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Jezebel

Name: Jezebel
Director: William Wyler
Released: 1938
Duration: 103 min

Representation Score

2.0/10

Limited

1938

Director

William Wyler

Runtime

103 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Jezebel stands out as a complex character study that challenges traditional gender roles. By focusing on a protagonist who defies 19th-century social norms, the film disrupts conventional ideas of female behavior. However, this character development is overshadowed by the film's adherence to the racial and social hierarchies of its setting. While the film avoids the 'moral hero' cliché by presenting a morally ambiguous lead, it remains constrained by the social and racial dynamics of its era.

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Category Breakdown

Does Jezebel have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The story follows traditional heterosexual norms and does not include any representations of diverse gender identities or LGBTQ themes.

How does Jezebel portray gender?

Good

Julie Marsden challenges traditional gender roles by being aggressive and assertive, showing psychological complexity and independence that contrasts with the typical passive female character of the time.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Jezebel?

Minimal

The cast is mainly composed of white actors, reflecting the racial hierarchy of the 1850s American South. The story stays within these social structures without questioning or challenging segregation.

How does Jezebel represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film examines moral ambiguity through a protagonist whose actions are driven by personal desires. It focuses on personal instability rather than critiquing the plantation system or Western institutions.

Does Jezebel include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not depict any characters with physical or neurological disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film offers a psychologically rich protagonist who rejects traditional, submissive femininity.
Julie Marsden demonstrates significant independence and assertiveness through her social interactions and aggression.

Limited or Absent

The story does not question or challenge the racial segregation and hierarchies of the pre-Civil War South.
The film lacks any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or themes.
There are no depictions of characters with physical or neurological disabilities.

Official Synopsis

In 1850s Louisiana, the willfulness of a tempestuous Southern belle threatens to destroy all who care for her.

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