"Belle of The Ball!" - Jennifer Jones, Louis Jordan, Van Heflin

[missclassicforever]

It's amazing how easy it seems to waltz, when you are waltzing with Louis Jourdan

[varadero1839]

@missclassicforever After protesting "too much" it only took her a few minutes to work her show, with Louis as her partner! Is it just me, or do half the men seem to be wearing very cheap toupees? Anyway, thanks so much for writing!

[razorsedgeish]

One of the best movie taken from a great

Book. Jennifer was great as Madame Bovery

Having James Mason telling the story help

One understand Emma need to be loved .as she live most of her life Dreaming, and being

Totally selfish but the ending could have been kinder istill like the movie.

[girlygirl1447]

does anyone know the song thats i think called the belle of the ball?? they play it at the dixie stampede when the girls in the pretty dresses come down?

[MrShaun42088]

BREAK THE WINDOWS?? @-@ what they don't open?

[varadero1839]

@MrShaun42088 Hi MrShaun42088! See below for the controversy surrounding this issue! Dramatic effects can be fun! Financially, and artistically this scene had to have enhanced the bottom line! Very beautiful, and watching Jennifer and Louis whirl around made me happy when they broke the windows! It kind of shocked me back into reality!

[MrShaun42088]

@varadero1839 hello...love the scene.... it was like something from a dream. a bit of Madness and the people didn't seem to care! one woman started to laugh when she witnessed it. the whole scene made for a very unforgetable moment and such a fantastic climax!

--I was just saying before, you could have just opened the windows. i guess when your rich, you've got money to throw out the window!

[squeapler]

I absolutely love this scene. "Break the windows!" punctuated by the poor drunk husband upsetting the tray of glasses.

[Ianey11]

I don't get why they had to break the windows!?

[varadero1839]

@Ianey11 I don't know either. Let's call it either cinematic or poetic license! We'd have to ask director Vincente Minnelli, or the author of the original work, Gustave Flaubert. Sadly, both of them are no longer with us. Guess we'll never know, but I'm pleased that you asked! Best wishes.

[edwardjames50]

@varadero1839 ~ Are you people serious? Are you so literal-minded that you need art explained to you? Jeez!

[varadero1839]

@edwardjames50 My response was not meant to be serious. If I were that dense I'd never have uploaded the clip.

[menixon1975]

@varadero1839 It was suppose a thing they did... The dancing was so fierce in this scene, Women in corsets at that time , could possible get the vapors, or fainting spells. Sometimes they broke windows to get air in for the ladies. Crazy, but it worked really well with the movie and the storyline.

[amberlights1]

@Ianey11 She needed air , the wealthy could afford to replace the broken windows. People were probably a little "high" & maybe threw out inhibitions such as property damage. Such is extravagant living.

[mbnyc2001]

What a gorgeous scene! The music! The costumes! Love how the camera kind of floats with them.(and you kind of do too!) A wonderful Minnelli moment in cinema. And Miss Jones...exquisite! Thanks for posting.

[varadero1839]

@mbnyc2001 I've a great friend who loves this clip from the movie. She says she can only view it now and then since the actual waltz scene literally makes her dizzy! Thanks so much for your comment!

[POLMAZURKA]

egads! a Ball without a Polonaise and Mazurka...

[showhiminbailey]

She is SO beautiful - I can't take my eyes of her

[rayva1]

@showhiminbailey: I'm surprised to read the actress passed away only two years ago at age 90, but SHE is absolutely gorgeous in this fine masterpiece.

[WelenyLizzie28]

What is that filmç?? :S

[ginoricca]

Oh, wasn't she beautiful !

[cherylinreno]

Just watched this last nite on TCM. It was marvelous. As always, an outstanding and captivating performance by Jennifer Jones. Heflin is magnificent as the milktoast weak husband. Thanks for posting this! Enjoyed it very much!

[varadero1839]

You're welcome! A really unique sequence, and Ms. Jones was excellent in this role.

[mca1218]

Thank you for this clip. Never saw MB before but, mercifully, it is being shown on 7 January 2010 as part of a TCM tribute to the lovely and enigmatic siren that was Jennifer Jones Walker Selznick. I had the biggest crush on her for years. And I love the Cinderella-like quality this cip has- at least until the end. Gorgeous lady and brilliant Minnelli direction.

[varadero1839]

I don't suspect there's any other sequence in Hollywood history that could eclipse this one! Given Minnelli's direction, Jennifer's beauty and talent, and brilliant Miklós Rózsas score, this had no choice but to be the most beautiful of times! Louis Jordan's no slouch in the "looks" department either! Thank you!!

[AmericanEvita]

This is my favorite scene in the movie. The dizzying camera movement towards the climax as she is dancing and the windows being broken are a nice touch. What I'd give to go to be the belle of the ball for one night too!

[ladynw777]

what a dream ballgown

hollywood certainly knew the meaning of magical in those days

[jekorb]

How did those poor women do all that physical exercise while being tortured and held in with whalebone corsets and manners? Thanks so much for this beautiful clip of waltzing, gallantry and snobbery~~~"Oh, yes---the peasant!". *sigh*

[hepburne123]

What a Wonderful waltz, spectacular moment in film history. Vincente Minnelli GREAT, GREAT, GREAT !!!!!!!!

[dflartist]

In "Men Who Made the Movies" docu, the narrator states, rather snottily, that Director Minnelli, because he was a purveyor of light entertainment that he often misunderstood why characters such as Mdm Bovary had her fall".

After seeing this movie and several others by Minnelli, I must disagree and wonder why that remark was made at all.

I can understand why someone would be bitter or jealous of his immense talent.

[tylerglenn]

Jennifer was at her most beautiful here. gorgeously choreographed and filmed scene.

[stephenjoeagi]

Great clip. Very often we see old movies waiting for the scenes that impressed us so many years ago to appear. Poating them selectively as you do brings one great joy. The tourbillon in the waltz of Mme Bovary is unforgrttable. Like Ravel's 'La Valse' written in the 20th century can stand proudly next to Strauss's waltzes that set the pace 19th century.Thank you very much as usual for posting.

[varadero1839]

Thanks!

This was/is a labor of love! It's difficult to choose who is the star here!! All the main "performers" are magnificent, yet I think that had it not been for Miklos Rozsa, composer, and Vincente Minnelli, director, this film could have been a disaster. Just observing all the men, and their lustful stares at Ms. Jones, is worth the price of admission!!

Only seeing her glide with the Count for her 1st dance drops a clue; Watch Out!! Sadly, withough meaning to, she's up to no good.

[doodies]

How much effort did it take to make Jennifer's gown? It's like so huge yet it literally sweeps above her legs! Oo;

[StephanAOTTO1]

In 'high quality', this clip is SPECTACULAR!!

Thanks for posting.:)

[varadero1839]

Many Thanks! Viewing Jennifer Jones do pretty much anything is an enormous reward. Mssrs Jourdan and Heflin are also amazing in their disparate roles. I still get dizzy from watching! Many thanks for your observation!