Bette Davis Won an Oscar for a Film That’s Been Compared to ‘Gone With the Wind’ for Decades—Despite Coming Out Before It

Even nearly nine decades since its release and rightful re-evaluation, there are few films that have had the same impact as Gone with the Wind. The story of a spoiled Southern Belle, Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), living during the antebellum era, through the Civil war and Reconstruction, the movie remains the highest-grossing film of all time and is still a cornerstone of pop culture. Most moviegoers know that, when Hollywood has a hit, it’s quick to try to recapture the magic of their success, and Gone with the Wind’s success certainly seemed ripe for the picking. Bette Davis’ Oscar-winning role as Julie in Jezebel definitely mirrors David Selznick’s epic in many ways. Like Scarlett, Julie is a self-absorbed southern belle who longs for a man she can’t have and faces tragedy throughout the story. So, it may come as a surprise to many to find out Jezebel was not only a massive hit, but also one that preceded Gone with the Wind.