''Jessica'' is a 1962 comedy drama film directed by Jean Negulesco, starring

Maurice Chevalier Maurice Auguste Chevalier (; 12 September 1888 – 1 January 1972) was a French singer, actor and entertainer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including " Livin' In The Sunlight", " Valentine", " Louise", " Mimi", and " Thank H ...

Angie Dickinson Angeline Dickinson (née Brown; born September 30, 1931) is an American actress. She began her career on television, appearing in many anthology series during the 1950s, before gaining her breakthrough role in ''Gun the Man Down'' (1956) wit ...

and Sylva Koscina, with cinematography by Piero Portalupi and art direction by Giulio Bongini. It was a co-production between France, Italy and the United States. Location shooting took place around

Forza d'Agrò Forza d'Agrò is a town and '' comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Messina, Sicily, southern Italy. Forza d'Agrò is on the lower peak of a small mountain, while on the higher peak that overlooks the town are the remains of a Norman castle. Hi ...

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

Plot

When her husband dies in

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

while on their honeymoon, Jessica, a nurse, decides to remain there rather than return home and becomes a midwife in the village of

. Men of the town pay quite a bit of attention to the attractive Jessica, causing women to resent her presence. While she at times welcomes their attentions, she has a strict rule to never get involved with any man who has any standing attachment to another woman. The wives conspire to abstain from relations with their husbands, reasoning that if no babies are born, no midwife is needed. Parish priest Father Antonio disapproves of their scheme. Jessica develops a romantic interest in Edmondo Raumo, a '' marchese'' who has been a recluse since being injured during the war. Raumo lies about his true identity, telling Jessica that he is a humble fisherman. She becomes angry when the truth is finally known and intends to leave Sicily forever. However, a villager who has been kind to her is dying, and the situation brings her closer to Raumo. At the end of the story, the wives of the town have accepted her, and renewed relations with their husbands, leading to a baby boom. And when she comes to the church during mass, to announce the birth of twins, she sits next to Edmundo, on his ceremonial bench near the altar—indicating she is now Marchesa Raumo.

Cast

References

External links

* 1962 films American romantic comedy films Italian romantic comedy films French romantic comedy films English-language Italian films English-language French films Films directed by Jean Negulesco Films scored by Mario Nascimbene Films set in Sicily Films shot in Sicily 1960s romance films United Artists films 1960s English-language films 1960s American films 1960s Italian films 1960s French films {{1960s-romance-film-stub