{"id":82973,"date":"2022-04-13T12:15:14","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T19:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=82973"},"modified":"2022-04-13T12:15:14","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T19:15:14","slug":"saint-joan-1957","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=82973","title":{"rendered":"Saint Joan (1957)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;They did not stop me &#8212; nor will anybody.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Poster-192x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-82974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Poster-192x300.png 192w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Poster-82x128.png 82w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Poster-173x270.png 173w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Poster.png 539w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn 15th century France, King Charles VII (Richard Widmark) is visited in his dreams by Joan of Arc (Jean Seberg), who burned at the stake for heresy after leading the French army against the English in the siege at Orl\u00e9ans, and then refusing to denounce the voices she heard.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anton Walbrook Films<\/li>\n<li>Biopics<\/li>\n<li>Christianity<\/li>\n<li>Harry Andrews Films<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>Jean Seberg Films<\/li>\n<li>John Gielgud Films<\/li>\n<li>Non-Conformists<\/li>\n<li>Otto Preminger Films<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptations<\/li>\n<li>Richard Widmark Films<\/li>\n<li>Royalty and Nobility <\/li>\n<li>Strong Females<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nOtto Preminger purportedly screened 18,000 young women for the central role in his adaptation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Joan_(play)\">George Bernard Shaw&#8217;s 1923 play<\/a>, and landed on Iowan would-be starlet Jean Seberg. Unfortunately, Seberg was (unfairly) lambasted for her performance here, though Preminger immediately cast her in his next film, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3682\"><em>Bonjour Tristesse<\/em> (1958)<\/a> &#8212; and of course she went on to New Wave stardom in Godard&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5963\"><em>Breathless<\/em> (1960)<\/a>. I haven&#8217;t seen or read Shaw&#8217;s original play, so can&#8217;t comment on its truncation and alteration here, but Grahame Greene&#8217;s screenplay flowed just fine for me. Seberg is appropriately earnest as the strong-willed Joan, never letting up on her insistence that she&#8217;s being guided by God: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"889\" height=\"665\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82981\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg5.png 889w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg5-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg5-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg5-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg5-361x270.png 361w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 889px) 100vw, 889px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and she&#8217;s surrounded by top-class talent, including John Gielgud as the Earl of Warwick, Felix Aylmer as the Inquisitor, and Anton Walbrook as the Bishop of Beauvais. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"891\" height=\"667\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82983\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud.png 891w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-768x575.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-361x270.png 361w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 891px) 100vw, 891px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The final stake-burning sequence (which apparently accidentally involved real risk) is authentically frightening: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Burning.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Burning.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"901\" height=\"669\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Burning.png 901w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Burning-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Burning-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Burning-768x570.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Burning-364x270.png 364w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 901px) 100vw, 901px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and the sets and costumes effectively evoke an entirely different time and place. This one isn&#8217;t as bad as its reputation would lead you to believe. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jean Seberg as Joan<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"947\" height=\"671\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82980\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg2.png 947w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg2-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg2-128x91.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg2-768x544.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Seberg2-381x270.png 381w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 947px) 100vw, 947px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine supporting performances across the cast<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-Walbrook.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-Walbrook.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"891\" height=\"679\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-Walbrook.png 891w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-Walbrook-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-Walbrook-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-Walbrook-768x585.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Gielgud-Walbrook-354x270.png 354w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 891px) 100vw, 891px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Georges P\u00e9rinal&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Ghost.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Ghost.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"889\" height=\"657\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82979\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Ghost.png 889w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Ghost-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Ghost-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Ghost-768x568.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Saint-Joan-Ghost-365x270.png 365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 889px) 100vw, 889px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a one-time look. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0050928\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1957\/06\/27\/archives\/the-screen-saint-joan-premingers-version-of-shaw-play-bows.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/88911\/saint-joan#articles-reviews?articleId=362745\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/saint-joan\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;They did not stop me &#8212; nor will anybody.&#8221; Synopsis: In 15th century France, King Charles VII (Richard Widmark) is visited in his dreams by Joan of Arc (Jean Seberg), who burned at the stake for heresy after leading the French army against the English in the siege at Orl\u00e9ans, and then refusing to denounce the voices she heard. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Anton Walbrook Films Biopics Christianity Harry Andrews Films Historical Drama Jean Seberg Films John Gielgud Films&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=82973\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=82973"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82987,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82973\/revisions\/82987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=82973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=82973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=82973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}