ST JOAN

UK, 1957, 110 minutes, Black and white.
Jean Seberg, Anton Walbrook, Richard Widmark, John Gielgud, Felix Aylmer, Harry Andrews, Richard Todd.
Directed by Otto Preminger.

St Joan is a cinema oddity. It is a Hollywood-based version of George Bernard Shaw's celebrated play, focusing on Joan of Arc, seeing her in her times, but also seeing her in the perspective of emerging nationalism as well as the corrupt church - or from the point of view of the early 20th century. Shaw's screenplay has been adapted for film by novelist Graham Greene. The director is Otto Preminger, a director of versatility but with many heavy-handed films ranging from classics like Laura to big-budget movies like Exodus, The Cardinal.

The film has an unusual cast with Richard Widmark being cast as the effete Dauphin. Richard Todd is a soldier, and there is the opportunity for a rare 1950s performance by John Gielgud. But the controversy of the casting was the young Jean Seberg, inexperienced, as Joan. She has the right kind of presence - even though it is somewhat American and she appears inexperienced beside the strong cast. However, it was to be the beginning of her career (she made Bonjour Tristesse with Preminger) and remained in France filming with many French directors, especially Jean Luc Goddard in Breathless.

The film re-creates the atmosphere of the period while the dialogue is very much that of Britain in the 20th century. It was filmed in black and white - though was computer colourised for television release. The film might be compared with other presentations of Joan of Arc from the classic Dreyer films to Bresson’s Trial of Joan of Arc. And, of course, there is the famous version with Ingrid Bergman.

1. Impact of the film? Adaptation of the play? Cinematic? Considered a failure in its time?

2. The writings and perspective of G.B. Shaw: his theatre background, his verbal dexterity, his dramatic sense? His interest in themes: the natural and the supernatural, Joan as leader, Joan as a visionary? Emerging French nationalism? The role of the church and ecclesiastical courts? The heritage of Joan of Arc? The contribution of Graham Greene to the screenplay?

3. The diversity of the cast, the impact of the individuals, playing together? Jean Seberg and her inexperience?

4. Black and white photography, sense of the period? Costumes and decor? Musical score?

5. Structure of the film, from the play: the focus on the Dauphin, on Joan, on Warwick, Jack, Cauchon, finally, the good soldier?

6. Audience familiarity with the plot and the story of Joan of Arc? Joan and her character, her background, family, the role of a young girl in 15th century France? Madness and sanity? The girl as a soldier, her prowess, cutting her hair, the uniform? With the men? Her vision, her stances, the battles, the Siege of Orleans, her achievement and the crowning of the Dauphin, the trial, her change of heart, the confession, dying as a martyr? Her ultimate canonisation?

7. Baudricourt and the eggs, the meeting with Joan, her stances, his bluster, the interview and her success? The uniform, the travel, seeing the man die? The signs? Going to the court, the Dauphin concealing himself, Bluebeard taking his place? Her recognition? The response of the Dauphin, the archbishop, the chancellor? Her credibility?

8. The portrait of the Dauphin, his weakness, manner, playing games? His role in the French kingdom? His wife, his relationships, friends, the court? The crown? Joan liking him, his betraying her after the coronation, his fickleness, the rejection? Her vision for him? His looking at his life in retrospect?

9. Joan's success, the battles - and the warfare off-screen? The failures? Her relationship with Jack, friendship, advice? The pragmatic aspects of Joan and her soldiery, her friends? Her appearance and the men rallying behind her?

10. The archbishop, his disdain of Joan, his standing on his dignity, his being vested and taking his place in the court? His playing cards and his being preoccupied with worldly matters? His work in the garden, pruning the bushes? A portrait of a church authority - and Shaw's criticism of him?

11. The war and its progress? The Protestant language that Shaw gives to the British? The friar and his very British tone? Urging on the war?

12. The Inquisition, the inquisitor, the examination of Joan, her guilt and innocence, her holiness, her purity and simplicity? The secretaries, their reactions in the court?

13. Cauchon, his place in the hierarchy, presiding at the court? His seriousness, the conducting of the trial, the intrigues behind the scenes, with the French, with the English? His manner of holding the trial? The condemnation of Joan? His later being dishonoured?

14. Martin, a good friend, admiring of Joan, helping her, the confession?

15. Joan and her execution, the burning in the square, the reaction of the soldiers, the soldier and giving her the cross? The images of hell?

16. The executioner, the handling of the situation for the English? Rank?

17. Warwick, his character, leader of the English, pragmatic? The background of the war with England and France? Intrigues? The soldier? The diplomat? His attitude towards Joan, their encounters, her going to trial? The personal aspects, the political aspects of her death?

18. Joan, her achievement, vision? Her being tortured and imprisoned? Her turning away and her confusion? The diabolical aspects and her fears? The clothes, her pride, tricked? Her confession, changing her mind? The impact of her death? A saint?

19. The saint and her vision, conscience, the martyr? The role of the church in condemning her, later canonising her? The Protestant attitude towards Joan, the witch, their pragmatic view? Shaw's attempt to collect these points of view and dramatise them - especially in the final scene with its surrealism, the characters all reviewing their lives and the meaning of what had happened?