Pope Joan (1972)

In medieval Europe, a pious young woman becomes a scholar of theology, disguises herself as a man, rises through the Catholic Church hierarchy and is elected Pope.

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writer:

John Briley (screenplay)

Stars:

Liv Ullmann, Jeremy Kemp, Natasa Nicolescu

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liv Ullmann	...	Pope Joan
Jeremy Kemp	...	Joan's Father
Natasa Nicolescu	...	Joan's Mother
Sharon Winter	...	Joan as a child
Margareta Pogonat	...	Village woman
Richard Bebb	...	Lord of Manor
Peter Arne	...	Richard
Patrick Magee	...	Elder monk
George Innes	...	Monk
Nigel Havers	...	Young monk
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Cecilia
Susan Macready	...	Sister Nunciata
Shelagh Wilcocks	...	Sister Louise
Olivia de Havilland	...	Mother Superior
André Morell	...	Emperor Louis

Storyline

This movie is based on the medieval legend of Pope Joan, who was made Pope for a brief period around 855 A.D. Although it is questionable that Pope Joan really did exist, this movie presents her existence as fact, and portrays her relationships with other notables of the time.

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Plot Keywords:

pope | woman priest | religion | catholicism | convent | 

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Taglines:

Heresy ... or history ?

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Devil's Imposter

Filming Locations:

Brasov, Romania

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big City, Command Production Establishment, Roadshow Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While the story of Pope Joan is now widely considered to be fictitious, there is still a minority movement that believes that there actually was a female Pope. Certainly this film treats the legend as if it was fact.

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Alternate Versions

In the version shown on BBC TV on 22nd October 2005, the 20th-century bookend scenes are cut, Keir Dullea and Robert Beatty do not appear, and the film ends abruptly with the crowd descending on Joan.

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Connections

Featured in A Quiet Revolution (1972)

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Soundtracks

Veni Creator Spiritus
Sung by The Sistine Chapel Choir
Under the Direction of Domenico Bartolucci

User Reviews

a wonderful film

"What a surprise! Not only the story, but what a cast! Liv Ullmann, Trevor Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Maximilian Schell, Franco Nero, Leslie Ann Down! And the texture of the movie - the crude medieval villages, the halls of the ancient Vatican, the incredible 10th Century nunnery, the countryside of Saxon Germany, in peace and war, scene after scene that could never have been shot in Hollywood. But the greatest discovery is the performance of Liv Ullmann. If anything ever deserved an Academy Award. She creates more passion and sexual desire with her eyes and the movement of a hand than the whole pantheon of current sex goddesses could with all their bodies and a ravishing musical score behind them. And when it comes to tragedy and fear those same eyes dig so deeply into the soul they leave a mark that haunts you for weeks. This is a wonderful, wonderful picture."