MovieChat Forums > Jezebel (1938) Discussion > Does anyone have a problem with the endi...

Does anyone have a problem with the ending?

posted 17 years ago by pwbri
59 replies | jump to latest

Being one of my favourite movies and a Bette devotee I recently watched Jezebel with a friend who had never seen it.

All went well and she loved the film - until we got to the ending.

'NO NO NO!' she cried, 'It can't end like this - do they die?
- do they survive?'

In short she feels cheated and wanted to see a more resolved ending.
We now have debates,not arguments, about this? I am happy with the
ending but my friend is definately not happy

I'd like to know what others think?

[–] creightonhale 12 years ago

No, no problem at all; it's perfectly organic in terms of the character and tragic theme. Here's what I wrote in response to another thread here:

Julie is a tragic heroine because she realizes her faults at the end of the film and willingly sacrifices her life to receive redemption. The implication at the end is that she will sacrifice her life, as heroes in classic tragedy always do, for the betterment of others. Much debate has taken place about whether she will survive when she goes to Lazerette Island with Pres. I don't think there is any doubt that she'll die; she must, as the Biblical Jezebel did, die for her sins. The real question is whether Pres will survive. I believe he will; otherwise, Julie's sacrifice will have been in vain and will rob her of her tragic status.

"The answers to all of life's riddles can be found in the movies."

[–] Clothes-Off 12 years ago

I would also add that it seems it does not matter whether they would live or die. The whole point of the story is Julie's redemption. That comes from knowing that even if she succeeds in "fighting for" Pres's health, he will go back to Amy. She has nothing to gain from it, which explains the look on her face at the end holding her head high knowing she is for the first time in her life she's being truly unselfish, making a sacrifice for someone else.

"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

[–] TANSD76 12 years ago

I do think the ending elevates what is otherwise a rather boring film centered around the machinations of a selfish character who is unpleasant to watch.

[–] flavia18 9 years ago

I agree., The entire point is that Julie has grown to where she would sacrifice herself for another woman's man, so it is actually immaterial who survives - Julie &/or Preston!

Those who study history are doomed to watch others repeat it.

[–] Paula57 12 years ago

At the time they thought it was contagious though. They didn't discover the mosquito connection until the 1880's. So Julie very well could have felt she would follow him in death.

[–] tjohn75769 11 years ago

I was annoyed greatly by the ending... Does he live? Does he die? Does Julie catch the yellow fever and die? How does it end? And to all those who are saying that Julie was looking for redemption, how do you know? Who's to say that Julie wasn't looking for that slim piece of hope that if she saved Press and not Amy he would throw Amy away? Yes, I am that cynical...

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] mark-1589 9 years ago

I think the ending is PERFECT!! Life is not tied up in neat little packages and often we don't get resolution. Also, it leaves it to the viewer to speculate. Would it have been a better ending if Pres returned, told his wife how Julie selflessly nursed him back to health but herself was taken by the yellow fever, and then his wife comments how, "In the end, she atoned for her sins!" Stirring music as the camera pans away from the back of the loving couple gazing into the sunset. I cannot imagine a worse way to end it.

[–] FranLovesBetteD 8 years ago

I LOVE the ending. A happy one would have totally ruined a superb movie.

Animal crackers in my soup
Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop

[–] tonik_2000 8 years ago

I felt like this movie ended in the middle.

[–] noirgirl 8 years ago

I do, I hate unresolved endings. An above poster was right about yellow fever not being contagious without the mosquito bite, but being dumped on Lazarette Island was still almost a death sentence. Fever, no meds, fighting for food, shelter, more mosquitos, (so Julie could still have been bitten and made ill herself), impure water, and let's not forget the leprosy. What are the percentages of surviving all of that? I truly think leaving the ending open ruined this great movie and they should have put in who lived and who didn't.

[–] marktayloruk (2507) 3 years ago

Sequel following year?