Jezebel

Jezebel (1938)

Timing: 1:43 (103 min)

7.074/10
183

7.231/10
1658

7.4/10
16000

All about film

Video 4

Photo 24

Actors and characters

Release date

1938-03-26

Country

United States

Production

Warner Bros. Pictures

Genre

Drama, Romance

Budget

$1 250 000

Revenue

$0

Website

Director

William Wyler

Actors

Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, George Brent, Margaret Lindsay, Donald Crisp, Fay Bainter, Richard Cromwell, Henry O'Neill, Spring Byington, John Litel
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

William Wyler, Hal B. Wallis

Operator

Ernest Haller

Composer

Max Steiner

Artist

Audition

Editing

Warren Low
All team (28)

• Bette Davis (1908-1989) realized that William Wyler (1902-1981) was an unusual director when he asked her to review the day's footage with him (a request no director in any of the films she had previously appeared in had ever made of her). When they got to the scene where her character descends the stairs (a scene Davis was struggling with, and over 30 takes had been shot), she noticed her expression in the take that finally satisfied the director. It was the face of a completely reckless and daring young woman, which perfectly conveyed the nature of her character. After this incident, she no longer complained, no matter how many takes Wyler ordered.
• According to some sources, the heroine Bette Davis's red dress was actually bronze in color, because this color looked better on black and white film than red.
• During filming in 1938, Bette Davis's father passed away on New Year's Eve. She was even unable to attend the funeral, as the filming was already 24 days behind schedule.
• To film the duel scene, in order to not fall further behind schedule, they asked screenwriter John Huston (1906-1987). This was his first experience with directing.