"Jeanne Eagels" can almost be considered a "lost" film, since it is so rarely seen nowadays. That seems a shame. Yes, it suffers from standard "biopic" problems (cliched script, superficiality, etc.), but it is an interesting curiosity piece. Kim Novak, fresh onto the acting scene, actually acquits herself quite well in the role. There is an air of the troubled woman about her from the beginning, and the way she keeps adopting different personas shows Jeanne's desperate search for an identity. Contrary to the other reviewer here, I think that the drunk scenes are quite effective, without ever being pretty or played for comedic purposes. She succeeds in making Jeanne unlikable at times, which is a brave choice for the era. Unfortunately, the script and direction aren't the best, and some of Novak's more interesting choices contrast with other scenes that just don't come off as well. It's definitely worth a look though. I would argue that Novak's style is more "modern" than many other actresses of the era. Whether she always succeeds or not, she clearly looks for the reality of each scene, and is less interested in acting and more interested in "being." There are moments when I think she comes close to "being" Jeanne Eagels, making this forgotten film worth a second look.
Review of Jeanne Eagels
