 1938 and directed by William Wyler, Jezebel is a classic Southern melodrama set in 1850s New Orleans. The story follows Julie Marsden (played by Bette Davis), a headstrong and defiant socialite wh... Read full article
The Colors of Contagion in JEZEBEL (1938)
By Jennifer Garlen on Jan 30, 2024 From Virtual ViragoBette Davis won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for the Civil War melodrama, Jezebel (1938), which took advantage of the cultural mania over Gone with the Wind by using many of the same plot elements and beating the 1939 blockbuster to theaters. Like Gone with the Wind, Jezebel tells the s... Read full article
Jezebel (1938): A Bette Davis Southern Belle
By 4 Star Film Fan on Aug 22, 2019 From 4 Star FilmsThe oldest movie?theater near where I grew up was built in 1938 and by some?peculiar coincidence, Bette Davis is said to have driven by the establishment time and time again. Being the iron-willed personality that she was, the rising star demanded they open with her latest movie. (I?assume very few ... Read full article
TCM Classic Film Festival Day 1: 7 Seconds of Bette Davis in JEZEBEL (1938)
By Lara on Apr 6, 2017 From BacklotsThis afternoon, classic film fans from around the country and the world descended upon the stretch of Hollywood Boulevard that runs from the Roosevelt Hotel?to the Egyptian Theater for the opening of the TCM Classic Film Festival. For much of the day, the street was completely blocked off for the re... Read full article
Jezebel (1938) (3)
By Beatrice on Nov 23, 2013 From Flickers in TimeJezebel 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 Julie Marsden: Can’t I? I’m goin’ to. This is 1852, dumplin’. 1852, not ... Read full article
See all Jezebel articles
Quotes from
Preston Dillard: That's what I wanted to do all day!
Julie Marsden: Well, let me go. There it is.
Preston Dillard: For the Olympus Ball?
Julie Marsden: Isn't it lovely!
Preston Dillard: Julie! It's red!
Julie Marsden: It's gorgeously red!
Preston Dillard: You can't wear red to the Olympus Ball!
Julie Marsden: Why not!
Preston Dillard: You never saw an unmarried girl in anything but white!
Julie Marsden: Well you're going to see one tomorrow night!
Preston Dillard: Julie, you can't be serious!
Julie Marsden: Are you afraid someone will take me for one of those girls from Gallatan street?
Preston Dillard: Julie!
Julie Marsden: Oh I'm sorry! I forgot, I'm a child. I'm not supposed to know about things like Gallatan street! I'm just supposed to flutter around in white!
Preston Dillard: You're supposed to know better than to scandalize the whole town!
Julie Marsden: [Looks unhappily at him] It might be bad for the bank of course! Will you please hold another directors meeting and ask 'em to decide what I can wear?
Preston Dillard: Julie for heavens sake! Will you be reasonable?
Julie Marsden: [Snaps back sadly] Where you reasonable this afternoon?
Preston Dillard: So that's It... Your just nursing a spite, well I'm not gonna let you! You made your point for what your going to do as I say! I'm calling for you tomorrow night at 10 and you are going to be dressed properly for the ball in white!
Julie Marsden: Am I? But of course Preston. If you say so.
Preston Dillard: Don't be absurd! Your own good sense will say so!
Julie Marsden: And it doesn't?
Preston Dillard: Then my sweet we will stay at
Julie: Why did you do it? Why Pres?
Preston Dillard: Because I love her
Julie: But you had my love!
Preston Dillard: And lost it.
Julie: Wasn't that memory more real than anything she had to give to you?
[Preston walks away]
Julie: Don't be cross with me, Pres. Just tell me. You must!
Preston Dillard: Please don't, Julie!
Julie: Sha'll I cry for you? Nobody ever made me cry but you... And that was only twice! Do you remember?
Preston Dillard: Yes
Julie: How much do you remember?
Preston Dillard: Everything you ever said or did. But thats the past now. Done. Finished.
Julie: I 'ought to have came to you. I wanted to so terribly... I't was because I wanted to so much that i couldn't. You do understand that don't you Pres?
Preston Dillard: I didn't understand. I just knew what you did.
Julie: But you had to come back home didn't you? You had to come back to the country and the things you know... Because you belong here! Nothing can change that. Listen... Can you hear them? The night noises? The Mocking bird in the magnolia. See the moss hanging from the moonlight. You can fairly taste the night can't you? You're part of it Pres and it's part of you. Like I am. You cant get away from us Pres, we're both in your blood. This is the country you were born to, the country you know and trust. Your country Pres! Amy wouldn't understand. She'd think there'd be snakes...
Preston Dillard: Julie please!
Julie: It isn't tame not like the North. It's quick and dangerous, but you trust it! Like how the fever mist smells in the bottoms, rank and rotten but you trust that too. Because it's part of you. Just as I'm part of you and we'll never let you go!
[Julie kisses Preston, he pushes her away]
Julie: Pres you're afraid!
[Preston glares at her angrily and walks away]
Aunt Belle: Expecting a man to go to a dress makers with you! I declare i hope Pres doesn't come!
Julie: He will
Aunt Belle: But Julene!
Julie: Now dumplin' don't you fret about Pres I've been training him for years!
Aunt Belle: Like that man-killing horse you bought!
Julie: Pres was outrageous! He had no right to tell me what i could ride and what i couldnt!
Aunt Belle: The horse showed you what you couldn't! You broke your collar bone and your engagement!
Julie: And they both mended so i was right after all
[Smiles at Aunt Belle happily]
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Facts about
Because of excessive takes for each scene by director William Wyler, Jezebel allegedly ran 28 days behind schedule.
The red dress sequence was based on a real-life white ball in Hollywood at which all the women dutifully appeared in white - except for Mrs. MGM, Norma Shearer. Comment from another guest: "Who does Norma think she is - the house madam?"
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