source: Jeanne Eagels

Jeanne Eagels

I was so fascinated by this woman's tragic life that I decided to look her up on the net. Sadly, I learned that maybe 30% was based on truth and the rest was a myth. I was very disappointed to learn that. My other issues were the inaccurate costume design by Jean Louis for that time period as I was with Helen Hunt for her hair style which did little to portray the real Jeanne Eagels. The entire first half with the carnival was a myth. She was a trained actress and had been acting since a very young age. I can understand changing the name of the Princeton Football star to protect his innocence because of their volatile relationship. The fact she died of an alcohol and drug overdose was correct but the where and when was inaccurate. Overall, I loved the picture, until I went to do the research and I found it to be really disappointing.

It would be very difficult to cast at the time and to pick Kim Novak in the lead but it is the best she has ever done, even now. The story obviously had to be changed, especially names, because of the time there were relatives still living and they could sue. The period and mood is right and Kim Novak does look fabulous, but to achieve the life and notoriety of a great actress of the period was impossible. Jeff Chandler was miscast but the rest, including Agnes Moorhead were right. Its period, melancholy, costumes, scenery makes it sad but I still loved it! Perhaps it is time now for a remake as it is nearly 50 years since it was made?

After hearing about this film for years I finally did get to see it on the TCM channel. This bio-pic, though not all that faithful to the life and career of the real Jeanne Eagles does work as a film due mainly to the casting of Kim Novak. In the title role she gives one of the most memorable performances of her career. Maybe the role that she is playing - an actress hell bent on success who nonetheless feels that something is missing hit a little close to home, but it works in the context of this Harold Robbins - type show business saga. At the start of the film she is all tremulous ambition, moving on to buoyant success and then to loneliness, depression and addiction. Though she overdoes it in some of the drunk, bitchy diva scenes she does redeem herself at the end and her death scene is tragic and touching. The film benefits also from some good supporting cast work from Agnes Moorhead and Jeff Chandler and some great black and white cinematography.

Jeanne Eagels was a great Broadway actress of the 1920's and an absolute sensation in the play "Rain". She went to Hollywood and made a handful of films but soon succumbed to drug and alcohol problems. Kim Novak, gorgeous though she was, on her best day wasn't a blip on the acting screen compared to Eagels, even though when used right she could be effective, as in "Picnic". Here she has the total film in her incapable hands - courtesy of Harry Cohn of Columbia with whom she was rumored to be having an "affair". Novak's drunk scene is one of the worst and most embarrassing ever on film. The script itself is the usual Hollywood baloney with passing reference to fact. See it only to gaze in disbelief at that atrocious drunk scene. And then turn to the IMDb reviews of Joan Crawford in "Rain".

Jeanne Eagels was one of the best movies Kim Novak made. The chemistry between Jeff Chandler and herself was superb, storyline was excellent and the final falling star scene at the conclusion of this movie was tastefully done. Surprised a remake has not been attempted since this movie premeiered in 1957. Unfortunately this film was soon forgotten, and I have rarely seen any re-runs of it on television, which is a shame. Agnes Moorhead as usual was superb in her role along with Charles Drake. Comments have been made about Jeff Chandler being miscast in his role, but in my opion he diversified well in his role, considering how many other roles he attempted, this role was similar to the one he played in Stranger In My Arms with June Allyson.

Very good film with Kim Novak and Jeff Chandler giving two very good performances. Agnes Moorehead gives fine support as an imperious drama coach who turns into a real human being. The story, well done, is the usual of a woman climbing to fame but allowing it to go to her head with alcoholism and drug addiction occurring. Novak does well in the title role for the first part of the film. It is when success sets in and she begins her outbursts that there is a definite tendency on her part to over-act.She tries to emulate Susan Hayward in "I'll Cry Tomorrow," and Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Boulevard." Yes, she is definitely a tragic figure in the vein of a Lillian Roth or Norma Desmond, but she does over reach her bounds. Look for a brief but wonderful performance by Virginia Grey, who is duped by Eagels and commits suicide. Chandler is excellent in the role of the man she really loved, but never married because marriage would have destroyed them.

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.

This is truly a movie worth viewing, if only for the chance to see KIM NOVAK portray another talented actress, the late Jeanne Eagles. Kim's acting is superb, although the screenplay is a tad flat. Agnes Moorehead gives her usual fine performance, and Jeff Chandler does he usual stiff acting routine. I do think that Jeanne's story should be re-told in an updated version, but until then, this movie captures that time frame of the 1920's very well. It would have been nice to view in color, but the black and white print lends itself well to that time era. All in all, an entertaining film, and a rare chance to see Kim Novak in a Hollywood-bio piece. Wouldn't it be nice if this movie were on DVD?