"Children say that people are hung sometimes for speaking the truth."-Joan of Arc

Fall of '48 post #8

Joan of Arc

November 11, 1948

Starring Ingrid Bergman, Jose Ferrer, Francis L. Sullivan and J. Carrol Naish

Released on this day in 1948, the Victor Fleming film Joan of Arc tells the story of the life of famous 19 year old French heroine and now canonized saint. It begins with a scene in a cathedral,with a voice reading out the official proclamation for the canonization of Jeanne d'Arc, Maid of Orleans (Bergman). It then jumps into the story of her life, beginning at the time when she believed that God had called her into action through a holy vision, to drive the English out of the region, help escort Charles VII to his coronation, and help put a stop to the Hundred Years' War. Joan claimed to be around the age of 12 when she first saw three other saints in a divine vision.

By use of family connections, after previous failed attempts, Joan managed to come in contact with Charles VII, then nothing more than a Dauphin or royal prince. She told him of her plans and her visions and how she wished she could be of help to him, citing God as her leader and inspiration, and therefore turning the page of the war to a more religious setting. Charles was very interested in what she had to say and wished to let her proceed with her plans, as some of her predictions had already come to pass. He could not act too hastily, however, because if he should follow her lead and achieve coronation without having her religious background confirmed, then it could lead to disaster with the people saying he inherited his position from the devil. So, a background check, of sorts, was done and word was received saying that all evidence supported that Joan was a humble, honest, Christian young lady.

It is said that she had the idea and desire of her own to ride into battle as a knight, or any good man. But she did not have the means to make her own armor, so she depended on donations for all of her necessities. There are accounts that say that she then took the initiative to actually lead the armies into battles, and thanks to her holy visions, they achieved many great victories which simultaneously paved the road for the Dauphin to his coronation and changed the tide of the war. She was known for persevering despite the odds and showing great courage to those she worked with, which is why they viewed her as one of the last fragments of hope they had left. She approved of an aggressive approach at a time when they were afraid to approach the enemy, she captured a fort with the aid of only one other, and during one battle she was wounded in the neck by an arrow but soldiered on and returned to the front lines to lead the final charge. She eventually used her influence with Charles VII to take over the position of co-commander of the army. On March 23, 1430, just about a year after her participation in the first siege, Joan was captured after a battle with the English. At first she adamantly refused to surrender. 

She was put on trial for heresy, and although it was an unfair trial with the appointed bishop lacking judicial authority over her case, the trial was opened for political reasons without any adverse evidence, and Joan (who was illiterate) was forced to sign an official abjuration document without knowing what it was. Nonetheless, she was convicted of heresy and sentenced to death. She was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431 and her ashes were thrown into the Seine.

This 1948 adaptation of the story of the French heroine was one of the first extensive American productions of the entire story of her life, rise to fame, capture, and death. The film won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design in Color, and Best Cinematography in Color; it was nominated for Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor. The film was fairly well received but audiences and the film studio were outraged to learn of Ingrid Bergman's affair with Roberto Rossellini shortly after it's release, and because of this, the film was edited or "butchered" before it was sent out for general release. Much of the content that was cut was feared to have been lost, and the film was not fully recovered in total and put back together for almost 50 years.