it be 1850 new orleans and and julie marsten ( davis ) and a head strong young woman who doesn not find it the least improper to be late for her own engagement party because she feel like rid her horse instead and be get marry to preston dillard ( fonda ) . unfortunately and preston isn not at the party because he be hammer out business at his family bank while when they be married and he and julie will be move north and an almost sacrilegious action during this time . buck cantrell ( george brent ) be julie former beau and who remain a family friend and still defend julie honor . one day and when preston doesn not drop everything to attend a dress fitting for julie that he have originally promise to attend and she defiantly insist that she purchase a red dress and break the white dress only tradition for the ball they be attend . despite the protestation of everyone she know and include preston and she wear the dress to the ball and cause her to be ostracize and the official break up of her engagement to preston when he realize that he can not deal with her headstrong attitude . he leave for the north without her and and come back a year later with a surprise and and see that yellow fever have grip new orleans and a peril that threaten everyone . jezebel be a tale of defiance and love and redemption . davis play her role so well that it be hard to determine whether you want to support her or marginalize her a a spoiled brat . i think that even when the film be make and ( 1938 ) the line be still blur a to how many freedom and how much free thinking should be afford to woman . it be easy for me to say that julie red dress be much ado about nothing and but then again and this be the millennium and when nothing be overtly shock anymore . the mere fact that i think so much about a classic film ( which generally have throwaway plot ) be a true testament to davis performance and the writing and under william wyler direction . jezebel be essentially go with the wind without the budget or the color and and be make the year before that film be release . most of the character be fairly throwaway and but the subject be julie and and her development be amazing and very believable and despite the melodramatic genre . this be a film that most classic film lover have see and i be sure ( i be apparently a late bloomer in regard to this film ) but if you be one and you haven not see it and or be a bette davis fan and see this movie . most of her late 30 to 1950 film be so spectacular just because of her performance ( if the rest be good and it gravy ) and and this be one of her best known performance . positive shelly .