Jessica Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Jessica Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 1, 2024

Jean Negulesco's "Jessica" (1962) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by screenwriter and critic C. Courtney Joyner and archival program with star Angie Dickinson. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Reigon-Free.

If Angie Dickinson was supposed to be the undisputed star of Jessica, Jean Negulesco should have surrounded her with a different group of young actresses. Dickinson looks beautiful, but she is placed in the company of several equally beautiful and a few stunningly beautiful women, so the drama she stirs up in the provincial Sicilian town never looks even remotely authentic. It is true that Jessica was never meant to be an authentic film, but the ‘disastrous’ effects Dickinson’s beauty has on a motley crew of young and older men, virtually all of whom are married, are at the center of its narrative. Any man viewing Jessica will inevitably acknowledge this ‘problem’.

Dickinson plays Jessica Brown, an American who has relocated to Sicily to create a family with the love of her life, a handsome Italian man with whom she attended the same university back home in America. But now, after losing her husband in a terrible car accident, Jessica is a widow who barely makes ends meet as a midwife. Her decision to remain in Sicily after the tragic death of her husband is not final. She has stayed behind to get to know the locals and their lifestyle, which should have had a permanent place in the perfect future she planned with her husband.

But the women in the provincial Sicilian town see Jessica as a threat -- a very, very serious one, too. Whenever Jessica appears, their men instantly lose their ability to act rationally, and at night when they are supposed to entertain them in bed, they secretly fantasize about being with her. Several of the boldest men in town have even repeatedly attempted to engage Jessica in a conversation, hoping it would lead to an unforgettable rendezvous they will brag about for as long as they live.

To eliminate the threat and regain control over their men, the women craft a resistance plan targeting two crucial battlefields. In the first, they begin confronting Jessica directly, making her feel uncomfortable and unwanted, hoping she would surrender and leave. In the second, they stage a well-organized strike and refuse to make love to their men until they permanently reject Jessica. For a few days and nights, the ambitious resistance, directed by another aging widow, appears effective, but then Jessica’s beauty and charm effectively dismantle it. However, around the same time, the wealthy nobleman and bachelor Edmondo Raumo (Gabriele Ferzetti) and Jessica meet at a wedding celebration, and when shortly after the two begin seeing each other, the static in the air begins to subside.

Jessica belongs to a large family of similarly charming romantic films. Its members include such international hits as Il Postino (1994),The Second Wife (1998), and Malena (2000).

While Jessica is significantly older, its appreciation of beauty and sense of humor are practically identical to those of its relatives. What makes it slightly different is the presence of a rising American star who gives it an unmistakable Hollywood personality, which in the early 1960s was undoubtedly required to make it relatable to a wider audience. The three films mentioned above became international hits without featuring well-known American stars and while boasting distinct European personalities.

However, rightfully or not, Jessica also leaves the impression that it is a vanity project, determined to strengthen and possibly even redefine Dickinson’s image, not benefit from it. It is why some of the sexual innuendo channeled through it looks out of synch. In crucial sequences, Dickinson looks too elegant rather than irresistibly seductive, too cultured and reserved to be playing with the minds of hot-blooded men constantly surrounded by far greater teasers. (Some of these teasers include such glamour stars as Sylva Koscina and Marina Berti, as well as Italian model Rossana Rory).

*Another very big film that deserves to be mentioned is the Oscar winner Two Women (1960). However, in it the beauty and occasional splashes of humor are completely overshadowed by the cruelty and ugliness of war.

Jessica Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jessica arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

The release is sourced from an exclusive new 2K master commissioned by Imprint Films. I like this master because it gives the entire film a very attractive organic appearance. However, I must immediately mention that if proper restored, the film will look even better. Why exactly? Minor surface imperfections, such as nicks and blemishes, remain, plus the opening credits look quite worn out. But I would rather have these imperfections and the current appearance of the film, not a spotless presentation given the look of a contemporary film. Also, despite some minor fluctuations, delineation, clarity, and depth remain very pleasing. Image stability is very good, too. So, while there is some room for smaller but meaningful improvements, Jessica looks good on Blu-ray. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Jessica Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.

I would describe the lossless track as decent, leaning toward good. It is because in a couple of areas dynamic balance feels a bit underwhelming. Because clarity and sharpness are not affected, I suspect that aging has something to do with the unevenness I heard on my system. The music sounds mostly good, too. It can be a bit thin at times, but it is free of buzz, hiss, and distortions.

Jessica Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Angie Dickinson: Looking Back - in this archival program, Angie Dickinson discusses her background, her past as a model and transition to the film industry, the films and parts that advanced her career, her favorite film partners (with some wonderful observations about John Wayne and Howard Hawks), etc. The program was produced by Robert Fischer and Eckhart Schmidt for Fiction Factory. In English, not subtitled. (47 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by screenwriter and critic C. Courtney Joyner.

Jessica Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Despite an impressive cast of American and European stars, and grand, often breathtakingly beautiful visuals from rural Sicily that are difficult to forget, Jessica is a small film. It is easier to like now because it has a certain classic allure that is forever lost, but before picking a copy of it for your library, make sure you have not missed the likes of Il Postino and Malena, which work with similar material and are vastly superior films. Imprint Films' Blu-ray release is sourced from a nice exclusive 2K master and has a wonderful program with Angie Dickinson. RECOMMENDED.