JEZEBEL.

US, 1938, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, George Brent, Margaret Lindsay, Donald Crisp, Fay Bainter, Richard Cromwell, Henry O’ Neill, Spring Byington.
Directed by William Wyler.

Bette Davis had let Hollywood know that she would like to appear in Gone With The Wind as Scarlett O’ Hara. However, she was not cast. Instead, Jezebel is her chance to be a southern belle, wilful like Scarlett O’ Hara. The Jezebel of the title refers to the biblical character from the Books of Kings, the wife of King Ahab who helped her husband gain property that he coveted, urged him on to battle, urged him to worship false gods, confronted the prophet Elijah, used make-up to attract the conquering King Jehu, was cast down from her window by the king and the dogs ate her in the streets. The symbolism of Jezebel for Julie is quite clear.

The film is set in New Orleans in the 1850s, hints of slavery and abolition and hints of the coming war. However, the climax of the film is an outbreak of Yellow Fever.

Bette Davis was emerging as a great American actress during the 1930s and won an Oscar for her performance in Dangerous in 1935. She had impressed audiences with her role in Of Human Bondage opposite Leslie Howard in 1934. After troubles with Warner Bros and suing them about her contract, she was given Jezebel and made a great success of it, winning her second Oscar. Henry Fonda is very strong in the central male lead role. Regulars at Warner Bros appear in supporting roles and Fay Bainter as Aunt Belle was to win an Oscar for best supporting actress.

The film was directed by William Wyler. Wyler was to win three Oscars for direction and best film with Mrs Miniver, The Best Years of Our Lives and Ben Hur. Of all directors, he is the director who has directed most actors to Oscar-winning performances. The film was also nominated for an Oscar for best music by Max Steiner and best black and white cinematography.

It still stands well as a piece of Americana, life in the south before the civil war.

1. The meaning of the title? The Biblical overtones of the name and the application to Miss Julie? Was she a Jezebel?

2. Comment on the effectiveness of the film's portrayal of New Orleans, its styles and its customs.

3. Comment on the film's picture of the economic situation of New Orleans and the south. How realistic a picture did the film give? What details were emphasised in this in the life and the work, of the City?

4. How well did the film communicate Southern suspicions of the North? Why was the South suspicious of the North?

5. What kind of person was Miss Julie in herself? her place in society? Her contempt of ordinary people? Her relationship to the men of the city? The impact of the duel?

6. The Ball sequence and the fact that she was late? Her being spoilt, her flouting of conventions? How important was the Ball sequence?

7. Comment on the incidental picture of society and the minor characters of the film - Aunt Bell, the remarks that were made?

8. Preston and his work at the Bank? What kind of man was he in himself? As a Northerner? His relationship to Julie? The nature of their love?

9. The impact of the clash between North and South and its repercussions for the South?

10. Julie and the red dress, for herself, for society, for the film? Julie's relationship to Buck?

11. Had Julie changed by the end of the film? Her rejection by Buck? Her relationship to Preston? The collapse of her world? The humiliation and the change of her tone? Her jealousy? her realisation of her lost opportunities?

12. Was the finale of the film realistic - her going off heroically? Trying to atone? What future did each of the characters have at the end of the film?

13. Has the film dated? what insight into America of the 19th century? Did Bette Davis deserve an Oscar for this performance?