Jezebel (1938) in Color — Starring Bette Davis & Henry Fonda

Jezebel (1938) — Buy This Classic in Color

Witness Bette Davis at the height of her powers in Jezebel (1938), now available to buy as a professionally colorized version. Davis delivers an Oscar-winning tour de force as a headstrong Southern belle whose willful defiance of convention leads to devastating consequences in antebellum New Orleans. Directed by the masterful William Wyler, this classic film is a sweeping romantic drama of pride, passion, and redemption. Originally released in black and white, this restored masterpiece has been meticulously enhanced through frame-by-frame HD colorization. Download your instant, DRM-free copy today for just €15.00 and watch this Academy Award-winning drama in color.

Plot Summary

Julie Marsden is the toast of New Orleans high society — beautiful, spirited, and accustomed to getting her way. Engaged to the upright banker Preston Dillard, Julie delights in testing the limits of his patience and Southern propriety. When she deliberately scandalizes the city’s most prestigious ball by wearing a brazen red dress instead of the customary white, she expects Preston to indulge her rebellious gesture. Instead, he forces her to dance the entire evening as couple after couple abandons the floor in shock and disapproval.

The humiliation triggers a chain of events that shatters their engagement. Preston departs for the North on business, and a proud, unrepentant Julie spends the intervening year scheming for his return, convinced she can win him back through the same force of personality that drove him away. When Preston finally returns to New Orleans, he brings with him a wife — the composed and gracious Amy Bradford — delivering a blow that strips Julie of her last illusions of control.

Desperate and humiliated, Julie manipulates the devoted Buck Cantrell into a confrontation that ends in bloodshed, further tarnishing her reputation and deepening her isolation. As yellow fever descends upon New Orleans with terrifying speed, the epidemic forces a final reckoning. Julie’s journey from selfish defiance to selfless sacrifice culminates in a profoundly moving act of atonement that reveals the depth of character hidden beneath her willfulness. This classic movie earned Davis her second Academy Award and cemented her status as Hollywood’s greatest dramatic actress.

Cast & Crew

• Starring: Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, George Brent, Margaret Lindsay, Donald Crisp, Fay Bainter
• Director: William Wyler
• Runtime: 103 minutes
• Year: 1938
• Rated: Approved
• Genre: Romance, Drama
• Country: USA

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized and restored version brings the sumptuous world of antebellum New Orleans to breathtaking visual life. The colorization process reveals the elegance of the grand ballroom sequences, the lush Southern gardens, and the period costumes in rich, historically accurate tones — most crucially, the vivid red of Julie’s infamous ball gown, which stands in shocking contrast to the sea of white worn by every other woman at the Olympus Ball. Experiencing this pivotal scene in full color transforms it from an abstract dramatic concept into a visceral visual statement of rebellion. The warm ambers and golds of candlelit interiors, the verdant greens of the Louisiana landscape, and the ominous, muted tones of the yellow fever sequences all gain powerful new emotional resonance. Now also available in colour.

Buy now for an instant, secure digital download with no DRM restrictions. Compatible with all devices that play MP4 files.

Historical Significance

Jezebel occupies a significant place in Hollywood history, arriving in 1938 as Warner Bros.’ direct response to the long-anticipated Technicolor production of Gone with the Wind. Bette Davis had famously campaigned for the role of Scarlett O’Hara, and Jezebel gave her a vehicle to deliver a comparable Southern heroine entirely on her own terms. Her electrifying performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress — her second — while Fay Bainter won Best Supporting Actress, making it one of the most decorated films of its year. Director William Wyler’s meticulous craftsmanship and his legendary working relationship with Davis produced some of the most emotionally complex scenes in 1930s cinema. The film also stands as an early example of Hollywood addressing issues of racial and social hierarchy in the antebellum South with a degree of nuance uncommon for its time.

Technical Details

• Original Format: Black and White (1938)
• Colorized: Frame-by-frame HD colorization
• Resolution: HD 720p
• File Format: MP4 / MKV
• Running Time: 103 minutes
• Delivery: Instant download link on-screen and sent to your email upon purchase.
• Price: €15.00
• License: Personal, non-commercial use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: What is Jezebel about?
The film follows Julie Marsden, a headstrong Southern belle in 1850s New Orleans, whose willful defiance of social convention destroys her engagement and sets in motion a chain of events leading to tragedy and ultimate redemption.

Q: Did Bette Davis win an Oscar for Jezebel?
Yes, Davis won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for this role, and Fay Bainter also won Best Supporting Actress, making it a major awards contender in 1938.

Q: Why is the red dress scene so famous?
Julie deliberateely wears a scarlet gown to a formal ball where all unmarried women are expected to wear white, creating one of cinema’s most iconic acts of social rebellion and public humiliation.

Digital Download Questions

Q: Is this the original film with added color?
Yes, this is the original black and white film professionally colorized frame-by-frame for authentic, vibrant visuals.

Q: What devices can I watch this on?
Any device that supports MP4 playback, including Smart TVs, Windows/macOS computers, and iOS/Android devices.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
Yes, this digital download is DRM-free for your personal use.

Q: How and when will I receive my download?
You will receive a secure download link on the confirmation page immediately after purchase. A copy of the link will also be sent to your email address.

Related Colorized Classics

• Dear Heart (1965)
• Mr. Soft Touch (1949)
• Reunion in France (1942)
• Father Takes a Wife (1941)
• Carnaval Atlântida (1952)