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Joan of Arc

DVD Release

  • Release Date: 2004

  • Rating: StarStarStar
  • Genre: Historical Film
  • Movie Type: Religious Drama, Hagiography
  • Themes: Heroic Mission, Message From God, Crowned Heads
  • Director: Victor Fleming
  • Main Cast: Ingrid Bergman, José Ferrer, Selena Royle, Robert H. Barrat, Ward Bond, Jimmy Lydon, Francis L. Sullivan, Rand Brooks, Cecil Kellaway
  • Release Year: 1948
  • Country: US
  • Run Time: 100 minutes

Plot

Director Victor Fleming's final film features Ingrid Bergman as a vivid and luminous Joan of Arc, the 15th-century French peasant girl who led the French in battle against the invading English, becoming a national hero. When she was captured, tortured, and ultimately executed by the English, she was made a Catholic saint. Bergman's Joan is a strong and spiritual figure who proves her devotion to the Dauphin (Jose Ferrer), later to become the King of France. Joan is compelling as she wins an alliance with the Governor of Vaucouleurs and the courtiers at Chinon, leads her army in the Battle of Orleans, is betrayed by the Burgundians, and edicts that "our strength is in our faith." ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Review

A viewer's reaction to Joan of Arc may well depend upon which version he or she sees. Originally released at 145 minutes, the film is available in various versions, one of which clocks in at a mere 100 minutes. The original is too long, but the shortest version compromises much of what was effective in the original. The film in all its lengths does suffer from a bit of unnecessary sanctimoniousness. Maxwell Anderson and Andrew Solt's screenplay has many wonderful scenes, but it also includes more than its share of hard-pedaled moralizing, and (especially in its original length), many scenes simply go on too long. That said, the writers did provide Ingrid Bergman with one of her greatest roles, and the unique actress took this vehicle and rode it for all it was worth. Bergman is utterly compelling from first to last, conveying a sense of spiritual goodness that is beautiful and inspiring, without being annoying, unbelievable, or condescending. Her final scene at the stake is especially moving, an agonizing moment that tears at the heart. (Credit director Victor Fleming for capturing Bergman's performance so effectively, as well as for handling the many crowd and battle scenes the script demands.) Bergman's fellow cast members (especially José Ferrer) are all good as well, and it's an exceptionally handsome production -- but she remains the heart and soul of the film. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

Cast


Roman Bohnen - Durand Laxart; Irene Rich - Catherine le Royer; Nestor Paiva - Henry Le Royer; Richard Derr - Jean De Metz; Ray Teal - Bertrand de Poulengy; David Bond - Jean Fournier; George Coulouris - Robert De Baudricourt; John Emery - Duke of Alencon; Gene Lockhart - George De La Tremoille; Nicholas Joy - Archbishop of Theims; Richard Ney - Duke of Claremont; Vincent J. Donahue - Alain Chartier; Leif Erickson - Jean Dunois; John Ireland - St. Severe; Henry Brandon - Giles de Raiz; Gregg Barton - Adm. de Culan; Ethan Laidlaw - Jean d'Aulon; Frederic Worlock - Duke of Bedford; Dennis Hoey - William Glasdale; Colin Keith-Johnston - Duke of Burgundy; Mary Currier - Countess of Luxembourg; Roy Roberts - Wandamme; J. Carrol Naish - Count John of Luxembourg; Shepperd Strudwick - Father Jean Massieu; Taylor Holmes - Bishop of Avranches; Alan Napier - Earl of Warwick; Philip Bourneuf - Jean d'Estivet; Aubrey Mather - La Fontaine; Herbert Rudley - Isombard de La Pierre; Frank Puglia - Nicholas de Houppeville; William Conrad - Guillaume Erard; John Parrish - Jean Beaupere, a Judge; Victor Wood - Nicholas Midi; Houseley Stevenson, Sr. - Winchester; Jeff Corey - Prison Guard; Bill Kennedy - The Executioner; Eric Alden; Richard Alexander - Man on Boulevard; Robert Anderson - Soldier at the Inn; Morris Ankrum - Poton De Xantrailles; George Barrows; Edward Biby - Nicholas Taquel; Robert Bice - Dying English Archer; John Bohn - Judge Gustinel; Raymond Bond - Hauviette's Father; Wally Cassell - French Soldier; Clancy Cooper; Bob Crosby; George Dee; Mike Pat Donovan - Bishop of Noyon; Lester Dorr; Frank Elliott - Dr. Tiphane; John Epper - Demetz; Herbert Evans - Bailiff; Julia Faye - Townswoman; Art Foster - Marksman; Curt Furberg - Judge Jerome; Jack Gargan - Peasant; James Garner; Everett Glass - Judge Anselene; Albert Godderis - Judge Tobie; Joseph Granby - Giles de Fecamp; Greta Granstedt; Beatrice Gray; Eula Guy - Women at the Inn; Frank S. Hagney - Soldier; Chuck Hamilton - Jean de Honeycourt; Alvin Hammer - Court Jester; Alec Harford - Lyonnel; Hurd Hatfield - Father Pasquerel; Thomas Brown Henry - Raoul de Gaucourt; Stuart Holmes - Judge Benoit; I. Stanford Jolley; Hazel Keener - Peasant; James Kirkwood - Judge Mortemer; Kate Lawson - Marguerite; James Logan - Beaudricourt's Clerk; Babe London; George Magrill; Eve March - Peasant Woman; Frank Marlowe; Gregory Marshall - Boy; Leo J. McMahon - Richard the Archer; Lee Miller - Colet de Vienne; Matt Moore - Judge Courneille; Harry Morgan - Guard; Frances Morris; Louis Payne - Judge Thibault; Lee Phelps; Harry Raven; Herbert Rawlinson - Judge Marguerie; Steve Roberts - Thomas de Courcelle; Victor Romito - French Soldier; John Roy; Frances Sanford; Russell Simpson - Old Man with Pipe; Arthur Space - Luxembourg Guard; Vernon Steele - Boy's Father; Maria Tavares; Minerva Urecal - Old Woman; Percival Vivian - Judge Laurent; Charles Wagenheim - Taxpayer; William Wagner; Eve Whitney; Henry Wills - Julian; Margo Woode - Woman with Baby; Marjorie Wood; George Zucco - Constable of Clervaux; Bob Burns - Bishop of Norwich; Mary Field - Boy's Mother; Allen Pinson; June Harris; Roger Creed; Henry J. Hebert - Winchester's Secretary; Charles Meakin - Judge Barbier; Lon Poff - Guillaume Colles; Philip Ahlm; Bill Cody; J.W. Cody - English Guard; Jim Drum; Art Dupuis; Jack George - Merchant; Manuel Paris - Judge Chatillon; Byron Poindexter; Peter Seal - Judge Albane; Victor Travers - Bishop of Therouanne; Phyllis Hill; Michael A. Cirillo - Guard; Jerry Elliott; Gloria Grafton; Herschel Graham - Constable; Shephard Houghton; Lorna Jordan; Carl Knowles - Guard; Stella LeSaint; Tom Leffingwell - Judge Grouchet; Beverly Loyd - Court Lady; Ray Saunders; Allan Schute - Judge Etienne; Scott Seaton - Judge Edmond; Pete Sosso - Domremy Peasant; George Suzanne - Tumbler; Dorothy Tuttle; Bob Whitney; Symona Boniface; George Davis - Farmer; George Backus - English Knight; Sally Cooper

Credit

Maxwell Anderson - Screenwriter; Maxwell Anderson - Play Author; Jack Cosgrove - Special Effects; Richard Day - Art Director; Victor Fleming - Director; Hugo W. Friedhofer - Composer (Music Score); John P. Fulton - Special Effects; Winton Hoch - Cinematographer; Dorothy Jeakins - Costume Designer; Joseph Kish - Set Designer; Emil Newman - Musical Direction/Supervision; Jack Pierce - Makeup; William Skall - Cinematographer; Frank Sullivan - Editor; Joseph A. Valentine - Cinematographer; Walter Wanger - Producer; Edwin Roberts - Set Designer; Barbara Karinska - Costume Designer; Andrew Solt - Screenwriter

Similar Movies

Saint Joan; Elizabeth; The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
 
 
Wikipedia: Joan of Arc (1948 film)
Joan of Arc
Joan_of_arc_(1948_film_poster).jpg
Directed by Victor Fleming
Produced by Walter Wanger
Written by Maxwell Anderson,
Andrew Solt
Starring Ingrid Bergman,
Francis L. Sullivan,
J. Carrol Naish
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release date(s) November 11 1948 (USA)
Running time 145 min / (100 min) (PG-rated version)
Language English
IMDb profile

Joan of Arc is a 1948 Technicolor film starring Ingrid Bergman as the French religious icon and war hero. It was produced by Walter Wanger. It is based on Maxwell Anderson's successful Broadway play Joan of Lorraine (which also starred Bergman), and was adapted for the screen by Anderson himself, in collaboration with Andrew Solt. Bergman had been lobbying to play Joan for many years, and this film was considered a dream project for her. It received mixed reviews and lower than expected box office, though it clearly was not a "financial disaster", as is often claimed.

The movie is considered by some to mark the start of a low period in the actress's career that would last until she made Anastasia in 1956. In April 1949, five months after the release of the film, and before it had gone out on general release, came the revelation of Bergman's extramarital relationship with Italian director Roberto Rossellini, a revelation which brought her American screen career to a temporary halt.

Bergman and co-star José Ferrer (making his first film appearance) received Academy Award nominations for their performances. The film was director Victor Fleming's last project — he died only two months after its release.

One of the criticisms of the film is that Bergman, who was 33 at the time she made the movie, was nearly twice the real Joan of Arc's age; the Swedish actress would later play her (at age 39) in a 1954 Italian film, Giovanna d'Arco al rogo (Joan at the Stake).

The film was made in 1947-1948 by an independent company, Sierra Pictures, created just for this production. Filming was done primarily at Hal Roach Studios, with location scenes shot in the Los Angeles area. It was first released in November 1948 by RKO. It cost $4.5 million at completion, but as of December 1951, the film had grossed six million dollars, three million less than was needed to cover production and distribution costs. It was edited from 145 minutes to 100 minutes for its general release in September 1950. This version was distributed, not by RKO, but by a company called Balboa Film Distributors, the same company which re-released Alfred Hitchcock's Under Capricorn, also starring Ingrid Bergman. Although the complete Technicolor negatives remained in storage in Hollywood, the original soundtrack was lost. The complete 145 minute version of Joan of Arc, unseen in the U.S. since about 1949, was restored in 1998 after an uncut print in mint condition was found in Europe, containing the only known copy of the complete soundtrack. The restored version was hailed as being much superior to the edited version. It was released on DVD in 2004.

The complete, unedited version of the film has not been shown on television as of 2006. The edited version, first shown in theatres in 1950, received its first television showing on CBS on the evening of April 12, 1968.

Plot

Unlike the play Joan of Lorraine, which is a play-within-a-play about an acting company presenting the story of Joan, the film is a straightforward recounting of the life of the French heroine. It begins with an obviously painted shot of the inside of a basilica with a shaft of light, possibly descending from heaven, shining down from the ceiling, and a solemn off-screen voice pronouncing the canonization of the Maid of Orleans. Then we see what appears to be a church manuscript recounting Joan's life, while hearing the voice of an uncredited narrator explaining Joan's family situation and describing her devoutness. The actual story of Joan then begins, from the time she realizes that she is apparently divinely sent on her mission, to her execution by burning at the hands of the English and the Burgundians.

Differences between complete and edited versions

There are several differences between the full-length version of the film and the edited general release version.

  • One that is immediately noticeable is that there is actually a snippet from Joan's trial during the opening narration in the edited version, whereas in the full-length version, the events of Joan's life are shown in chronological order.
  • The edited version omits crucial scenes that are important to a psychological understanding of the narrative, such as the mention of a dream that Joan's father has which foretells of Joan's campaign against the English. When Joan hears of the dream, she is reassured that she has been divinely ordered to drive the English out of France.
  • Most of the first ten minutes of the film, a section showing Joan praying in the Domrémy shrine, followed by a family dinner and conversation which leads to the mention of the dream, are not in the edited version.
  • Severe breaks in continuity in the edited version are joined by the narrator explaining what has happened between scenes. (In the complete 145-minute version, the narrator is heard only at the beginning of the film, and there are no sudden breaks in continuity.)
  • Entire characters, such as Joan's father (played by Robert Barrat) and Father Pasquerel (played by Hurd Hatfield) are partially or totally omitted from the edited version.
  • Even the opening credits are different — in the edited version, the story begins right after we see Victor Fleming's director's credit, while in the full-length version, after the credit "Directed by Victor Fleming", we see the title card "The Players", after which all the major lead and supporting actors — more than thirty of them — are listed in order of appearance and in groups (e.g., "At Domrémy", "At Chinon", etc.), much as in Fleming's other lengthy film epic Gone with the Wind.

The edited version might be considered more cinematic through its use of maps and voice-over narration to explain the political situation in France. (In the full-length version, Joan's family discusses the political situation during dinner.) The full-length version, although not presented as a play-within-a-play, as the stage version was, nevertheless resembles a stage-to-film adaptation, makes great use of Maxwell Anderson's original dialogue, and may seem, to some, stagy in its method of presentation, despite having a realistic depiction of the Siege of Orléans.

Awards and nominations

External links


 
 

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