Rating: 
Summary: Bette Davis: Poor Imitation of a southern belle
Review: After viewing this movie, it only made me realize why Vivian Leigh was the only actress who could have played Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone With The Wind." "Jezebel" is like watching the poor man's 'Gone With The Wind." That Bette Davis actually won an Academy Award for her portrayal of "Julie" is astounding. Not only that, the audacity of thinking she could have ever fit the role of "Scarlett O'Hara." Bette Davis was a powerful actress in her own right. But playing a southern belle was just one "bitch" role that just didn't suit her.
Rating: 
Summary: A triumphant performance by Bette Davis
Review: After winning the Oscar for best actress in 1936 for "Dangerous", Bette Davis began to complain that Warner Brothers was not giving her scripts that were worthy of her talent. In 1936, Warner suspended her without pay for turning down a role. She then went to England, in violation of her contract, with the intention of starring in a movie without Warner Brothers' approval. The studio stopped her, telling her that if she didn't work for them she wouldn't work anywhere. In defiance, she sued to break her contract. Although she lost the lawsuit, Warner Brothers began to take her more seriously and even paid her legal expenses. The part in "Jezebel" was thought to be an olive leaf offered by the studio to mollify her.About that time, Davis made it known that she wanted the lead in David O. Selznick's upcoming production of "Gone With the Wind". She was actually considered for the role, but Warner told Selznick that they wouldn't agree to loan her out unless he also took Errol Flynn for the part of Rhett Butler. Davis refused to work with Flynn and angrily turned down the part, although Selznick did not intend to agree to Flynn regardless. Many believed that Warner Brothers purposely created an impossible deal to punish Davis for the lawsuit while making it appear they were trying to help her. It isn't clear whether "Jezebel" was offered to her before or after the negotiations for GWTW. Clearly, it didn't matter, because Bette Davis went out and gave one of the best performances of her career and won her second Oscar for best actress. This film is GWTW without Yankees. Instead, the enemy is yellow fever. The story takes place in New Orleans in the 1850's. Although there are references to the abolitionists and the prospect of war, the entire story takes place prewar. This story focuses on the southern lifestyle of the period, and in this way it is very similar to its more famous counterpart. It also follows the life and times of one very spirited woman named Julie Marsden (Bette Davis), who could have been Scarlet O'Hara's soul mate. Julie shocks New Orleans society when she insolently comes to a ball wearing a red dress when it is the custom for all proper southern girls to wear white. (A production note of interest: The famous "red" dress was actually black satin, which was used because red didn't produce enough contrast in the black and white film, causing it not to stand out enough.) As a result, her beau Preston Dillard (a youthful Henry Fonda) is mortified and he breaks off their engagement. Included in the story are a couple of duels over points of honor, a stark depiction of the yellow fever epidemic, and the noble resurrection of a contrite Julie Marsden upon Preston's return. As always, director William Wyler (with whom Bette Davis was romantically linked) does a fantastic job at direction, giving the film a genuine southern flavor and period feel. The black and white cinematography in this film is tremendous and procured the film one of its five Oscar nominations. The acting is superb all around. This is certainly one of Bette Davis' best and most memorable performances and it helped secure her place in movie history as one of Hollywood's greatest stars. Though she never won another Oscar, she went on to be nominated eight more times with five straight nominations between 1939 and 1943. Ironically, in 1940 she lost to Vivien Leigh, who won in the role Davis turned down. Fay Bainter is marvelous as Aunt Belle Bogardus garnering a best supporting actress Oscar. Henry Fonda shows a hint of his future greatness in a fabulous portrayal of Julie's no-nonsense beau. George Brent (with whom Davis also was rumored to have had an affair) also turns in a strong performance as Buck, the honorable gentleman who duels his best friend to defend Julie's honor. This is a wonderful film with great acting and directing. Though not the epic that GWTW became, it contains certain elements that Selznick undoubtedly incorporated at Tara, since the similarities between the films are striking at times. I rated this film a 10/10. For anyone interested in seeing why Bette Davis is considered one of the great actresses of the Studio era, this film is a must.
Rating:
Summary: La Belle Bette
Review: Bette Davis deservedly received the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Julie Marsden, a headstrong Southern belle, in this 1938 film. This is a stellar performance-Bette creates a character that is a remarkable blend of spoiled rich girl and tragic heroine, at times likeable and pitiable, but often loathsome. She manages to promote quite a range of emotions from the viewer... The film is beautifully shot, with scenes of sumptuous plantation decors, a society ball, and bustling 1850's New Orleans life. The opening pan of a street market is wonderful. The close-ups of Bette Davis are stunning; we see her full of hope, hate, longing, joy, and misery. I can think of no other film where she looks this beautiful. The costumes are superb. There are some scenes of plantation life that I'm sure make the NAACP cringe, but one needs to place the film into the context of 1938. The music is by Max Steiner, who one year later would write the score for Gone With the Wind. There are many other comparisons one can make between Jezebel and GWTW, as others here have noted. If the winds of casting fate had been different, Bette Davis could have been Scarlett O'Hara. Here she makes you believe she would have been outstanding. Buy this DVD for the joy of watching a bravura performance. You will find countless other pleasures and treasures in this classic film. ...
Rating:
Summary: "I wore my white dress just for you, Pres".
Review: Bette Davis gives a superb performance as the spoiled and wilful Julie, who wears a red dress to the ball and scandalizes New Orleans society. When she sees her estranged fiance Pres again she wears the white dress to beg his forgiveness. Her efforts to win him back lead to ultimate disaster and final redemption. Henry Fonda is magnificent as Pres, and the supporting cast is excellent. A fascinating and entertaining movie.
Rating:
Summary: Campy potboiler with great acting
Review: Bette Davis is great, best actress ever. Only movie I like Henry Fonda... come on, Miss Julie (Davis) creates a scandel by wearing a red dress? Fiance leaves her because of it? But the acting is excellent and the stuff about Yellow Jack is quite good, creates a scary mood. I love some of the cat fight type stuff, especially like it when Miss Julie lets Southern friends berate Northerners at a dinner with people from each area, is scolded by her moma for allowing the conversation, demurely bats her eyelashes, and explains how she'd never restrict her guests' conversation.
Rating:
Summary: First-Rate, Top-Notch, Brilliant Drama
Review: Bette Davis proves that she is one of this century's greatest perfomers in Jezebel. One of the most electrifying sequences in all of movie history has got to be her dance with Henry Fonda when after she has stubbornly decided to wear a blood-red dress to a debutante ball, she is forced against her will by Fonda to dance with him on an empty dance floor with all of society glaring on her impropriety (all of the debutantes are wearing white--- her red dress signifying sinfulness and a probability that she is not a virgin). A showcase for grand and exquisite acting.
Rating: 
Summary: JULIE NEEDS SOME SHININ' ON THIS DVD TRANSFER!
Review: Bette Davis took home the Best Actress Oscar for her performance as spoiled Southern belle, Julie in "Jezebel". More than anything Julie wants to be loved. But her mean spirit destroy her chances at happiness with a rich lawyer (Henry Fonda)and result in the death of one of her closest friends(George Brent). Then 'yellow fever' hits and the whole south begins to fall around her ankles. Davis is superb and she is supported by a stellar cast of character actors, topped off by Faye Bainter, as her sympathetic aunt. This film really stirred the breeze toward epics taking place in the south - branded box office poison up until then. It also killed whatever small chances Bette Davis had in her desire to play Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With The Wind". This is no "Gone With The Wind" but, as told by director William Wyler, its a finely crafted melodrama and a tour de force for Bette Davis. So where's the problem?
In the TRANSFER: Warner doesn't give us much to hope for. Like "Dark Victory" this DVD is riddled with artifacts and digital compression problems that leave most of the image looking excessively harsh and grainy. The audio is mono but nicely balanced. Black levels are good but the gray scale seems to be lacking - too much middle range and not enough high and low end balance so that everything registers a dismal gray rather than a vibrant silvery spectrum of lights and darks.
EXTRAS: Not a one.
BOTTOM LINE: Don't waste your money!
Rating:
Summary: JULIE NEEDS SOME SHININ' ON THIS DVD TRANSFER!
Review: Bette Davis took home the Best Actress Oscar for her performance as spoiled Southern belle, Julie in "Jezebel". More than anything Julie wants to be loved. But her mean spirit destroy her chances at happiness with a rich lawyer (Henry Fonda)and result in the death of one of her closest friends(George Brent). Then 'yellow fever' hits and the whole south begins to fall around her ankles. Davis is superb and she is supported by a stellar cast of character actors, topped off by Faye Bainter, as her sympathetic aunt. This film really stirred the breeze toward epics taking place in the south - branded box office poison up until then. It also killed whatever small chances Bette Davis had in her desire to play Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With The Wind". This is no "Gone With The Wind" but, as told by director William Wyler, its a finely crafted melodrama and a tour de force for Bette Davis. So where's the problem?
In the TRANSFER: Warner doesn't give us much to hope for. Like "Dark Victory" this DVD is riddled with artifacts and digital compression problems that leave most of the image looking excessively harsh and grainy. The audio is mono but nicely balanced. Black levels are good but the gray scale seems to be lacking - too much middle range and not enough high and low end balance so that everything registers a dismal gray rather than a vibrant silvery spectrum of lights and darks.
EXTRAS: Not a one.
BOTTOM LINE: Don't waste your money!
Rating:
Summary: One of Bette's best movies!
Review: Bette made Jezebel to try to top Gone With The Wind. As far as I'm concerned, it did! It is truly one of her best movies. But I also find it sad. Bette lost Henry Fonda to another girl and he wouldn't leave her for Bette. The end is also very touching. Bette is willing to risk her like for Henry. It is a must for all Bette Davis fans.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful depiction of the antebellum South
Review: Great Oscar winning performances by Bette Davis and Fay Bainter with strong supporting cast members. Spoiled Southern Belle loses man she loves through selfish act, to later redeem herself by self sacrificing kindness. Would love to see a color version of this movie.
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