MovieChat Forums > Jezebel (1938) Discussion > Selfishly self-sacrificing

Selfishly self-sacrificing

posted 9 years ago by dmnemaine
5 replies | jump to latest

Or self-sacrificingly selfish. Even when Julie chooses to risk her life to go with Pres to the island, she obviously does it because she's found a way to keep Pres away from Amy and for herself, at least for the weeks/months of his recovery or death from yellow fever. And who knows that she may yet be able to lure him away from Amy during the time that they're together because she's being so noble and self-sacrificing. Bette Davis plays this perfectly in the final scene of the film. You can see the gears working in Julie's head from the moment the doctor says that Pres will have to go to the island.

[–] pshu4 9 years ago

Yes, I think to take her words at face value would be a little idealistic. But I suppose that's what movies are to a certain extent. Therefore, I think we are to believe that after Julie hears the news that Buck has been killed, she has actually come to terms with the fact that she has been selfish and destructive to those that have loved her. And after the runaway has been shot and Julie invites the guests back to her house, we are again to believe she truly means that as opposed to merely a formality.

I suspect if more attention were paid to these 2 scenes, then the viewer truly would have better received the 'redemption' of Julie at the end. So I agree with you that I felt she did not feel 100% sincere.

[–] DreamsAgain 9 years ago

Plus, the movie ends very "open ended", leaving the viewer to come up w/ their own interpretation of what might happen in the future,---in Julie's life.

My feeling is that Julie did learn a lot about LIFE from what happened to BUCK and the past relationship w/ Pres (plus from the War,& the yellow fever epidemic, etc) .

Julie might always remain a spoiled little brat after all is done, but she will have become a better and more empathetic person in the end.
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[–] EliotTempleton 9 years ago

Jezebel takes place in 1852-53, a decade before "the War".

[–] DreamsAgain 8 years ago

WOw, did not know that.
I thought it took place at about the same period as GONE WITH THE WIND.
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[–] FranLovesBetteD 8 years ago

Bette Davis plays this perfectly in the final scene of the film.

That final scene was what made me fall furiously and unconditionally in love with Ms. Davis, and still gives me goosebumps. Epic.

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