Jeanne Eagels

I remember my acting teacher years ago talking about this movie and saying, boy, Kim Novak really thought she was ACTING.

"Jeanne Eagels" is a highly fictionalized biography of the great stage star who also acquitted herself well in films before her death at the age of 39. Directed by George Sidney, the movie also stars Jeff Chandler as Satori. His character existed, under another name, and unlike in the film, Eagels was married to him for a time. Virginia Grey has a small but showy role as a has-been who gives Eagels a script she wants to do, Rain, which turns out to be Eagels' signature play. That entire incident never happened (exceot of course that Eagles did play Sadie Thompson), but it provides some good drama in the film.

The main problem with this film is the atrocious acting of Kim Novak and Jeff Chandler. Novak was just getting started in her career, and she was the whole package - incredibly beautiful, a body to die for, a sultry speaking voice, and star quality. This type of scenery chewing dramatic role just wasn't her thing. She has such a lovely quality in Picnic; later on, she would do well in comedies and lighter films. Why Harry Cohn thought she could do this is beyond me. Chandler is way, way over the top - he did better in straightforward leading man roles.

A disappointing directing job from George Sidney. Novak deserved better. It's to her credit that she gave it a go. Thankfully, it didn't hurt what turned out to be a fine career.

It's early 20th century. Kansas City teen waitress Jeanne Eagels (Kim Novak) spends her last dollar to join the circus. She's desperate and pushes owner Sal Satori (Jeff Chandler) to give her jobs at any level. Her eyes are set on Broadway. Eventually, her name is in the lights but she has to step on others to get there. Her career declines with alcohol and drug abuse.

It's a biopic of silent star and early talkie actress Jeanne Eagels. It's a star vehicle for Novak. The material is melodramatic and she makes a meal of it. It would be more compelling to do less over-the-top melodrama. It does show that she is capable of wilder performances but she may have gone too far. It may be a backhanded compliment but this shows that Novak can actually act. Also, the movie can do more with her drug abuse problem. She also need to change her looks more. Her older looks are fine but her early looks need work. This is a functional biopic.

Although Jeanne Eagels is a fascinating film with one of two career roles for Kim Novak, the other being Vertigo, it does do some disservice in telling the story of the legendary Jeanne Eagels, Broadway star of the Twenties. The Roaring Twenties was a hard partying era, especially on women as three of the brightest stars of that era, Marilyn Miller, Helen Morgan, and Jeanne Eagels died way to soon because they indulged too much.

That part of the story is all too true, Jeanne went like Elsie in the title song from Cabaret, from too much pills and liquor. What's not true is the fact that Jeanne was basically a raw talent who came to Broadway out of nowhere and then died. Eagels did pay her dues in a long hard road in stock companies. The character that Jeff Chandler plays is based on someone she did actually marry, one of the heads of a touring company, not a carnival barker. Her second husband played by Charles Drake was a Broadway playboy and former All American football player.

The surviving members of the Eagels family did threaten suit against Columbia Pictures for this film. From what I've researched about Eagels she got a whitewash in this picture.

Kim Novak does a great job playing Eagels, a woman who indulged too much in her life. She picked Jeff Chandler for her leading man in Jeanne Eagels. This was Chandler's first picture after finishing up his exclusive contract with Universal Studios. His new contract was non-exclusive and this was his first outside film. Jeff dusted off his Brooklyn accent for his role as the carnival man who loves Jeanne, but stands by helplessly as she self destructs.

Agnes Moorehead plays Jeanne's acting coach and Larry Gates her overwrought producer. This film was the farewell performance of Gene Lockhart who has a brief scene as the presiding member of an Actors Equity Hearing. Eagels got herself in lots of problems with Equity back in the day because she blew off performances. Lockhart was active in Equity and essentially is playing himself.

There is one other really good performance, a very touching one by Virginia Grey of a fading Broadway star who also dissipated herself. The role is great, but of course it has no basis in fact, Eagels did not 'steal' the play Rain away from this woman or anyone else.

Jeanne Eagels is a fine film capturing the essence of a self destructive star of a bygone era though factually it leaves quite a lot to be desired.

OK....so this is not a classic film depicting the life of Jeanne Eagels however it has it's moments. First of all Kim Novak was a hot property at the time and she is gorgeous and oh so camp as Miss Eagels. Also captured in the film is the flavor of the era and the costumes are dazzling especially the one Novak wears as Princess Dardanella at a carnival where she gets busted by the police. The ultimate is when she prances on stage as Sadie Thompson in "Rain" to the tune of "Wabash Blues"....its actually a treat. Miss Novak is supported by a good cast including Jeff Chandler, Agnes Moorehead, Charles Drake, Murray Hamilton and especially Virginia Grey as has-been Elsie Desmond (one of Miss Grey's personal favorite roles).

... with Kim Novak as the famous stage and screen actress. The film charts her beginnings as a dancer in a carnival run by Jeff Chandler, to her eventual conquest of the Broadway stage, with the assistance of imperious acting coach Agnes Moorehead. Eagels develops a drug and alcohol problem along the way. Also featuring Gene Lockhart in his final film role. Frank Borzage also cameos as himself.

Like most Hollywood biopics, this is more fiction than fact. The weight of the story lies on Novak, who's not the kind of actress to do this part justice, although she tries. She also shows off a lot of skin, so fans of her pulchritude will enjoy that, at least. There are a few sensationalist scenes that push things towards out-right camp, but not enough to make this a must-see. Eagels' family sued Columbia over the way Eagels had been depicted in the movie

Jeanne Eagels was in a number of silent films and in a couple of talking films. She was nominated for Best Actress for her part in "The Letter" and that talking film survives.