Joan of Arc

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Epic, Finally Available at Last!!!
Review: First of all, let me begin by saying this is not "A" Joan of Arc movie, this is "THE" Joan of Arc movie--unexcelled and unsurpassed by any movie made before it or since. Millions of dollars and painstaking attention to detail were invested in this grand epic to ensure that it was truthful and true-to-life down to the minutest detail. The events, clothes, and portrayals were all garnered from the the current records and historians of the day (for example, we have the entire transcript of Joan's trial). Ingrid Bergman dutifully and extensively studied St. Joan in an attempt to accurately capture her mulit-dimentional personality--unlike modern portrayals which are either inconsistent with the historical records (showing Joan to be crazy) or flat, wooden, one-dimensional portrayals.
Fans of this movie will shudder to know that the studio almost destroyed this great film by butchering it to death. It was a misguided attempt to get more people to come to the theater to see it. There was nothing wrong with the film in it's original incarnation. It simply was released at a time when Ingrid Bergman was unpopular in the American press due to things in her personal life. The studio's cutting and re-editing of this film almost caused us to lose it in its original form for all time. Prints had to be brought in from overseas to restore it.
I know I've been waiting for years for this great classic to be restored and re-released and I'm finally glad it has been.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Epic, Finally Available at Last!!!
Review: First of all, let me begin by saying this is not "A" Joan of Arc movie, this is "THE" Joan of Arc movie--unexcelled and unsurpassed by any movie made before it or since. Millions of dollars and painstaking attention to detail were invested in this grand epic to ensure that it was truthful and true-to-life down to the minutest detail. The events, clothes, and portrayals were all garnered from the the current records and historians of the day (for example, we have the entire transcript of Joan's trial). Ingrid Bergman dutifully and extensively studied St. Joan in an attempt to accurately capture her mulit-dimentional personality--unlike modern portrayals which are either inconsistent with the historical records (showing Joan to be crazy) or flat, wooden, one-dimensional portrayals.
Fans of this movie will shudder to know that the studio almost destroyed this great film by butchering it to death. It was a misguided attempt to get more people to come to the theater to see it. There was nothing wrong with the film in it's original incarnation. It simply was released at a time when Ingrid Bergman was unpopular in the American press due to things in her personal life. The studio's cutting and re-editing of this film almost caused us to lose it in its original form for all time. Prints had to be brought in from overseas to restore it.
I know I've been waiting for years for this great classic to be restored and re-released and I'm finally glad it has been.

Rating:
Summary: Miraculous Restoration of a Classic Film!!!
Review: For my birthday I received the new DVD of Victor Fleming's 1948 Technicolor production of "Joan of Arc" starring the ever radiant Ingrid Bergman. Image produced the DVD and the UCLA film archive spent years restoring the film and putting in all the footage trimmed from its original 146 minute release. Many of us saw a shortened and doctored print of this film on television growing up. I did not know than that the film had not only been cut down, but additional footage, including the maps showing Joan's journey had actually been added along the way. This edited version was released on VHS by Sterling Video and on Laserdisc by VidAmerica. Both editions have been unavailable for some time. I managed to rent the Laserdisc after reading another review that said it featured the "shorter version". It corresponded to what I remembered watching on TV so it dawned on me that I had never seen the entire film. I assumed the rest was probably lost and I never would, but thanks to the painstaking efforts of the UCLA film archive with help from the Motion Picture Academy, private collecters and even (according to the insert) a film museum in the Netherlands, we have the complete film magnificently restored. Ingrid Bergman turns in a wonderful perfomance along with Jose Ferrer, Cecil Kellaway and host of other well known faces from that time. George Zucco even has a small part as captain of a border guard and for once does not play a heavy. Ingrid Bergman caught some flak at the time for playing against type herself as her own personal life came under scrutiny. Despite this she was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. The film won three Oscars including a special award to producer Walter Wanger, Cinematography and Costume Design. It was also nominated for Supporting Actor-Jose Ferrer, Art Direction, Film Editing and Score. Thanks to Image entertainment for bringing yet another classic gem to DVD! Make some popcorn and enjoy the show. Thanks!

Rating:
Summary: A SUPERB REMASTERED ORIGINAL AND UNCUT!!!
Review: For those who own or who have seen the "butchered" version of this 1948 classic, RUN, don't WALK to your nearest video store and get the newly restored, uncut version!!!

The art of film preservation has done a SPECTACULAR JOB on all counts!! The film is in its original 146 minute version and will disappoint no one. As one of the other reviews mentioned, this is THEEEE Joan of Arc movie of ALL Joan of Arc movies. No one can surpass Ingrid Bergman in her portrayal. This is the way movies were meant to be made.

Victor Fleming, who directed Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, directed this with equal finesse and this ranks among his finest work. He died shortly after the film's release. He would be proud to see that, now, with the original restored version, it has withstood the test of time just like "Wind" and "Oz".

The performances are stellar, the battle scenes terrific, the musical score outstanding and the cinematography in GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOR is unbelievable!!! This is film preservation at its very best, Hollywood movie making at its best!!!

Trust me....would that all films would have the happy ending of restoration and uncutting as this one has!!!

This is a true classic and I'd give it 20, 30 or 1000 stars!!!!!
They don't get much better than this!

Rating:
Summary: IF YOU WISH TO LEARN MORE ON JOAN OF ARC, THIS MOVIE IS IT!
Review: I found this movie a delightful representation of St. Joan D' Arc, Patron Saint Of France. I have always loved St. Joan, and have found this movie to be wonderfully informative on her life.
She was truly a grand and excellent person and all because of God giving her a very special vocation- that of saving France!
I highly recommend this film - 5 stars!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A SUPERB REMASTERED ORIGINAL AND UNCUT!!!
Review: If you have been disappointed by the 100 minute video of JOAN OF ARC in the past, you will be delighted with this original version. This is the same version that I saw in 1949, immaculate and with nothing added or subtracted.

Anyone who knows anything about Saint Joan of Arc is deeply disappointed by the 100 minute video version which cut many parts essential to understanding Joan's complicated story. The full length version fills us in on the historical background through clever dialogue, portrays faithfully scenes from the trial in Joan's own words and best of all draws us in to the exciting, courageous and saintly life of one of history's unique figures. The brilliant colors and exquisite costumes make the film a visual feast! Ingrid Bergman's captivating performance reflects the profound affection that the actrice felt for Saint Joan.

Rating:
Summary: The real thing!
Review: If you have been disappointed by the 100 minute video of JOAN OF ARC in the past, you will be delighted with this original version. This is the same version that I saw in 1949, immaculate and with nothing added or subtracted.

Anyone who knows anything about Saint Joan of Arc is deeply disappointed by the 100 minute video version which cut many parts essential to understanding Joan's complicated story. The full length version fills us in on the historical background through clever dialogue, portrays faithfully scenes from the trial in Joan's own words and best of all draws us in to the exciting, courageous and saintly life of one of history's unique figures. The brilliant colors and exquisite costumes make the film a visual feast! Ingrid Bergman's captivating performance reflects the profound affection that the actrice felt for Saint Joan.

Rating:
Summary: Great Film But NOT completely restored.
Review: Ingrid had always wanted to play Joan of Arc and it truly became her show. This is a stupendous film and Ingrid is a radiant Joan, giving an extremely moving performance. Everything about this film is beautiful: Ingrid, of course, the photography, costumes, and an excellent quality film with a cast of great actors.
I have only one fault with this film. It is NOT a completely restored original-length. There is one scene missing from the DVD. It is the scene in which Joan is captured. The DVD shows she was captured and brought before the Duke of Burgundy. She is on a brown horse with her hands tied behind her. That is all. It does not show HOW she was captured. That scene was omitted from this DVD. Here is the omitted scene: -After the battle of Rheims, she rode out to defend the town of Compiegne against a new offensive by the Duke of Burgundy. She commanded a successful sortie against the Burgundians but was outflanked by English reinforcements and forced to retire. Protecting her rearguard while they retreated over a bridge, she was forced into a field, where she was pulled from her horse by a mob of Burgundian soldiers who were keen not to hurt her, as they hoped to claim the ransom money.
-What a shame this scene was omitted from the DVD. However, it is a great historical film. With Ingrid Bergman as Joan, it is a must see.

Rating:
Summary: Restored epic tells Joan's story sincerely, honestly
Review: This DVD hasn't been released yet, but from the details that are supplied it looks to be the complete theatrical roadshow version that has been unavailable in the US, at least, for 35 years or longer (I have faint memories of seeing this on TV, in two parts, in the Sixties). Finally! I understand that this has involved a major film restoration project and will hope that the technical results have been worth it, since this is the best English-language Joan of Arc film to have been made, still. (More recent films have been marred by slipshod performances, weak scripts, and dubious historical accuracy at best.) This movie has been previously released on home video in a criminally butchered 100-minute version and even that is long out of print.

This important movie belongs in the collection of anyone with a serious interest in learning something about the life and career of Jeanne d'Arc.

Update, May 21, 2004: The DVD is available now; I have viewed about half of this so far and can report that it is a spectacular job of film restoration. The colors are vivid and distinct, the image sharp, and the soundtrack clear and distinct even in its monophonic mix. This 56-year old Technicolor movie looks like it was released last week. All the fantastic detail work in the backgrounds, costumes, and matte paintings is clearly visible and Ingrid glows more beatifically than ever before. (She may not be the definitive screen Joan, but she was certainly one of the most sincere in her approach.) The DVD includes no special features but a box insert briefly describes the history of the film's production and restoration. A superb job for this deserving epic.

Rating:
Summary: Restored epic tells Joan's story sincerely, honestly
Review: This DVD hasn't been released yet, but from the details that are supplied it looks to be the complete theatrical roadshow version that has been unavailable in the US, at least, for 35 years or longer (I have faint memories of seeing this on TV, in two parts, in the Sixties). Finally! I understand that this has involved a major film restoration project and will hope that the technical results have been worth it, since this is the best English-language Joan of Arc film to have been made, still. (More recent films have been marred by slipshod performances, weak scripts, and dubious historical accuracy at best.) This movie has been previously released on home video in a criminally butchered 100-minute version and even that is long out of print.

This important movie belongs in the collection of anyone with a serious interest in learning something about the life and career of Jeanne d'Arc.