Joan of Arc is represented numerous ways in ‘high’ art and popular culture. Filmmakers and song writers have long recognized the complex associations Joan’s image provokes. For filmmakers, Joan’s story has been a structural paradigm for a successful screenplay, and Joan’s is the most frequently represented story of any woman. The heroics, drama, suspense and conflict of Joan’s life and death translate magically on the screen. The following catalogue of “Joan of Arc” films is accompanied by some clips.
1898: Georges Hatot, Jeanne d’Arc. (French). A fragment is preserved at the Centre Jeanne d’Arc in Orleans.
1900: Georges Melies, Jeanne d’Arc. Star Films (French). An historical reconstruction in twelve scenes. Joan played by Mlle. Calviere
1908: Albert Capellani, Jeanne d’Arc. Pathe (French). Joan played by Leontine Massart
1909: Mario Caserini, Vie de Jean d’Arc. Cines (Italian). Joan played by Maria Gasperini. Based on Die Jungfrau von Orleans by Schiller
1913: Nino Oxilia, Giovanna d’Arco. Pasquali (Italian)
1917: Cecil B de Mille, Joan the Woman, Paramount (USA). Based on Schiller’s Die Jungfrau von Orleans. Joan played by Geraldine Farrar.
1928: Carl Dreyer, La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc. Societe generale de Films (French). Historical advisor: Pierre Champion. Joan played by Renee (aka Maria) Falconetti.
1928: Marc de Gastyne, La Merveilleuse vie de Jeanne d’Arc. Auliert-Natan (French). Joan played by Simone Genevoix.
1935: Gustav Ucicky, das Madchen Johanna. UFA (Germany). Joan played by Angela Salloker
1948: Victor Fleming, Joan of Arc. Production RKO (USA). Religious advisor: R.P. Donoceur. Based on Joan of Lorraine by Maxwell Anderson. Joan played by Ingrid Bergman.
1952: Carl Dreyer, La Passion de Jean d’Arc. The 1928 Gaumont silent film equipped with sound track by Lo Duca. Music: Bach, Vivaldi, Albinoni.
1954: Roberto Rosellini, Giovanna d’Arco al Rogo. A Franco-London-Film and PCA (Franco-Italian) Coproduction. Based on the text of Paul Claudel and on the Oratorio by by Paul Claudel and Arthur Honegger. Joan of Arc played by Ingrid Bergman.
1954: Jean Delannoy, Destinees (Jeanne). This film is one of three sketches of a long film entitled Destinees and consecrated to La Femme et la guerre. Joan played by Michele Morgan. A Franco-London-Film and Continental Produzione Coproduction.
1956: Robert Enrico, Jehanne. A SINPRI-Guy Perol Production (French). A short film relating the life of Joan of Arc from miniatures of a manuscript of the fifteenth-century. Text read by Alain Cuny. Music reconstructed by a fifteenth century specialist, Madeleine Bourlat.
1957: Otto Preminger, Saint Joan, United Artists (USA). Based on George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan. Joan played by Jean Saberg.
1961: Claude Antoine, Jeanne au vitrail. Films Claude Antoine (French). This short film relates the life of Joan of Arc according to stained glass windows depicting the principal movements of her life: Domremy, Vaucouleurs, Chinon, Orleans, Reims, Rouen.
1962: Robert Bresson, Le Proces de Jeanne d”arc. Agnes Delahaie (French). A film based on the minutes of the condemnation trial and rehabilitation trials. Joan played by Florence Carrez.
1962: Francis Lacassin, Histoire de Jeanne. Lux-CCF (French). A short film based on the documents and engravings of the fifteenth century in the Bibliotheque Nationale and Bibliotheque Municipale of Lyon.
1964: Jeanne en France: Director Jean Leherissey and based on the work of Regine Pernoud, this documentary provides superb factual data about Joan and her incredible journey.
1969: Seraphic Dialogue: Presents Martha Graham and her company in a dance interpretation of Joan of Arc. Seraphic Dialogue stage set designed by Isamu Noguchi for Martha Graham. Features Martha Graham as Joan of Arc at the moment of her exaltation when she looks back at the phases of her legend as a maiden, warrior, and martyr. A truly moving masterpiece.
1970: Gleb Panfilov, Nachalo- Le Debut. Studio-Len Film (USSR). Black and white. A satiric comedy; Joan played by Inna Tchourikova.
1983: Gina Newson, Joan of Arc. British Film Institute. Black and White. Commentator, Marina Warner.
1988: Joan of Arc: The Power and the Innocence: Original text by Pierre Moinot and directed by Pierre Badel. A powerful French miniseries that was aired on French television. Cecile Magnet as Joan.
1989: Giovanna d’Arco. Recorded in Bologna, Italy. NVC Arts in association with BBC TV from Teatro Comunale Di Bologna. Music by Giuseppe Verdi. Conducted by Riccardo Chailly. Directed by Werner Herzog and Henning von Gierke. This is the definitive opera dealing with Joan’s life in Italian. Joan played by Susan Dunn.
1989: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Directed by Stephen Herek. Starring Keanu Reeves. It provides and alternative view of the source of Joan’s voices….Joan played by Jane Wiedlin.
1995: Jeanne d’Arc Museum in Rouen: Directed by La Communication par l’Image. The museum’s personal biography of Joan’s life on video. Much of the material was filmed in and around Rouen. Narrated by Bridgette Muller.
1995: Anniversary Jeanne d’Arc (in French): CGR Presente Jeanne d’Arc. Produced by Sarl Chareh. A French documentary commemorating Joan’s extraordinary life.
1995: “Forever Knight” Episode: “For I Have Sinned” Directed by James O. Parriott. A recent TV show aired on the Sci-Fi Channel that portrays the vampire protagonist, Nick Knight, meeting Joan. Joan played by Tracey Cook.
1996: History Makers: Joan of Arc: Directed by Jeremy Freeston and written by Hilary Pooler. A Canadian commentary and reenactment of Joan’s life. Joan played by Catherine Sage.
1997: Jacques Rivette-Jeanne la Pucelle: The Battles/The Prisons: An excellent version of Joan’s life in two part, namely her military actions and her subsequent imprisonment. Joan played by Sandrine Bonnaire.
1999: Joan of Arc (CBS Remake): Christian Duguay, director. This is a story of Joan of Arc, who at seventeen, led one of the greatest campaigns for freedom the world has ever witnessed. Starring Leelee Sobieski as Joan.