I must say, this isn't quite the movie experience I expected. Much of the early scene writing is decidedly lighthearted or even playful, with Richard Widmark's Dauphin/Charles VII being an especially excitable aspect. This is a straight drama, yes, and that becomes more evident in the latter half, yet the overall tone is less than abjectly somber. Of course the production design and art direction are grand; set design and decoration, costume design, and weapons and props all look outstanding, and vividly realize the time long past. The hair and makeup work is well considered; Georges Périnal's cinematography is exquisitely sharp. 'Saint Joan' is well made, I think, and I do like it, but I'm a bit surprised all the same.
I can't speak directly to George Bernard Shaw's play, but the story of Joan of Arc is well-known. If Graham Greene's adapted screenplay is any indication I would be quite keen on seeing the play performed, and while I understand that contemporary reviews decried the writing, I take no issue with it. Even at its least serious (mostly in the first half), the scene writing is rich and cutting, as is the dialogue. Meanwhile, it seems to me that the narrative here differs slightly from other treatments of the historic figure's tale by focusing in at least equal part on the machinations of those in whose hands her fate lied. In so doing, 'Saint Joan' heavily emphasizes the astounding, horrid cruelty and hypocrisy of self-proclaimed religious authorities. When all is said and done the plot is duly engaging and compelling in communicating the course of events - though particularly in light of the framing it's distinctly uneven, and the final moments are outright gauche.
It also seems important to highlight the cast, for two reasons. The first is that while they don't all necessarily have the same visibility and name recognition, everyone on hand turns in outstanding performances. From Widmark to John Gielgud, to Felix Aylmer and Archie Duncan, and all the rest, the actors give great displays of acting and command fantastic presence and personality in bringing their characters to life. Not least of all in the instances of those I'm least familiar with, I immediately want to find more of their pictures. The second reason to highlight the cast, though, is that while I'd be keen to see more of her films, too, the same descriptors of quality don't necessarily extend to Jean Seberg. It was a bold move, casting a fresh and inexperienced young woman as a major historical figure, and I see the reasoning - for all her zealotry, after all, who was Joan of Arc if not a young woman thrust into extraordinary circumstances? I don't think Seberg's debut here is abjectly terrible, but there's also no question that her performance lacks much of the same nuance and steady poise as her elders, and that she sticks out because of it is a bit unfortunate.
Ultimately I think 'Saint Joan' is a fine film, worth revisiting. If nothing else, the cast is noteworthy, and the latter scenes of or surrounding Joan's trial are all-around excellent. I just wish for my part that the project were approached with a little more mindfulness; the disparity between the jocularity of the framing and early scenes are glaring next to the more sober drama of later scenes, and it does the movie no favors. Still, more so than not I think it's a good rendition of a famous piece of history - you maybe don't need to go out of your way for it, but it's worth checking out if you come across it.
I can't speak directly to George Bernard Shaw's play, but the story of Joan of Arc is well-known. If Graham Greene's adapted screenplay is any indication I would be quite keen on seeing the play performed, and while I understand that contemporary reviews decried the writing, I take no issue with it. Even at its least serious (mostly in the first half), the scene writing is rich and cutting, as is the dialogue. Meanwhile, it seems to me that the narrative here differs slightly from other treatments of the historic figure's tale by focusing in at least equal part on the machinations of those in whose hands her fate lied. In so doing, 'Saint Joan' heavily emphasizes the astounding, horrid cruelty and hypocrisy of self-proclaimed religious authorities. When all is said and done the plot is duly engaging and compelling in communicating the course of events - though particularly in light of the framing it's distinctly uneven, and the final moments are outright gauche.
It also seems important to highlight the cast, for two reasons. The first is that while they don't all necessarily have the same visibility and name recognition, everyone on hand turns in outstanding performances. From Widmark to John Gielgud, to Felix Aylmer and Archie Duncan, and all the rest, the actors give great displays of acting and command fantastic presence and personality in bringing their characters to life. Not least of all in the instances of those I'm least familiar with, I immediately want to find more of their pictures. The second reason to highlight the cast, though, is that while I'd be keen to see more of her films, too, the same descriptors of quality don't necessarily extend to Jean Seberg. It was a bold move, casting a fresh and inexperienced young woman as a major historical figure, and I see the reasoning - for all her zealotry, after all, who was Joan of Arc if not a young woman thrust into extraordinary circumstances? I don't think Seberg's debut here is abjectly terrible, but there's also no question that her performance lacks much of the same nuance and steady poise as her elders, and that she sticks out because of it is a bit unfortunate.
Ultimately I think 'Saint Joan' is a fine film, worth revisiting. If nothing else, the cast is noteworthy, and the latter scenes of or surrounding Joan's trial are all-around excellent. I just wish for my part that the project were approached with a little more mindfulness; the disparity between the jocularity of the framing and early scenes are glaring next to the more sober drama of later scenes, and it does the movie no favors. Still, more so than not I think it's a good rendition of a famous piece of history - you maybe don't need to go out of your way for it, but it's worth checking out if you come across it.