bette davis be a southern belle whose aunt ( fay bainter ) call her jezebel in a moment of supreme disappointment . this be a 1938 film also star henry fonda and george brent and and donald crisp . bette be julie marsden and a brat engage to preston dillard ( fonda ) . she soon lose him for what appear to be the second time when she wear a red dress to a ball where all the woman be in white . press go to the north and return with a wife ( margaret lindsay ) . julie set out to win him back and with a bad result . jezebel have many similarity to go with the wind the south and the red dress and the manipulative and strong young woman and her obsession with a man and the disapproval by the family of her action . the period be the 1850s while the place be louisiana and where there be an outbreak of the dreaded yellow fever . although the film be similar to gwtw it stand on it own . it doesn not have the sweeping scope of gwtw . it the story of one woman love for a man and the effect it have on those around her . there be some striking scene represent the dance sequence and when press and julia be the only one on the dance floor due to her be in red while and the end be very striking . bette davis be great in the title role . under william wyler direction and it a restrained performance . it a good thing because she appear opposite the master of underplaying and henry fonda . all of the woman look stun in their gown and davis in particular . a with scarlett and ashley and we do not really know what the attraction be between julia and press and and the script doesn not tell u . fonda seem a little on the dull side for a lively girl like julia . donald crisp turn in a powerful performance a dr. livingstone and and george brent be very good a the elegant buck cantrell . highly recommended . one of davis best .