Un solo grande amore

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?

... 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.

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.

"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.

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?