The Passion of Joan of Arc

The Passion of Joan of Arc
U.S. theatrical release poster
La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc
Directed byCarl Theodor Dreyer
Written byJoseph Delteil
Carl Theodor Dreyer
StarringRenée Jeanne Falconetti
Eugène Silvain
André Berley
Maurice Schutz
CinematographyRudolph Maté
Edited byMarguerite Beaugé
Carl Theodor Dreyer
Music byLéo Pouget
Victor Alix
Distributed bySociété Générale des Films
Release dates
  • 21 April 1928 (1928-04-21) (Denmark)
  • 25 October 1928 (1928-10-25) (France)
Running time
110 minutes (20 fps)
82 minutes (24 fps)
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench (intertitles)

The Passion of Joan of Arc (French: La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc) is a 1928 French silent historical film based on the actual record of the trial of Joan of Arc. The film was directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer and stars Renée Jeanne Falconetti as Joan. It is widely regarded as a landmark of cinema,[1] especially for its production, Dreyer's direction and Falconetti's performance, which is often listed as one of the finest in cinema history. The film summarizes the time that Joan of Arc was a captive of England,[2] depicting her trial and execution.

Danish director Dreyer was invited to make a film in France by the Société Générale des Films and chose to make a film about Joan of Arc due to her renewed popularity in France. Dreyer spent over a year researching Joan of Arc and the transcripts of her trial before writing the script. Dreyer cast stage actress Falconetti as Joan in her only major film role. Falconetti's performance and devotion to the role during filming have become legendary among film scholars.

The film was shot on one huge concrete set modeled on medieval architecture in order to realistically portray the Rouen prison. The film is known for its cinematography and use of close-ups. Dreyer did not allow the actors to wear make-up and used lighting designs that made the actors look more grotesque. Prior to its release, the film was controversial due to French nationalists' skepticism about whether a Dane could direct a film about one of France's most revered historical icons. Dreyer's final version of the film was cut down due to pressure from the Archbishop of Paris and government censors. For several decades, it was released and viewed in various re-edited versions that attempted to restore Dreyer's final cut. In 1981, a print of Dreyer's final cut was discovered in Dikemark Hospital, a mental institution just outside Oslo, Norway, and re-released.[3]

Despite the objections and cutting of the film by clerical and government authorities, it was a major critical success when first released and has consistently been considered one of the greatest films ever made. It has been praised and referenced by many film directors and musicians. In 1958, the film was voted number 4 on the prestigious Brussels 12 list at the 1958 World Expo.

As a work published in 1928, the film entered the public domain in the United States in 2024.[4]

  1. ^ The Criterion Collection: Passion of Joan of Arc, The – Synopsis by Anonymous. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
  2. ^ DVD commentary by Casper Tybjerg, Associate Professor of Film Studies at the Department of Media, Cognition and Communication at the University of Copenhagen.
  3. ^ "Janus Films Presents The Passion of Joan of Arc" (PDF). Janus Films. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Public Domain Day 2024 | Duke University School of Law". web.law.duke.edu.