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:
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
Jezebel (1938) (2)
By Brandy Dean on Nov 21, 2013 From Pretty Clever FilmsWhen the novel Gone with the Wind became a runaway best-seller, the office of independent producer and films rights holder David O. Selznick was flooded with fan suggestions for casting. They wanted Clark Gable as Butler (natch) but they also really, really wanted Bette Davis as Scarlett O’Har... Read full article
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Quotes from
Buck Cantrell: Look here, Miss Julie. You were out here a mighty long time with Pres Dillard.
Julie: Oh please, Buck. Pres had just been polishin' the brandy and...
Buck Cantrell: My back teeth. Did he lose his capacity to drink like a gentleman in the North too? What does he think a lady's house is - a riverboat bar? What did he do?
Julie: Oh Buck. I wouldn't have some silly thing I said be the cause of anything.
Buck Cantrell: Miss Julie, you won't be the cause of anything. Depend on me.
Julie: Thank you, Buck.
Julie Marsden: Would you like to see my new dress?
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
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Facts about
Owen Davis's play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 19 December 1933 and closed in January 1934 after 32 performances. The opening night cast included Miriam Hopkins as Julie, Joseph Cotten, Owen Davis Jr. (the writer's son), Cora Witherspoon and Lew Payton (who is also in the film).
Jeffrey Lynn originally was cast in the Pres role, but the producers of the play he was appearing in refused to release him. Fonda was a last minute replacement.
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