Starring: Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, George Brent
Director: William Wyler
Created in answer to the huge film Gone With The Wind that Bette Davis missed out on starring in, this film is set in 1850’s Louisiana, and has at heart a woman who knows what she wants.
Julie Marsden (Davis) is the darling of her community, and know that many men would love to have her for their own sweetheart. But when she decides in her free spirited way to attend a ball with her fiancee Preston (Fonda) in a red dress instead of white, she’s branded a hussy (I know, how could she?). The ensuing argument breaks off their engagement, and Preston leaves town. In her pride, Julie is sure that he’ll be back, but when he does return, he’s married to someone else. But Julie is a woman not easily put off.
As an answer to Gone With The Wind, it’s nothing. But it has it’s own delights, and was quite a hit in it’s own right. Davis is charming as a strong, light-hearted woman, who is ultimately punished and labelled a Jezebel because she’s a free thinker, which is a bit sad by modern standards, and adds an extra tragic layer to the film. She’s also smart enough to be manipulative without entirely thinking things through unemotionally, which leads to the other tragic elements of this film. It’s quite large and melodramatic, which is often when I think Davis is at her finest.
I love these old films with strong, interesting and beautiful women at their centre. It’s true classic Hollywood here, with lavish costumes and sets, and an interesting location and time period.
See It If: you love Bette Davis and Gone With The Wind, a big lavish and tragic romance with a femme fatale at it’s centre.
Wildfire Movies 
Is this the one with the famous black dress with lace trim or I guess maybe it was red if it was black and white?
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I’m not sure? She does insist on wearing a red dress to a ball where etiquette demands she wear white.
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Yep that’s the one. I remember a promo shot from my film and television class. Dress looked black because it was black and white but it is the red dress and this film.
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I love thos old grand scale films as well. There is just something about that era, that makes them so awesome to watch. I haven’t seen this film yet, but I will try and locate it at some point 😊
Off topic, just saw Manchester by the Sea today. What a great movie: loved it 😀
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The hugeness, the sets, the costumes, the emotions… and the way they create ideas of history as exotic. I love it!
Omg, I hated Manchester By Sea! Ha ha! It’s such a divisive film: either love or hate it!
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Haha, lol I guess it is. But yes can’t help it, I thought it was a great movie. That is what I like about watching films, everybody experiences them differently 😀
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Yeah, I agree. It’s such an interesting thing. 😁
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Great film.
I love Bette Davis.
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She’s a total boss! So great in this film.
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