WILLIAM WYLER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB.5.  

USA, 1938.  Warner Bros..  Screenplay by Clements Ripley, Abem Finkel, John Huston, based on the play by Owen Davis.  Cinematography by Ernest Haller.  Produced by Hal B. Wallis.  Music by Max Steiner.  Production Design by Robert M. Haas.  Costume Design by Orry-Kelly.  Film Editing by Warren Low.  

Bette Davis stuns the crowd again as a rebellious southern gal who shockingly wears red to her cotillion ball (gasp!)  She also openly pursues a handsome gentleman (Henry Fonda) who no longer wants her because of her forward ways, and when he goes off and marries some simpering ninny, Davis does her best to get revenge on both of them. Davis’ fireball performance certainly makes up for the fact that this is a completely ridiculous exercise in misogyny that has an outspoken, individualistic young woman punished with old maid-ness and an eventually dire conclusion.

Academy Awards:  Best Actress (Bette Davis); Best Supporting Actress (Fay Bainter)
Nominations: Best Picture; Best Cinematography; Best Scoring

Venice Film Festival: In Competition