Saint Joan 1957 la Dama De Hierro European Zone 2 PAL

Very hard to find, unfortunately mis-labled by Amazon. I took a chance because price was too high for a potboiler film noir, and the DVD cover was for the film I wanted to watch. Movie review: I was deeply affected by this film in the 1960s, having never considered an afterlife, much less it's perspective on a life it had led... G.B. Shaw was well ahead of his time! Gives an entirely different perspective of the Saint Joan story. Terrific cast, Jean Seberg captured courageous vulnerability. Richard Widmark playing a cowardly Dauphin.

Otto Preminger's stagy retelling of the Joan of Arc history/legend was pilloried on its release, and Jean Seberg's performance roasted (no pun intended). Seen today, the film is a stylized, often uneven, but worthwhile experience. Seberg is rough around the edges, but contrary to popular myth, isn't the shameful embarrassment critics made her out to be. Much worse is Richard Widmark's Dauphin, a cringe-worthy contribution to an otherwise stately, literate, and entertaining adaptation of the George Bernard Shaw play. The movie feels much like a television production from the same era: the crispness of the black and white images and the curiously flat nature of the settings and costumes mark it as something less than the typical fifties wide-screen epic, and something more than the typical "Playhouse 90" offerings of the period. Fans of Seberg will want to see the film: this edition is from the "Warner Archive" DVD releases, and as such is given the bare-bones treatment: no commentaries, no "making of" features, and a print that appears cropped from the original (Cinemascope?) version seen in theaters. I've had some playable issues with other Warner Archive editions: this DVD played well on three players, without skipping or stopping. No masterpiece, but time has been kind to the film, and to Seberg's contribution. Interesting to compare this version to the silent, Dreyer version, and the oddball Technicolor Victor Fleming film (1948), with a too-old Ingrid Bergman. Joan's story is filled with contradictions, betrayals, and turnabouts, and this film version recreates most of them in a compelling, stylized, and sometimes clumsy way. Should you buy the DVD? Well, not if you've been holding out for a special edition with commentaries and documentaries, but the print is clean, and this may be the only way to see Preminger's film for a while.

Of all of the cinamatic versions, even the early version of Joan, by Cart T. Dreyer, which, stands alone, due to its production during the silent era, does not display the feeling that Preminger attempted with such a young inexpericed actor he chose in Jean Seberg. Like Dreyer's over edited film, Preminger struggled to keep his film intact, yet the the version we have today is diminished by the studio complex over editing, due to unusual prejudice by critics at screenings. Still, if you watch Seberg closely, guided by Preminger, look at her eyes and brow, she truly tried to think and feel Joan. Preminger chose her out of hundreds, and he saw something past her angelic face. This film is rarely seen unfortunately, but if you're fascinated by the historical versions of Joan, and enjoy early cinema, keeping in mind the time when it was made, the film has acting moments that are amazing to see and well worth your time. Richard Widmark took quite a risk when he agreed to trust Preminger with his career change. Like, Grace Kelly, in Country Girl, for which she won an Oscar, it shares the fact that few people are aware of the film and the high quality of very young actresses completely immersing themselves in their role. Unfortunately, unlike Kelly, Seberg was mercilessly, negatively criticized at the films initial release. I'm very grateful that Amazon has made it accessible. This version is digitally enhanced and for a neglected film, is very clear and free of most the poor older VHS versions.

The performances aren't universally good, but this is the only cinematic treatment of one of Shaw's most engaging plays and so is worth the time spent. The adaption is often perceptive and witty, with some genuine poignancy that cuts through Seberg's rather dull reading of France's most heroic and famous saint and martyr and Widmark's seriously campy Dauphin. The staging is very static and those looking for battle spectacle or any portrayal of Joan's very real military exploits will be disappointed. It is Shaw's apt observations on the human condition, put into the mouths of characters like Joan, Charles, and Warwick, that shine most brilliantly in Saint Joan.One note on the DVD edition that might surprise others -- this disc leaves out the contemporary "Making Of" feature that was included as a bonus on the VHS version released long ago. It's a shame this was not included on the DVD -- there are no bonus features, in fact, not even subtitles. You'd think this would bring down the price, but no such luck -- a premium price charged for a bare-bones release, so make your purchasing decision accordingly.

The year is 1957. Even before the release of "Saint Joan," Otto Preminger's adaptation of the play by George Bernard Shaw, this film was shrouded in publicity. And afterward Preminger was quoted as saying the film was a failure due to the inexperience of newcomer J San S e b e r g. A flawed production, no doubt, mostly due to the unusual casting if Richard Widmark as the future king of France in the early 15th century, but after seeing this film for the first time, I have to say the film's beautiful moments were due to the enigmatic Jean S e b e r g 's portrayal of Joan of Arc. It's what I liked the most about this DVD. Her portrayal is what carries the film, more than any of the other actors. Especially recommended for devotees of Saint Joan of Arc.

I adore this film which is rather hard to find on dvd. The play is of course a masterpiece, but what I love about Preminger's film is the fine balance between the utterly breathtaking tragedy of the saint's plight, and the moments of humour in GBS' dialogue. This could be jarring and distracting in the wrong hands, but here it's perfectly judged and neither is overdone. It's beautifully touching, yet the coruscating satire of Joan's persecution, by Church, State and individual, is never less than sparkling. An essential classic, criminally neglected these days no doubt due to its Christian content ie, it's "lack of diversity" or some other nonsensical pronouncement by the media morons who devise our TV schedules :(

This is not a closely-loyal film version of Shaw’s 1923 play – he died in 1950; the film came out in 1957. But it follows Shaw’s play reasonably closely. One notable change is that Graham Greene’s screenplay splits Shaw’s crucial epilogue between the beginning, middle, and end of the film, usefully employing some elements of it as a transition as Joan is conveyed into English custody.It is not strictly an historically accurate film, let alone an historically-accurate play. Joan had been canonised in 1920 and Shaw used the play more as a means than as a faithful depiction. He does not question her ‘miracles’ but puts the audience in the place of deciding their veracity. It is also a commentary on petty pride and envy in the presence of the seemingly miraculous, although Shaw himself wrote in the play’s preface that “There are no villains in the piece”.Filmed in black-and-white, Jean Seberg is good as the title character, and there are fine performance by veteran ‘English’ actors like John Gielgud, Anton Walbrook, Felix Aylmer, and Harry Andrews. But there are problems with Richard Widmark as Charles VII. He tries, for sure, yet nevertheless remains unconvincing as a simpleton. Gilbert Adair wrote he was “ludicrously ill-cast” and the film itself was a “dull, misconceived adaptation.” A little harsh, perhaps, but the film’s 111 minutes are laboured by long scenes and much dialogue that is more suited to the live theatre. The production did take advantage of the superiority of film over theatre in its ability to provide a more imaginative set, yet I must admit that overall the film was not as good – and did not involve me as much – as the staged version I saw at the National about ten years ago.There are no extras provided on my DVD.

A brave stab at filming Shaws play,featuring an ecletic cast John Gielgud and Richard Widmark among them! , many critics thought Jean Seberg ( in the title role) overwhelmed by the part , but in my view,copes gamely with Shaws playful prose,or at least Graham Greenes version of it. It looks good, in widescreen black and white with Saul Bass titles. A costly flop in its day (1957) it now seems an intriguing and brave effort.