Joan the Woman (1916)

A WWI English officer is inspired the night before a dangerous mission by a vision of Joan of Arc, whose story he relives.

Director:

Cecil B. DeMille

Writers:

Jeanie Macpherson (scenario), William C. de Mille

Stars:

Geraldine Farrar, Raymond Hatton, Hobart Bosworth

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Geraldine Farrar	...	Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc)
Raymond Hatton	...	Charles VII
Hobart Bosworth	...	Gen. La Hire
Theodore Roberts	...	Cauchon
Wallace Reid	...	Eric Trent 1431 / Eric Trent 1917
Charles Clary	...	La Tremouille
James Neill	...	Laxart
Tully Marshall	...	L'Oiseleur
Lawrence Peyton	...	Gaspard
Horace B. Carpenter	...	Jacques d'Arc
Cleo Ridgely	...	The king's favorite
Lillian Leighton	...	Isambeau
Marjorie Daw	...	Katherine
Ernest Joy	...	Robert de Beaudricourt
John Oaker	...	Jean de Metz

Storyline

John Trent, a World War I British officer, finds an ancient sword in his trench bunker just prior to volunteering for what will amount to a suicide mission the next day. That night he is visited by the spirit of Joan of Arc and is transported back to the 15th Century. Joan's career begins when, as a peasant girl, she meets Trent's ancestor, also an English soldier, fighting for the Burgundians. After Trent is captured, Joan is brought to the attention of the beleaguered Dauphin, heir to the French throne, who cannot be crowned because the English hold the royal city of Orleans. The weak Dauphin is impressed by her vision and apparently heaven-sent powers which border on the supernatural and ultimately gives her command of the armies. She is victorious at Orleans and the new King is crowned. Joan resists Trent's entreaties of love and continues her struggle to free the rest of her country from English occupation. Sinister forces, both English and French, conspire against her and she is...

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Plot Keywords:

siege | character name as title | joan of arc character | three word title | vision | 

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Taglines:

Cecil B. DeMille's Cinema Masterpiece

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | Mystery | War

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1916 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jeanne d'Arc

Filming Locations:

Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$302,976 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min (2003)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Color (Handschiegel Color) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film began its road-show run in major cities it was 12 reels long, but, over director Cecil B. DeMille's objections, was quickly shortened to 10 reels.

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Goofs

When Trent discovers the sword, he holds the hilt in his right hand. In the insert close-up the hilt is in his left hand. In the cutback, it has returned to the right. (In fact, the insert shot has been spliced in upside-down.)

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Quotes

Eric Trent: God forgive us, we have burned a saint!

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Connections

Featured in The Real Joan of Arc (2008)

User Reviews

A curiosity, not as masterpiece

I saw the Eastman House print, where only the final 20 minutes or so were tinted and where the titles in the first half hour were very jumpy.

The acting is better than average for movies of the time, though modern artists may think odd the scenes where Geraldine Farrar emotes to the camera.

Best for the sets and the costumes. I thought that the attack on the castle was the best part of the movie, and the early scenes in Joan's home village were very atmospheric.

The story itself is more to be ignored and seems to take history just as a jumping off point.