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.
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Title: Pope Joan (1972)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Liv Ullmann | ... | Pope Joan | |
| Jeremy Kemp | ... | Joan's Father | |
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Natasa Nicolescu | ... | Joan's Mother |
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Sharon Winter | ... | Joan as a child |
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Margareta Pogonat | ... | Village woman |
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Richard Bebb | ... | Lord of Manor |
| Peter Arne | ... | Richard | |
| Patrick Magee | ... | Elder monk | |
| George Innes | ... | Monk | |
| Nigel Havers | ... | Young monk | |
| Lesley-Anne Down | ... | Cecilia | |
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Susan Macready | ... | Sister Nunciata |
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Shelagh Wilcocks | ... | Sister Louise |
| Olivia de Havilland | ... | Mother Superior | |
| André Morell | ... | Emperor Louis | |
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
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. Written by edk <laplaza@ccnet.com>
Taglines:
I, a woman, will be Pope. I swear it ! See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
25 October 1972 (UK) See more »Also Known As:
The Devil's Imposter See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Sung by The Sistine Chapel Choir
Under the Direction of Domenico Bartolucci
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The final film of Derek Farr. See more »Alternate Versions
In the version shown on BBC TV on 22nd October 2005, the 20th-century bookend scenes are cut, and do not appear, and the film ends abruptly with the crowd descending on Joan. See more »Soundtracks
Veni Creator SpiritusSung by The Sistine Chapel Choir
Under the Direction of Domenico Bartolucci
See more »
I found the film version of the Pope Joan story compelling viewing because it conveyed the force and importance of Joan's spiritual calling yet portrayed her as an breathing human being (this may be somewhat ironic since it is possible she is only a legend). Here is a woman who hears God's voice and the voice of carnal longing. She is neither the lowly whore nor the ethereal virgin. Also, it is refreshing to see films where spirituality and belief in God are taken seriously.
I found the performances to be excellent, especially those of Liv Ullman and Trevor Howard. Ullman is very good at portraying the vertical pull of spirituality and the wrenching ambiguity of living in the material world. Trevor Howard's performance was utterly convincing. Also, Susan Winter had a quiet presence about her in her brief performance as the young Joan, which impressed me. What a tenuous thing to be a young girl in the Medieval age - what a microcosm she is of all human existence.
This film has its flaws, most notably the disjointed editing and jarred pacing. I do not quibble, however, with the less than ideal sound quality of the dialog or the occasional white lines which momentarily appear on the screen now and again because when I watch a film, I accept the film on its own terms; I do not wish it was something it isn't - a film made on a modest budget in 1972 should not be expected to look and sound like a mega-budget blockbuster filmed in 2006. On the whole, this movie is a success.
Cautionary note: not a movie for kids.