This is the first in what I hope will be
several posts on lost and, now, forgotten films of the Pre-code era. For more
information on lost films and film preservation go to the National Film Preservation Foundation
"Jeanne
Eagles, star of Paramount's all-talking picture The Letter, has begun 'Jealousy'
her second film at the studio in Astoria. The picture will be directed by Jean
de Limur - who directed The Letter - and the production will be under the
general charge of Monta Bell, production executive of the studio. Alfred Gilks
is cameraman."
Nothing much is written about the production
which commenced on March 1929 except for the change of the leading man from
British actor Anthony Bushell to Fredric March at Eagles insistence. The
decision was made after all Bushell's scenes were completed, so extensive
reshoots were ordered. Another tragedy plagued the set with co-star, British
actress Hilda Moore, dying on May 18 before production was completed. She was
just 43. It was believed she caught a streptococcal infection from her 5-year-old son and died
after being ill for six days. An autopsy gave the official cause of death as
blood poisoning.
The final cut was completed with a length of just 66 minutes.
Before the film’s release date, trade and fan
magazines wrote glowing accounts of the performances of the actors as well as
the behind-the-scenes crew while others called it a disappointment compared to The Letter:
"Jealousy
said to be a greater production than The Letter with Jeanne Eagles in the
starring role, will be featured at the Fox-U O Theatre in the near future
according to the announcement of the management. In this all-talking picture is
the brief drama of a woman who loved and lost through jealousy. It portrays how
the lives of three persons were changed by one spoken word. The screen version
of the stage play has been elaborated in settings and augmented in cast.
Characters originally only referred to by two players now appear in the persons
of Halliwell Hobbes, former lover of the woman; Blanch Le Chair, his mistress;
and Henry Daniell, her lover. Miss Eagles' leading man is Fredric March. "
"After
The Letter any appearance of Jeanne Eagles is important for she is always
arresting, intelligent, provocative, individual. She is all these in Jealousy,
but the picture doesn't coalesce into a strong attraction, and certainly not
one strong enough for Miss Eagles. One of the reasons lies in the fact that the
play was written for two characters only - Yvonne, the mistress of a rich old
man, and Pierre, the poor young artist whom she marries…The result is a
somewhat rambling narrative lacking distinction or marked sympathy for any of
the characters. But it is worth seeing for the sake of Miss Eagles who makes
Yvonne a fascinating figure far from the conventional heroine with a
"past"."
After the film premiered, Eagles underwent eye
surgery in New York City as well as treatment for breathing issues and neuritis.
Her health had never fully recovered after she began using heroin and abusing
alcohol in the mid-1920s. On October 3, she suffered a collapse when visiting
her doctor. She began convulsing and died. Her death was officially attributed
as to an overdose of sedative 'chloral hydrate'; however, autopsy and
toxicology reports also found Eagles had alcohol and heroin in her organs at
the time of her death. She was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City on
October 7.
Advertising and reviews of the film altered
after her death. In one article it describes the marquees as reading,
"Outside
- bright lights, life and movement. Inside - last respects to a great actress.
It is more than merely a picture you watch at the Enright this week. It is a
swan song of a woman, dead now for months, who climbed from tent shows to
Broadway heights to the vivid, living climax of a career that has embraced
everything from poverty to fame and fortune"
Another review wrote:
"Jealousy
is Jeanne Eagles obituary. It is a worthwhile epitaph for a worthwhile
career."
It is this 'swan song' that will probably never
be enjoyed by modern audiences. Although reviews weren't as favourable as the
more popular and successful The Letter,
Jealousy was still a part of Pre-code history as well as being the last film
for both Jeanne Eagles and Hilda Moore.