History Film / Jezebel

Julie Marsden (Davis) is a headstrong, rebellious Southern belle in 1852 New Orleans. Preston "Pres" Dillard (Fonda) is her more sober and responsible fiance. Julie is given to temper tantrums when she thinks that Pres isn't paying enough attention to her, and one particular tantrum, which results in her decision to wear a red dress to the Olympus Ball, backfires when Pres breaks up with her. Pres promptly leaves New Orleans, going to New York to do business. When he comes back a year later, a humbled Julie is prepared to beg his forgiveness--until she finds out that he brought a wife back with him.

Davis is Julie Marsden, a headstrong, rebellious Southern belle in 1852 New Orleans. Fonda is Preston "Pres" Dillard, her more sober and responsible fiance. Julie is given to temper tantrums when she thinks Pres isn't paying enough attention to her, and one particular tantrum, her decision to wear a red dress to the Olympus Ball, backfires when Pres breaks up with her. Pres promptly leaves New Orleans, going to New York to do business. When he comes back a year later, a humbled Julie is prepared to beg his forgiveness--until she finds out that he brought a wife back with him.

Davis is Julie Marsden, a headstrong, rebellious Southern belle in 1852 New Orleans. Fonda is Preston "Pres" Dillard, her more sober, responsible fiance. Julie is given to temper tantrums when she thinks Pres isn't paying enough attention to her, and one particular tantrum, her decision to wear a red dress to the Olympus Ball, backfires when Pres breaks up with her. Pres promptly leaves New Orleans, going to New York to do business. When he comes back a year later, a humbled Julie is prepared to beg his forgiveness--until she finds out that he brought a wife back with him.

''Jezebel'' won Davis the second of her two Oscars for Best Actress. It has a place on the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry. A young Creator/JohnHuston co-wrote the screenplay.

* GeniusBonus: While the film only says that TheBible's Jezebel "did evil in the sight of God," one of her notable crimes getting a man named Naboth executed on false charges of blasphemy. Similarly, Julie [[spoiler:manipulates the Southern code of chivalry in a way that results in Buck's death]].

* TitleDrop: Julie's Aunt Belle lays this on her after Julie eggs on a duel that gets Buck Cantrell killed, likening her to the wife of King Ahab of Jezreel who schemed to have vineyard owner Naboth executed on false charges of blasphemy.
-->'''Belle:''' I'm thinking of a woman called Jezebel who did evil in the sight of God.

* ThePlague: A yellow fever ("yellowjack") epidemic ravages New Orleans in 1853.

* TitleDrop: Julie's mother lays this on her after Julie eggs on a duel that gets Buck Cantrell killed.
--> "I'm thinking of a woman called Jezebel who did evil in the sight of God."

* DuelToTheDeath: Played completely straight. Buck Cantrell, one of Julie's suitors, seems to do this whenever he gets bored.

* NoEnding: Sort of. Julie's character arc certainly reaches a conclusion when she goes off to the yellow fever island with Pres in order to save his life. However, if you were wondering whether Pres dies or recovers from his yellow fever, you'll have to keep wondering.

* VirginInAWhiteDress: Julie spites her fiancé by wearing a red dress to [[DancesAndBalls the most important dance of the season]], when unmarried women are to wear white.

* {{Expy}}: It's been speculated that Bette Davis was offered the lead role as compensation for her not winning the much-coveted road of another [[Film/GoneWithTheWind spoiled, willful Southern Belle]]. It's also easy to see Any as this to Melanie Wilkes.

''Jezebel'' is a 1938 film directed by Creator/WilliamWyler, starring Creator/BetteDavis and Creator/HenryFonda. Davis is Julie Marsden, a headstrong, rebellious Southern belle in 1852 New Orleans. Fonda is Preston "Pres" Dillard, her more sober, responsible fiance. Julie is given to temper tantrums when she thinks Pres isn't paying enough attention to her, and one particular tantrum, her decision to wear a red dress to the Olympus Ball, backfires when Pres breaks up with her. Pres promptly leaves New Orleans, going to New York to do business. When he comes back a year later, a humbled Julie is prepared to beg his forgiveness--until she finds out that he brought a wife back with him.

--> "I'm thinking of a woman called Jezebel who did evil in the sight of God."

''Jezebel'' won Davis the second of her two Oscars for Best Actress. It has a place on the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry.

''Jezebel'' won Davis the second of her two Oscars for Best Actress. It has a place on the NationalFilmRegistry.

* CostumePorn: Lots and lots of fancy dresses. One, the red dress that Julie wears to the Olympus Ball in defiance of convention, is a plot point.