MovieChat Forums > The Trip to Bountiful (1986) Discussion > God how I could NOT stand Jessie Mae!!!

God how I could NOT stand Jessie Mae!!!

posted 17 years ago by fiatlux-1
9 replies | jump to latest

Not only was she cruel and bossy to poor Mrs. Watts, but she bullied Ludie as well and squandered his money.
But the scene that always burns me up is the one where Mrs. Watts has FINALLY made it to her girlhood home.....and she screams "Are you coming or not?!!. And she then proceeds to not only drag her away from her too-brief and obviously final trip to what she wanted so bad, but then humiliates her by reading her 'rules' while Mrs. Watts is still on her lonely land and just wants some peace to say good-bye to it.
I was SO glad when Ludie finally found his guts and told her off. He should have done it longer, and sooner!!!

Anyone agree??

"Some laughed. He let them. His own heart laughed, and that was enough."
-A Christmas Carol

[–] watergarden 17 years ago

Jessie Mae is definitely a character who is difficult to like although there is a discussion about that character in the dvd extras. In one discussion she is looked upon as a somewhat sympathetic person. I do not recall the specifics though. In addition, Geraldine Page demanded that Mrs. Watt NOT be made totally sympathetic , that it should be thought that she brings some of the torment upon herself purposely. Have you had a chance to listen to the dvd commentaries on the collector's edition? They are intriguing.

Regardless of what the commentary says, Jessie Mae's intrusion upon the Bountiful scene is unforgiving.

[–] PenTheater 16 years ago

Jessie Mae's intrusion upon the Bountiful scene is unforgiving.

because Horton Foote is telling us, reminding us, not to be like this.

[–] tuss_bear 16 years ago

Yup, that Jessie Mae is WAY overdue for a good solid bitch-slap.

[–] aorourke55 16 years ago

Jessie Mae was a very difficult character but I think the movie helped show that she wasn't really a sadist but more an immature person who couldn't cope with sharing a tiny apartment with her mother-in-law for 15 years.

[–] hodie 15 years ago

I hated Jessie Mae. I had no use for Ludie either.

But I shall stay the way I am,
Because I do not give a damn.

[–] Tjcat 15 years ago

I agree Jessie Mae is very selfish and self-centered.

I could not stand her either.

Why does Ludie stay married to her? Divorce was almost unthinkable in the 1940's.
Besides, Ludie would be required by law to pay the B**** alimony.

It is evident Ludie and his mother came from hard-working but humble beginnings.

Maybe Ludie was initially attracted to Jessie Mae because she is everything is mother is not....a city gal who wears make up, has coiffed hair and manicured nails, wears stylish clothing and shoes WITH SCRATCHES ON THEM!

[–] Adler-99 15 years ago

I think that something that was never directly touched on was Jessie Mae's feelings about not having children. She could have been very disappointed or very relieved; it's never said. Ludie was obviously disappointed and if Jessie Mae was as well then some of that might have come out as masked frustration.

[–] fiatlux-1 15 years ago

Good points. I also imagine it was almost unheard of to have children at age 40 back then, which it appeared Jessie Mae and Ludie were.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] TheMagiciansWorkshop 14 years ago

Her presence in the final scene in Bountiful almost ruins it. I don't ever condone violence towards women, but I almost wish that John Heard gave her a slap for the way she treated his mother.

But the verbal scolding he finally gives her is great.