Oscar-Winner Jennifer Jones Dead at 90
by John NolteA few years ago I ranked my top-five all-time greatest performances by an actress and Jennifer Jones’ Oscar-winning work in “The Song of Bernadette” was a no brainer. She’s a marvel in a role begging for cloying sentiment. Her performance is so believable and measured you actually have to make a conscious effort afterwards to process what an achievement it is.
That was the thing about these Golden-Age stars: you never caught them acting.
From there Jones’ career pretty much faltered. There was “Portrait of Jennie,” “Beat the Devil,” “Since You Went Away,” and the lusty dusty “Duel in the Sun,” but after an affair during the production of “Since You Went Away” broke up both their marriages (she was married to actor Robert Walker), legendary producer David O. Selznick wrapped all his hopes of achieving another “Gone With the Wind” triumph into Jones, which predictably resulted in a lot of bad decisions and the kind of meddling that kept directors who might have otherwise cast Jones from doing so.
The New York Times has a comprehensive obituary here and the invaluable TCM has already scheduled a four-film salute on January 4th, which unfortunately doesn’t include “Bernadette,” a must-see for any film lover, even you hell-bound non-believers.
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You mean Matt Damon is not the height of acting talent? I did like his Team America cameo though.
Thank you for the tribute to Jennifer Jones. She' always been a lovely and unique screen presence. I've already circled January 4th on my calendar.
Here are the JJ films I never tire of watching: 'Song of Bernadette", 'Portrait of Jennie" (at least a 10 K (Kleenex) rating), 'Love Is A Many Splendored Thing', 'Since You Went Away', and 'Beat The Devil'. She played ladylike and lusty equally well.
I have "The Song of Bernadette” On DVD it was part of a package with the Nun's Story and Shoe's of the Fisherman. All three were usually run on TV while I was growing up during the Easter Season. It was not that long ago. I was a kid in the 1960's as for Miss Jones, what a fine actress and it was to bad that her career got grounded. As I get older, not as old as Ms Jones, the actors I grew up on and the movies that I really like, they are almost all gone. That is the natural order of things, The longer you live the more to see this, and its just not the people you watch on film or TV its the more important people, the ones you know and family members.
Thanks for the tip — I've heard of "Song of Bernadette" but have never seen it. Actually, the only thing I had ever seen Jennifer Jones in was her last movie, "The Towering Inferno." Will be sure to watch "Song," and I also looked her up at IMDb, which had an interesting, though anonymous, comment about her: "However, despite her obvious success within the film industry Jones was a very private person and managed to stay out of the spotlight which dominated so many other actresses of the time. As a result Jones began to become less and less noticed, which increased further when Selznick died in 1965. … Unfortunately now in the 21st Century and in her 90th year, Jennifer Jones is relatively unknown in comparison to the other actresses of her time such as Ingrid Bergman, Katharine Hepburn, Greer Garson, Bette Davis etc. But for those that are aware of her and her extraordinary talent she is alluring to watch and her acting abilities extend far greater than most of her contemporaries."
Rest in peace, Ms. Jones.
I love Duel In The Sun, sure it plays up the racial sterotypes and is heavy on the camp. But it's a beautiful technicolor romp that's a visual treat. My favorite Jones performance though was in Vincente Minnelli's Madame Bovary.
R.I.P.
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Ms Jones was my favorite actress until I first caught sight of Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday." She REMAINED one of my favorites for the rest (so far) of my life, though. I thought her performance in "Duel in the Sun" was the sexiest thing I'd ever seen (I was 12 when it was re-released and saw it in a neighborhood theater.) It STILL ranks up there, in my opinion, as one of the sexiest performances of all time–despite the heavy editing to satisfy the Hayes Commission. I'm sorry to hear of her passing. I appreciate the heads-up for January 4th.
Jennifer Jones was certainly memorable in "Song of Bernadette." She beautifully captured qualities of faith, wonderment and and innocence without a shred of maudlin sentimentality. [Not only that she held her own with a great cast including Gladys Cooper, Vincent Price, Ann Revere, Charles Bickford and Lee J. Cobb.] However her best role was Jennie Appleton in "Portrait of Jennie." Her progression from little girl to womanhood was totally believeable and sustained the strangely eerie and solitary quality of the film. I particularly liked the way that director William Dieterle juxtaposed Joseph Cotton alternately against the the dreamlike character of Jennie and the solidly realistic Ethel Barrymore. If you haven't seen "Portrait of Jennie" look for it on TCM. RIP Miss Jones.
She fell out of the glass elevator in "The Towering Inferno" and she had one or two Love Boat cameos (like, who didn't?) so her later work was pretty forgettable. But, the start of her career was all the proof you need of her talent and loveliness: "Song of Bernadette" is extraordinary film acting; "Since You Went Away" shows she could play a range of juvenile and adult emotions, and the scenes with Robert Walker are truly sad once you realize all that there was between them; and "Cluny Brown" shows she could be funny and delicate in a Audrey Hepburn way. Selznick had her, but he ruined her career.
So sad to hear this! My favorite of her films was "Since You Went Away", but I also loved her in "Song of Bernadette" and "Beat The Devil".
If anyone is interested, TCM will be doing their tribute to her on January 7, starting at 6:45 p.m. EST with Indiscretion Of An American Wife.
Cluny Brown would have to be my favorite Jennifer Jones movie. With Charles Boyer and Ernst Lubitsch involved, how can you go wrong?
Duel in the Sun is an overblown picture (but she's gorgeous), and the scene of the cowhands riding to the fence is one of the great moments in motion pictures.
Should be mentioned her later marriage to Norton Simon, and her heavy involvement in the Norton Simon Museum, which most people only see during the Rose Parade on New Year's day as the floats cruise past. Simon sparked Jones' interest in art. Her interest in yoga and the east led to his eventually acquiring an impressive eastern art collection to the other masterpieces at the museum. For anyone visiting/living in Southern California, it's a very worthwhile stop. Not as overwhelming as the Met in NYC, it can be comfortably seen in less than a day.
[...] the Associated Press reported. Actress Jennifer Jones Dies At 90 The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)Oscar-Winner Jennifer Jones Dead at 90 Big HollywoodView All [...]
She was unique and beautiful. I absolutely adored the movie "Madame Bovary" (showed her sexy side) directed by Minnelli.
Why is your off topic post even here? Why would you write something like that?
And yet my post is gone.
I am sorry to hear of her passing. She was a beautiful actress.
"Song of Bernadette" is THE movie which most powerfully exposes the sickening decline of Hollywood. Just to watch the luminous joy and awe of Bernadette as she becomes a nun in order to serve the heavenly Faith revealed to her in that grotto contrasts so painfully with films today which show us an albino homicidal maniac trying to destroy 'proof' that Jesus humped Mary Magdalene. Today's Hollywood has reduced the 'song' to spit.
Jennifer Jones in "LOVE LETTERS" with Joseph Cotten – 1945 and that beautiful theme song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQBjqJPztuw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKU2f4UbqG4
Off topic?
The guy was talking about an actress, and how great actors of the old school were, Matt Damon on the other hand is typical of the Craptacular stinkers that Hollywood turns into super stars IMO.
"the guy" wrote a short homage and obit about Jennifer Jones. By the mentality of your judgment, you might as well launch into an attack on Michael Moore as well.
"Thinking Man". heh
Love Letters remains one of my all-time favorite films. She was, to use a badly overused word, magical in a very underrated film. She was melodramatic as always, but in that movie it worked. A true class act who never made a big fuss over her stardom in her later years as a matron of the Pasadena arts elite.
It *is* under-rated and lesser seen and I do not know why. At one time Leonard Maltin had assigned it 2 stars. IIRC.
The plot is mildly complicated if you are not paying attention, but not that complicated. Someone on the IMDB said he felt it was somewhat operatic in its drama…and I think that is a fair enough POV, especially for Jennifer Jones portrayal. I mean, she's on the potential brink of losing her sanity and everyone on the film is aware of that.
Jones and Cotten are wonderful together and the film is such a caring and warm one, plus heavy duty 'romantico'. They remained friends for years in real life.
Brilliant screenplay by Ayn Rand and she exonerates the 'villainous' Joseph Cotten in the first minute of the film! From knave to knight in 60 seconds.
Beautifully filmed on sets that look like sets and you don't even care. Cinematography – highest level of skill. Direction – thoughtful and masterful.
That last scene where she moves slightly to reveal JC standing near the doorway is beautifully choreographed and I cannot simply watch it once. I'll watch it several times in a row.
And this is a film where they use the main theme many times during the picture as background music and you don't feel it's over used.
About ten or so years ago, I knew someone who knew both Jones and Cotten. My friend was in the habit of getting me autographed pictures from stars long out of the spotlight. I told him I would really like to have a photo from LOVE LETTERS which was inscribed by both of the stars. He checked with Jennifer Jones first and she said she would be happy to sign as long as "Joe" was willing. Sadly, around this time, Joseph Cotten was very ill and died before he could be approached. I wound up receiving a JJ photo and I will link it here later.
Her last film is the only one I know her from – "The Towering Inferno". I was just a kid then, but I've always remembered her. "I liked her. I really, really liked her." I'm a fan of disaster films yet rarely feel for a victim. I can feel sadness in what's happening, but that's for the overall event not the individual. For Jennifer Jones' character, I felt sad for her. I sometimes forget "The Towering Inferno" starred Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. I need to be reminded it also had Robert Vaugn, Robert Wagner, Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady), and OJ Simpson!. I always remember Jennifer Jones.
Few museums are as overwhelming as the Met (insert smiley face emoticon here). But as a proud native of Pasadena, I'd like to say that The Norton Simon is not just worthwhile, it's world class. Arguably the finest collection of art in Southern California.
Was never a fan. I read an extensive profile of her in a magazine not too many years ago and I got the distinct impression that she used the men in her life to advance her own career and interests. Poor Robert Walker, who got her out to Hollywood and helped her get started, David O. Selznick, big time producer with many strings to pull for his paramour, and Norton Simon, the very rich and socially connected later spouse. With her breath, girlish voice and the celluloid connection to St. Bernadette, I think Jennifer Jones was able to mask her darker side.
Very true Andre–and the Met is the museum of my childhood and therefore the standard for all museums. (you have no idea how snobby I can be) ;-D But the Norton SImon is indeed a jewel–my aunt, who lives in walking distance of the Met was enchanted by the NS…that lovely garden and the free print you get! The Getty gets all the publicity with that building (which I like) but the NS does have a better collection. LACMA's trying its best, but never quite gets there with its mediocre collection and oddly endearing hodgepodge of buildings.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d117/donny100/0...
And since I was retrieving photos-
Deborah Kerr – http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d117/donny100/D...
June Haver – http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d117/donny100/J...
Which reminds me. What a LOUSY actor Michael Moore is
And no where near as beautiful and Miss Jones.
I second 'chambers' comment on Portrait of Jennie. One of my faves since childhood. I find its ethereal quality captured by Ms Jones forever haunting. Upon hearing the news, I have my copy ready to watch. {For the esoteric in the group, I've found //s btw it and Vertigo… about a non-funny expression of Love and Death]
If you have not seen 'Song of Bernadette' I strongly suggest it! That movie actually took my breath away…we could use some of that 'belief' in the movies today! You will be missed..but lived a long life..we should all be so blessed!
Maybe this will be considered bragging, but if you log on to
http://www.kdc.pl/piesn-o-bernadetcie_p10146272.h...
you will see the book, "The Song of Bernadette" that has just been translated, and published in the Polish language.
The reason for this note, is that the photo on the cover of the book, is a snapshot that I snapped at Lourdes, back in the eighties. They found it on my Web Site at http://www.travel-tidbits.com/tidbits/005867.shtm...
And Ms. Jones was one of my favorites.
I don't know why http://www.travel-tidbits.com/tidbits/005867.shtm... doesn't work from here. Try http://www.travel-tidbits, then France on the right, then the second listing for Lourdes under France Photo Tidbits.
I don't know why anyone would do this, but I put it here, just in case.
Sorry for the problem, I don't know what happened.
I don't know why http://www.travel-tidbits.com/tidbits/005867.shtm... doesn't work from here. Try http://www.travel-tidbits.com, then France on the right, then the second listing for Lourdes under France Photo Tidbits.
Maybe I will wake up soon.
Have followed Jennifer Jones' career since first seeing The Song of Bernadette. For me, she could do no wrong! Forgotten in her body of film work is a lesser known film The Wild Heart. Butchered by Selznick before its release, Miss Jones has never looked as gorgeous as in this film. I believe it was originally titled Gone To Earth. Rest in peace, Miss Jones.
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