MovieChat Forums > Jezebel (1938) Discussion > Julie / Pres / Bette / Henry: No Chemist...

Julie / Pres / Bette / Henry: No Chemistry

posted 13 years ago by Danusha_Goska
5 replies | jump to latest

Classic film, but flawed: there's no chemistry between Julie and Preston / Henry and Bette.

I can't imagine a universe where Henry Fonda and Bette Davis would make a convincing screen couple.

She's great with George Brent and Gary Merrill. Fonda? No.

Would have been a much stronger film if there had been a scene where Pres and Julie convincingly showed their love for each other.

GWTW did do that right: you really believe Scarlett's chemistry with both Ashley AND Rhett.

[–] akroagate 13 years ago

Agreed. I think the fault lies mostly with Fonda. He comes across as such a stick in the mud.

Time of your life, huh, kid?

[–] Danusha_Goska 13 years ago

I have to wonder if any of it was passive aggression on Fonda's part. there's a famous photo of Bette and William Wyler looking very into each other, and Fonda's in the background, looking like a very pissed off third wheel.

[–] joystar5879 13 years ago

Henry Fonda had more things on his mind than "chemistry" when making this film.
JEZEBEL was filmed between October of 1937 and January of 1938, and the first Fonda child (Jane) was born on 21 December 1937. I'D be preoccupied too.

[–] Iwishyouwell 12 years ago

Just finished Jezebel for the first time mere minutes ago.

I actually was very convinced by the chemistry between Pres and Julie. It never even crossed my mind that they were viewed as devoid of chemistry until I read your post.

Favorite Pastime: Feeding Trolls

[–] creightonhale 11 years ago

I think you miss the point totally. There's no need for chemistry between Julie and Pres, much less between Davis and Fonda, just as there is no need for chemistry between Scarlett and Ashley, Leigh and Howard. Just as Scarlett loves the idea of Ashley rather than the man himself, Julie loves the idea of Pres, and not the man himself. Neither Ashley nor Pres loves the woman that is infatuated with him, and that he is simply infatuated with because of her individuality, her head-strongness, her very difference from the other women of her tme, but neither man is capable of "flouting" convention and loving a woman who is so unacceptable to the society in which they live. As Julie says to Amy, "We both know. Pres loves his wife. Who else would he love? Not me surely; I've done too much against him...Had there been any love in his heart for me, I would have taken him from you. I tried and failed. 'Cause he loves only you." The only reason Julie wants to go with Pres is because, as she says, "I'm asking asking for the chance to porove I can be brave and strong and unselfish. Help me, Amy. Help me to make myself clean again as you're clean. Let me prove myself worthy of the love I bear him." Julie's final sacrifice is not for an undying love for Pres, but for a chance at redemption for her selfishness, an understanding of her flaws and her "hubris." Through this sacrifice, she becomes a tragic heroine. Chemistry has nothing to do with it.

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