ABSTRACT

The cinematic tradition of the legend of Joan of Arc reflects the complexity of the greater legend of La Pucelle. The historical details surrounding the life of the person whom we today call Joan of Arc are fairly well known. What continues to attract readers to Joan are not these bare facts but the greater symbolism that has become attached to them. For almost a hundred years, film makers have been fascinated by Joan of Arc. That fascination has led to a continuing series of film s that have cast Joan in a number of different roles: simple peasant girl, wily politician, and rogyne, woman, doubting sinner, representative of a nation, and self-assured saint. The film pays similar attention to set, costume, and language. The film's original negative was destroyed by fire in 1928, but copies of the film have been restored that preserve several versions with only minor differences.