Jessica

Just watched this obscure movie on Amazon Prime with my mom. Angie Dickinson plays an American woman who's a midwife in Sicily. Her beauty and her sunny attitude attracts the men making their wives jealous. Priest Maurice Chavalier is trying to keep the peace and has his hands full, that's for sure! I'll just now say that Mom and I found this pretty entertaining with much humor and some drama sprinkled throughout as well as Mr. Chavalier warbling occasionally. So we say Jessica is worth a look.

An attractive young blonde woman (Angie Dickinson), who is a midwife, arrives for work in a Sicilian village and the men ogle over her. This action alienates the local women. As a group, they decide to forgo sex with their men. Without sex, they get even with their husbands. Also, without sex there are no babies. Without babies, there is no need for a midwife. The village priest, Father Antonio (nicely played by Maurice Chavalier), aware of what is happening, has his hands full. The irony is that some of the women are just about Ms. Dickinson's equal (like Sylva Koscina and Rosanna Rory). The last scene is a howl! Harmless fluff!

Great scenery and great girls! Pity Angie comes in about 3rd in the "glamour stakes"! It is a light-hearted romp though and is mildly entertaining. Chevalier does his usual bit in his usual style-talking to himself,the audience,his jeep,his god and his congregation,with a big cheesy grin(the old ,"I'm glad I'm not young anymore"routine. Oh golly,I've got to write more lines!How about,Angie's love interest,the titled "heavy" of the film,tortured by the memory of his wife's execution by the Nazis,has little more than a walk on,walk off role.I guess he is there to ensure a happy ending. Angie doesn't do to bad,from village midwife to grand dame in the château-in less than a year.Beats having the stuffing knocked out of you by a demented Michael Caine!

I saw this movie in the early sixties, and it was hysterical. Unfortunately, this movie has never been made for VHS or DVD. I wish they would put it out on VHS or DVD as it is a very funny movie about an American girl who goes to a Sicilian village and becomes the scandal of the town because all the women are sure that she is plotting to be with their husbands. Father Antonio is the town priest who is very funny. Jessica, the American girl, rides around on a motorbike which is very scandalous for a their small village. If they ever put this movie out on VHS or DVD be sure to see it if you have Sicilian or Italian ancestry, or if you just want to laugh a lot.

This movie is filmed in Forza D'Agro, Sicily which just happens to be my Grandmothers town, still as gorgeous today as it was back then!! Perched on a mountain very close to the sea. My great grandfather is cast as an extra in the background and appears a few times, i never met him so its great to see him! So you might call me bias, but to me it has beautiful vistas, beautiful actors majestic panoramas and these type of movies are like snippets in time and are nostalgic, lite hearted and fun to watch..... Sublime old film. Angie Dickinson is at her most beautiful in this film, at least I think so anyway.

P.S I found a DVD copy of this at scooter movies.