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Pope Joan

  • 19721972
  • PGPG
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
371
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Pope Joan (1972)
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
371
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Anderson
  • Writer
    • John Briley(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Liv Ullmann
    • Jeremy Kemp
    • Natasa Nicolescu
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Anderson
  • Writer
    • John Briley(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Liv Ullmann
    • Jeremy Kemp
    • Natasa Nicolescu
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos16

    Liv Ullmann in Pope Joan (1972)
    Olivia de Havilland, Lesley-Anne Down, Franco Nero, and Liv Ullmann in Pope Joan (1972)
    Liv Ullmann in Pope Joan (1972)
    Jeremy Kemp and Liv Ullmann in Pope Joan (1972)
    Liv Ullmann in Pope Joan (1972)
    Liv Ullmann in Pope Joan (1972)
    Olivia de Havilland and Liv Ullmann in Pope Joan (1972)
    Liv Ullmann in Pope Joan (1972)
    Franco Nero and Liv Ullmann in Pope Joan (1972)
    Liv Ullmann in Pope Joan (1972)
    Franco Nero in Pope Joan (1972)
    Pope Joan (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Liv Ullmann
    Liv Ullmann
    • Pope Joanas Pope Joan
    Jeremy Kemp
    Jeremy Kemp
    • Joan's Fatheras Joan's Father
    Natasa Nicolescu
    • Joan's Motheras Joan's Mother
    Sharon Winter
    • Joan as a childas Joan as a child
    Margareta Pogonat
    • Village womanas Village woman
    Richard Bebb
    • Lord of Manoras Lord of Manor
    Peter Arne
    Peter Arne
    • Richardas Richard
    Patrick Magee
    Patrick Magee
    • Elder monkas Elder monk
    George Innes
    George Innes
    • Monkas Monk
    Nigel Havers
    Nigel Havers
    • Young monkas Young monk
    Lesley-Anne Down
    Lesley-Anne Down
    • Ceciliaas Cecilia
    Susan Macready
    • Sister Nunciataas Sister Nunciata
    Shelagh Wilcocks
    • Sister Louiseas Sister Louise
    Olivia de Havilland
    Olivia de Havilland
    • Mother Superioras Mother Superior
    André Morell
    André Morell
    • Emperor Louisas Emperor Louis
    Martin Benson
    Martin Benson
    • Lothairas Lothair
    Lorain Bertorelli
    • A nunas A nun
    Mary Healey
    Mary Healey
    • A nunas A nun
    • Director
      • Michael Anderson
    • Writer
      • John Briley(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —edk <laplaza@ccnet.com>
    • pope
    • woman priest
    • religion
    • catholicism
    • character name as title
    • 16 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Heresy ... or history ?
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The original plan was to shoot on location in Italy but this proved too expensive so the film was made at Bray Studios outside London, home to the Hammer horror movies. Some location work was done in Romania and Cyprus. Shooting in Romania proved to be rather difficult, given that there was hardly anything of a native film industry and also because the country was very tightly controlled by the Communist regime.
    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in A Quiet Revolution (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Veni Creator Spiritus
      Sung by The Sistine Chapel Choir

      Under the Direction of Domenico Bartolucci

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Good cast in herky-jerky production
    Costume drama based on popular legend about a 9th century nun who disguised herself as a man and--after some rather innocent deception--became Cardinal in Rome and later Pope before her secret was discovered. Panned by professional critics in 1972, "Pope Joan" was re-edited by nervous executives resulting in a picture that nobody was happy with. Still, despite the mangling, the performances come through, most especially Liv Ullmann's, excellent in the complex leading role. Supporting cast also fine, including Maximilian Schell (very sexy as a randy monk), Olivia de Havilland, Lesley-Anne Down, Patrick Magee, Franco Nero and Trevor Howard. Adequately filmed in London substituting for Italy, and worth a look for the curious. **1/2 from ****
    helpful•15
    4
    • moonspinner55
    • May 11, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 25, 1972 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Devil's Imposter
    • Filming locations
      • Brasov, Romania
    • Production companies
      • Big City
      • Command Production Establishment
      • Roadshow Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 12 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Last Surviving Gwtw Star and 2-Time Oscar Winner Has Turned 99: As a Plus, She Made U.S. Labor Law History
    Jul 2Alt Film Guide
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    Apr 29Alt Film Guide

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