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Directed by Edmund Goulding, Dark Victory (1939) tells the story of Judith Traherne (Bette Davis), a carefree heiress with a passion for horses and fast cars. When she begins suffering from chronic headaches, her family physician, Dr. Parsons (Henry Travers), insists that she see Dr. Frederick Steele (George Brent), a brilliant brain surgeon. Judith arrives at Steele's office on the day that he is to retire from surgery due to the death of his patients. However, intrigued by Judith's symptoms and charmed by her spirits, he decides to postpone his retirement and takes her case. After performing a delicate brain surgery on Judith, Steele discovers that she has a malignant tumor which will inevitably kill her within less than a year. Bette Davis, George Brent and Humphrey Bogart in Dark Victory .   In order to allow her a few more months of happiness, Steele lies to Judith and assures her that the surgery was a success. However, he cannot hide the truth from her best friend, Ann ...

In honor of Joan Fontaine's 99th birthday, which is tomorrow, this week on «Film Friday» I bring you what she described as her favourite of all of her films.   Directed by Edmund Goulding, The Constant Nymph (1943) begins when composer Lewis Dodd (Charles Boyer) travels to Switzerland after his latest symphony is badly received in London. He stays at the home of his old friend and fellow musician Albert Sanger (Montagu Love), causing great excitement among his four daughters: Kate (Jean Muir), Toni (Brenda Marshall), Tessa (Joan Fontaine) and Paula (Joyce Reynolds). Despite the fact that she is only a teenager, Tessa is in love with Lewis and dreams of helping him reach his full promise as a composer. Worrying about his sheltered daughters' future, the ailing Sanger instructs Lewis to contact his wealthy brother-in-law, Charles Creighton (Charles Coburn), when he dies. Charles Boyer, Alexis Smith, Peter Lorre and Joan Fontaine in The Constant Nymph . Upon Sanger's dea...

To celebrate lovely Gene Tierney's 95th birthday, which was yesterday, this week on "Film Friday" I thought I would bring you what I believe was the first film of hers I have seen. Incidentally, this picture was released on the exact same date of her 26 th birthday. Original poster by Norman Rockwell Directed by Edmund Goulding, The Razor's Edge (1946) opens at a dinner party held by eliti st snob El liott Templeton (Clifton Webb) and his sister L ouisa B radley (Lucile Watson) at a Chicago coun try club in 1919. Much to the family's dismay, Louisa 's daughter I sabel (Gene Tierney) is enga ged to Larry Dar rell (Tyrone Power), a war veteran who discovers upon his return home that he can no longer fit into th e world of upper-class society that his fianc é lives in. Also at the party is Sophie Nels on ( Anne Baxter ), Isabel's simple childhood friend ; Gray Maturin (John Pa yne), Larry's wealthy f riend who is also in love with Isabe...