Just like a television news interview

Rating: 8/10 (21 July 2010)

What struck me the most about this movie was how much it reminded me of a black and white television news or court room interview from the 1950's and 1960's. Several times I had to remind myself that this was NOT a pseudo-documentary in that vein. Then it occurred to me that, having been made in 1928, it was before the advent of television,so this bonus effect had not been planned. Of course seeing it on video on an actual television must have added to the effect.
The spare, largely blank gray background and closeups of Joan concentrated ones attention on her and heightened her personal pain, dread and tragedy.
For me this was a new treatmernt of with new insights into the Joan of arc story.