Joan of Arc

What in the shit is up with the editing with this thing? There are scenes that are cut prematurely and fade out as characters are continuing to speak to each other. Other times we suddenly jump into a scene in progress. I thought I had a bad version of the movie. Edited for TV or something. Then I read about the notorious 100 minute cut of a 145 minute movie. Everything else about the movie is marvelous and incredibly epic, which makes me want to see the 145 minute version pretty badly.

They didn't find the balance to make this feel like the epic picture it was supposed to be, but I appreciated it nonetheless. Something about the colorful composition and the oddly fascinating approach Ingrid Bergman took to the role. Felt more like theater than the big screen. Wish there would have been more of those to increase the noise in this often quiet maiden tale. While it naturally doesn't touch Dreyer's iconic silent story of Joan of Arc, this adaptation does ooze of classic Hollywood.

Best thing about it is the colour. Very epic-GWTWish at points.

82.50

A Technicolor epic without much distinction. Bergman is obviously too old to play Joan but she puts a lot into the role and her performance is satisfying. To be honest the print I saw wasn't great, but even so the staging seemed flat and the artificiality wasn't pleasant enough to lose myself in. I just never got much out of this. See Dreyer's film for a more passionate and visually stunning depiction, obviously.

Excellent historical epic! Probably the best version of this wonderful tale.