Jeanne d'Flame

Jeanne d'Arc, often referred to as Jeanne la Pucelle ( the Maid, was born at Domremy, in Champagne, France, on January 6, 1412. She was always a very pious child. She began hearing voices when she was thirteen. Finally she followed the urgings of her "spiritual" advisors, and she became a virgin warrior, a child of the people. She led men on the battlefield. She saved her king, and her country. For her reward, on May 30, 1431, in the morning, Joan was lashed to a stake and burned alive, on Rouen's old Market Square ( place du Vieux Marche' ).

She was finally canonized as a saint in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. For almost 500 years, she and her accomplishments, were overlooked by artists, writers, and dramatists. Then in 1895, Mark Twain wrote JOAN OF ARC. It was a great passion for him. He had done research for 12 years, and he needed two years to write it. It was 455 pages.

In the middle to late 1800's, Joan of Arc appeared as a character in several silent films, most of them French. In France in 1849, director George Melies made the silent JEANNE DE' ARC. It was released in America in 1900.

In America, in 1895, director Alfred Clark made a B&W classic JOAN OF ARC.

In 1916, in Australia, director George Willoughby made a silent version, JOAN OF ARC OF LOOS, with Jean Robertson as the Angel.

Also in 1916, in America, director Cecil B. DeMille gave us, JOAN THE WOMAN, with Geraldine Farrar as Joan.

In 1928, in America, director Theodor Dreyer made the silent classic, JOAN OF ARC, with Maria Falconetti as Joan; supported by Michel Simon, and Eugene Silvain.

In 1935, in Germany, director Oustav Ucicky presented us with the first sound version of the tale; DAS MADCHEN JOHANNA.

In 1948, in America, director Victor Fleming gave us the first color version of the story; JOAN OF ARC, with the luminous Ingrid Bergman as Joan, written by Maxwell Anderson; supported by Jose Ferrer, Francis L. Sullivan, J.Carrol Naish, Ward Bond, and Cecil Kellaway.

In 1954, in France, director Jean Delannoy presented us with JEANNE; with Michele Morgan as Joan. Also in 1954, in Italy, famed director Roberto Rossellini, released, JOAN OF ARC, with his wife, lovely Ingrid Bergman again playing Joan; supported by Tulio Carminati. This film was released in the United States as JOAN AT THE STAKE.

In 1957, in the United States, director Otto Preminger presented us with,SAINT JOAN, with Jean Seberg as Joan; supported by Richard Widmark, Richard Todd, John Gielgud, Felix Alymer, Harry Andrews, with a cameo by David Hemmings.

In 1958, on American TV, one could have seen JOAN OF ARC, with Siobhan McKenna as Joan, and Kenneth Williams in support.

In 1961, in Denmark, director Marguerite Engberg gave us FROM CAMILLE TO JOAN OF ARC.

In 1962, in France, director Robert Bresson gave us the classic PROCESS DE JEANNE D'ARC,with Florence Delay-Carrez as Joan, and Jean-Claude Fourneau; and it was AKA,THE TRIAL OF JOAN OF ARC.

In 1988, in Germany, director Ulrike Ottinger gave us a color version, JOAN OF ARC OF MONGOLIA, with Irm Hermann, and Christophe Eichhorn.

In 1994, in France, director Jacques Rivette presented us with a 336 minute epic, JEANNE LA PUCELLE, with Sandra Bonnaire as Joan.

In 1996, as strange little film appeared, JOAN OF ARC, with Catherine Sage as Joan. This is a 45 minute cult film; odd and amateurish.

In 1998, the A&E network produced, JOAN OF ARC, another one of their intensily well-researched biographies.

In 1999, in America, director Christian Duguay made a television mini-series, JOAN OF ARC, with Leelee Sobieski brilliant as Joan; supported by Jacqueline Bisset, Powers Boothe, Neil Patrick Harris, Maury Chaykin, Olympia Dukakis, Robert Loggia, Shirley MacLaine, Peter O'Toole, Maximilian Schell, and Peter Strauss.

Also in 1999, out of France, director Luc Besson presented us with, THE MESSENGER, withMilla Jovovich as Joan; supported by Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, John Malkovich, Tcheky Karyo.

In 2000, there was yet another version produced, although few have seen it,JOAN OF ARC; VIRGIN WARRIOR, directed by Ronald Maxwell. It starred Mira Sorvino as Joan, supported by Jacqueline Bisset, Kevin Conway, Cary Elwes, Albert Finney,and Derek Jacobi.

Also in 2000, in France, director Marcel Hanoun gave us JEANNE AUJOURD HUI, a 70 minute film; with Simye Myara as Joan.

So here we are with a 19 year old Jeanne d'Arc; part history, part legend, part angel, and part psychic. A story shrouded in politics, religion, and retelling. And yet it fascinates us. She was a warrior, a virgin, a martyr; and so much more.

Glenn Buttkus 2004