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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...

In honour of Judy Garland's 94th birthday, which is today, this week on «Film Friday» I bring you one of her most iconic pictures, the one that should have given her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Groucho Marx was right; it was «the biggest robbery since Brinks.»  Directed by George Cukor, A Star Is Born (1954) tells the story of Esther Blodgett (Judy Garland), a band singer who saves screen legend Norman Maine (James Mason) from complete humiliation when he arrives drunk at a benefit show at the Shrine Auditorium. Once sober, Norman goes looking for Esther and finds her performing in an after-hours club. Impressed by her talent, he convinces her to leave her band and pursue a career in motion pictures, promising to introduce her to studio head Oliver Niles (Charles Bickford). Just as Esther arrives in Hollywood, Norman is called away to filming on location and is unable to reach her. Assuming that he was being insincere, Esther becomes determined to make it with or without ...

In honour of Loretta Young's 103th birthday, this week on «Film Friday» I bring you one of my favourite films of hers, and the one that gave her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Directed by H. C. Potter, The Farmer's Daughter (1947) tells the story of Katrin «Katie» Holstrom (Loretta Young), a Swedish-American farm girl who moves to Capitol City to attend nursing school. Barn painter Adolph Petree (Rhys Williams), who had completed a job for Mr. Holstrom (Harry Shannon), offers Katie a ride, but ends up stealing her tuition and expense money. To rebuild her savings, Katie takes a temporary job as a maid in the home of young Congressman Glenn Morley (Joseph Cotten) and his influential mother, Agatha (Ethel Barrymore). Glenn is immediately attracted to Katie, and she soon impresses Agatha and her loyal butler, Joseph Clancy (Charles Bickford), with her openness and refreshing common sense.   Meanwhile, the Morleys and the other leaders of their political party select the uns...