See Carl Theodor Dreyer's classic silent film, The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), free, uncut, and without commercial interruption, at the WEJB/NSU Theater!

Re-posted by N.S.

The Passion of Joan of Arc | 1928 | Silent Film HD | Carl Theodor Dreyer

5,289 views nov 12, 2024 #SilentFilm #FilmHistory #ClassicCinema

“The Passion of Joan of Arc (French: La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc) is a 1928 silent French historical film, directed by Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer. It stars Renée Jeanne Falconetti in a renowned portrayal of Joan of Arc, drawing on authentic trial records to portray her intense interrogation. The version known as the 'Oslo print' is shown at 24 frames per second, with English intertitles and accompanied by Voices of Light, a 1994 soundtrack.

“Dreyer’s camerawork was revolutionary, highlighting actors’ facial features through close-ups that emphasized each character’s emotions. He used this approach to immerse the audience in Joan’s emotional torment, stating, 'There were questions, there were answers—very short, very crisp...Each question, each answer, quite naturally called for a close-up.' His approach was further enhanced by the use of panchromatic film, which captured skin tones naturally. Dreyer banned makeup on set, allowing expressions to communicate raw emotion.

“The film’s visual contrast is striking: Joan is depicted with soft, even lighting to underscore her innocence, while her interrogators are shown in harsh, high-contrast lighting that accentuates their flaws and intensifies their sinister demeanor. Cinematographer Rudolph Maté’s work allowed imperfections, like warts and lumps, to appear vividly. Dreyer also used low-angle shots of Joan’s interrogators to make them appear more monstrous, sometimes digging holes in the set for dramatic effect. Known for his precision, Dreyer filmed the entire story in chronological order.

“Public domain since January 1, 2024.” (N.S.: Should have gone p.d. in 1923.)

This was reportedly Falconetti's--a legendary stage actress--only movie performance.





The WEJB/NSU Theater, 1896-1981:

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Georges Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon (1902);

The Great Train Robbery (1903);

The Wizard of Oz (1910);

C.B. DeMille’s The Squaw Man (1914);

D.W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation (1915);

D.W. Griffith’s Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Through the Ages (1916);

Harry Carey and John “Jack” Ford’s Straight Shooting (1917), the First Feature-Length, “Cheyenne Harry” Western;

Charlie Chaplin’s Shoulder Arms (1918);

The Outlaw and His Wife (1918), Starring and Directed by Victor Sjöström (Seastrom);

Starring “Jack”: See the 1920 Silent Picture Classic of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde;

Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920);

Buster Keaton’s One Week (1920);

D. W. Griffith’s Way Down East (1920);

F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu (1921);

The Kid (1921), Charlie Chaplin’s First Feature as Director;

Fritz Lang and Thea von Harbou’s First Pictures Featuring the Evil Genius, Dr. Mabuse: Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler, Teil I (Dr. Mabuse, the Player, Part I); and

Dr. Mabuse, Teil II: Inferno (Dr. Mabuse, Inferno, Part II, both 1922, released one month apart) with English subtitles;

James Cruze’s The Covered Wagon (1923);

John Ford’s The Iron Horse (1924);

Charlie, in The Gold Rush (1925);

Lon Chaney, in The Phantom of the Opera (1925);

King Vidor, Laurence Stallings, and Harry Behn’s The Big Parade (1925), Starring Gilbert and Adore!

Buster Keaton’s The General (1926);

John Ford’s 1926 Western, 3 Bad Men;

Barrymore and Astor in Don Juan (1926);

When a Man Loves (1927), Starring “Jack” and Dolores Costello;

Josef von Sternberg and Ben Hecht’s Underworld (1927), the First American Gangster Picture;

Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lodger (1927);

“Wild Bill” Wellman’s Restored, Classic Silent Picture, Wings (1927), One of the First Two Best Picture Oscar Winners;

F.W. Murnau’s Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927, One of the First Two Best Picture Oscar Winners);

Fritz Lang and Thea von Harbou’s Dystopian Science Fiction Epic, Metropolis (1927), the Greatest S/F Picture Ever, Plus Its Soundtrack Suite;

Frank Borzage and Austin Strong’s Seventh Heaven (1927);

Garbo and Gilbert in Love (1927);

Samson Raphaelson, Alfred A. Cohn, Jack Jarmuth and Alan Crosland’s The Jazz Singer (1927), the First-Ever Talkie, Starring Al Jolson, by Warner Brothers;

King Vidor’s The Crowd 1928;

Carl Theodor Dreyer's silent, The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928);

Bessie Smith in St. Louis Blues (talkie, short, 1929);

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William Dieterle’s A Portrait of Jennie (1948);

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Pierre Chenal and Richard Wright's Native Son (1951);

Budd Schulberg and Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront (1954);

R.G. Springsteen and Montgomery Pittman’s Come Next Spring (1956);

Robert Wise and Abraham Polonsky’s Odds against Tomorrow (1959);

Antonioni’s Blow-Up (1966);

See Geraldine Page in Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory (1966, TV movie);

Lee Marvin as Sergeant Ryker (1963/1968); and

Paul Newman, in Fort Apache, the Bronx (1981) (exclusive review); The movie.