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In honour of Jane Wyman's 100th birthday, which was yesterday, this week on «Film Friday» — the first of 2017 — I thought I would bring you the film that gave her the Academy Award for Best Actress, the only Oscar of her career. I saw this film for the first time yesterday and already it has become one of my all-time favorites. Directed by Jean Negulesco, Johnny Belinda (1948) tells the story of Belinda McDonald (Jane Wyman), a deaf-mute young woman who leads a sad, lonely existence in a fishing and farming community on a small island in Nova Scotia. She lives with her father, Black (Charles Bickford), and her aunt, Aggie (Agnes Moorehead), who call her «Dummy» and resent her because her mother died giving birth to her. Belinda is befriended by the new local physician, Dr. Robert Richardson (Lew Ayres), who recognizes her intelligence and teaches her sign language. When Black learns that he can communicate with his daughter, a bond develops between them.   LEFT: Agnes Moorehead, J...

Theatrical release poster Directed by Jean Negulesco, Woman's World (1954) follows the efforts of Ernest Gifford (Clifton Webb), the owner of a large automobile manufacturer, to hire a new general manager for his company. To accomplish this, Gifford brings to New York his top three regional salesmen, along with their wives, planning to hire the one whose wife is most suited to be an executive's wife. Arriving by plane are Bill and Katie Baxter (Cornel Wilde and June Allyson), a loving couple from Kansas City. Travelling by train from Texas are Jerry Talbot (Van Heflin) and his seductive, gold-digger counterpart Carol (Arlene Dahl). Rouding up the trio are Sidney and Elizabeth Burns (Fred MacMurray and Lauren Bacall), who are on the verge of separating and quarrel as they drive from Philadelphia. Believing that the trip is a reward for good sales, the clumsy but sweet Katie expresses her dislike for the big city and proves inept at handling her social responsibilities....