#62: DREYER, Carl Th.: The Passion Of Joan Of Arc (1928)

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DREYER, Carl Th. (France)
The Passion Of Joan Of Arc [1928]
Spine #62
DVD


With its stunning camerawork and striking compositions, Carl Th. Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc convinced the world that movies could be art. Renée Falconetti gives one of the greatest performances ever recorded on film, as the young maiden who died for God and France. Long thought to have been lost to fire, the original version was miraculously found in perfect condition in 1981 — in a Norwegian mental institution. Criterion is proud to present this milestone of silent cinema in a new special edition featuring composer Richard Einhorn's Voices of Light, an original opera/oratorio inspired by the film.

82 minutes
Black & White
Silent with French intertitles
Optional stereo music track
1:33:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 1999

Director/Writers


Screenplay by Carl Th. Dreyer in collaboration with Joseph Delteil.
Dreyer was 39 when he directed The Passion of Joan of Arc.

Other Dreyer films in the Collection:

#706: Master Of The House (1925)
#437: Vampyr (1932)
#125: Day Of Wrath (1943)
#126: Ordet (1955)
#127: Gertrud (1964)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Six-page wraparound featuring an essay Dreyer.

Voices of Light libretto booklet, including the medieval texts used in Richard Einhorn’s composition.

Commentary

None.
Einhorn’s Voices of Light

A choral and orchestral work performed by vocal group Anonymous 4, soloist Susan Narucki and the Radio Netherlands Philharmonic and Choir.
Extensive

Production design archive.
History

Of Passion’s many versions, with clips.
Audio interview

Excerpts with the star’s daughter, Hélene Falconetti.
Essay

By Einhorn on Joan of Arc and Voices of Light, plus a video essay on the music’s production.
Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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