Jeanne Eagels (1957)

A poor but beautiful girl named Jeanne takes part in a beauty contest but fails to be crowned its queen. Nevertheless both her determination and her shapely figure impress Sal Satori, the ... See full summary »

Director:

George Sidney

Writers:

Daniel Fuchs (screenplay), Sonya Levien (screenplay),

Stars:

Kim Novak, Jeff Chandler, Agnes Moorehead

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kim Novak	...	Jeanne Eagels
Jeff Chandler	...	Sal Satori
Agnes Moorehead	...	Nellie Neilson
Charles Drake	...	John Donahue
Larry Gates	...	Al Brooks
Virginia Grey	...	Elsie Desmond
Gene Lockhart	...	Equity Board President
Joe De Santis	...	Frank Satori (as Joe de Santis)
Murray Hamilton	...	Chick O'Hara

Storyline

A poor but beautiful girl named Jeanne takes part in a beauty contest but fails to be crowned its queen. Nevertheless both her determination and her shapely figure impress Sal Satori, the organizer, so much that he gives her a job as a carnival dancer. He becomes her friend and, before long, her great love. However, being a hootchie-kootchie dancer is not Jeanne's dream: she wants to be an actress. That is why Jeanne takes advantage of the Satori company being in New York to consult a renowned drama teacher, Mrs. Neilson. The latter thinks she CAN act and she is proved right since the audience of the first play Jeanne is in responds favorably. But Jeanne will only feel wholly satisfied when she acquires star status. She soon obtains the part which will lead her to stardom by stealing it from Elsie Desmond, an aging actress who planned a comeback through it. In desperation, Elsie commits suicide. Although feeling somewhat guilty, Jeanne openly relishes her triumph, which upsets her ...

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Plot Keywords:

actress | suicide | love | carnival | play | 

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Taglines:

TOO MANY SINS TO FORGET! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 August 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

George Sidney's Jeanne Eagels

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As with most film biographies, this film is more screenwriter's fancy than fact. Among other things, Jeanne Eagels was never a carnival dancer and was never known to have been the cause of another performer's suicide. Further, the character of Sal Satori was a fictional compilation character based upon several men in Ms. Eagels's life.

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Goofs

During a carnival scene at Coney Island, the music in the background is The Victory Polka which was written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn during World War II and not yet written for a film set in the Roaring Twenties.

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Quotes

Elsie Desmond: I was a Golden Girl too, once...

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Soundtracks

"I'll Take Romance"
Music by Ben Oakland
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

User Reviews

Needs to be on DVD! Kim's Jeanne might not be factual, but it's unforgettable.

I saw this film only once, when I was a kid, but I still remember it, and I loved it. I have been hoping to see it again someday and am disappointed that it is not available even on video. Not only was Kim Novak, she of the lavender blonde hair, gorgeous, she was really just right for this movie. The story was interesting too. Yes, I know, TRUTH is hardly the most valued element in screen biopics, but since I knew nothing about Jeanne Eagels then (and, indeed, know little now--let's face it, there isn't a whole lot of information about her available) it was fascinating to see a story about an actress in the 1920s. Yes, somebody should do a more realistic remake, but put this one out too. Whether the story is factual or not, seeing Kim in the role is a reward in itself. I really can't think of an actress today who could match Kim's performance--she might be more like the real Jeanne Eagels, but Kim Novak's Jeanne shouldn't be lost. Put out the DVD-- you've got one customer for sure. Here's hoping.