Western Civilization

FILM HISTORY

Joan of Arc(1948)

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc(1999)

JOAN OFARCis one of history’s best-known figures.

Already by the time of her death she was a heroine, and

in the nineteenth century, the French made her into an

early nationalist. The Catholic Church recognized her as

a saint in 1920, and a dozen films have been made

about her short life. Born into a peasant family in

Domremy, France, Joan believed that, beginning at age

thirteen, she had heard the voices of Saints Michael,

Catherine, and Margaret telling her that she would play

an important role in the liberation of France from the

English invaders. Joan made her way to the court of the

dauphin, the heir to the French throne, who agreed to

let her accompany the royal army to Orleans, where she

supposedly played a major role in the liberation of the

city. In keeping with her prophecies, she then

accompanied the dauphin to Reims, where he was

crowned as King Charles VII. Although the king sought

to end the war by negotiation, Joan continued to fight

until she was captured by the Burgundians, allies of the

English. Sold to the English, she was put on trial as a

heretic in a French ecclesiastical court dominated by the

English. Worn out by questioning, she renounced her

voices but shortly afterward recanted and reaffirmed

them. The English authorities then burned her at the

stake as a relapsed heretic. Historians agree on many

facts about Joan but differ in interpreting them; so too

do movie producers.

Based on a play by Maxwell Anderson, the 1948 film

version of Joan’s story was directed by Victor Fleming.

The movie follows the main historical facts that are

known about Joan (Ingrid Bergman). Joan’s voices are

accepted as an important part of a spiritually

determined young woman: “What I am commanded to

do, I do.” The film does deviate at times from the

historical record: one member of the ecclesiastical court

is shown opposing the trial, which did not happen. The

dauphin (Jose Ferrer) is presented as a weak individual

who nevertheless accepts Joan’s offer of help. The

movie ends in typical Hollywood fashion with a dramatic

burning at the stake as Joan dies in a glorious blaze of

heavenly sunbeams: “My victory is my martyrdom,” she

proclaims at the end.

The Messenger, directed by Luc Besson, presents a

more contemporary and fictionalized approach to Joan

Joan (Ingrid Bergman) prepares for battle.

Joan (Milia Jovovich) rides into battle.

Gaumont/Jack English/The Kobal Collection at Art Resource, NY

(continued)

Sierra Pictures/The Kobal Collection at Art Resource, NY

War and Political Instability 259

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