Review of Saint Joan (1957) by Greg W — 14 Mar 2011

Director, Otto Preminger, known for tackling controlversial movies in his day tries to take on George Bernard Shaw's play, Saint Joan. Too bad the play is utter shit.

This story of Joan is quite different than other movie adaptations. For starters, the writing, the historical accuracy, and the characters are all wrong. In her movie debute, Jean Seberg plays Joan in a far more feminine, seductive and annoying way. But that's not as bad as Richard Widmark's Charles VII, or Charlie as Joan calls him, being more of a weak, childish and pathetic portrayal. The rest of the movie's characters are not at all interesting, comedically played and very disrespectful to the real story, even if tidbits of history are in this movie. But it really is the writing's fault. This movie is based on a play, which is why this movie is so cheep as to not even have a battle at Orleans. All possible action is replaced with a comedic and modern interpretation of Joan which doesn't fit at all.

If there's anything to like about this movie, it's the way it looks. Though lacking battle scenes, the set design of the castles are pretty cool to see, and the lighting and cinematography is well done. But as for directing, what ties the pacing and the actions on the screen all together, Preminger just tried too make something different than something accurate and interesting.

There's a right way and a wrong way in making a movie about Joan of Arc. A movie about a historical figure should have a historical feeling to it. But immediately you can from the movie's awkward beginning that this movie isn't going to follow history like it should. This movie and the play it was inspired by tries too hard to be it's own story that it becomes devoid of interest, historical accuracy, respect for the people it's portraying and respect from the viewer. What's the point of watching a Joan of Arc movie if it's trying to be silly and controversial?