A Never-Ending Fascination With Joan of Arc on Big Screen

In “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc,” Milla Jovovich is just the latest in a succession of actresses who have played the role of Joan of Arc on screen. Here’s a look at some other notable films and miniseries about the French girl who goes on to become a heroine, a martyr and a saint. Those available on video are noted with an asterisk.

* “Joan the Woman”: Geraldine Farrar plays Joan in Cecil B. DeMille’s lavish silent 1916 epic that features extraordinary battle sequences and a hand-tinted color finale.

* “La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc”: Carl Dreyer directed this astonishing 1928 French silent that is one of the cinema’s greatest films. Beautifully shot and impeccably directed, this historical drama focuses on Joan’s trial and imprisonment. Maria Falconetti, who has one of the most amazing faces to ever appear on screen, is luminous as Joan.

* “Joan of Arc”: Ingrid Bergman received an Oscar nomination for her performance as the martyr in this lavish but lumbering 1948 historical drama directed by Victor Fleming (“Gone With the Wind”). Based on Maxwell Anderson’s play “Joan of Lorraine,” this talky melodrama was cut by 45 minutes after it was initially released. Jose Ferrer also received an Oscar nod as the Dauphin.

In 1954, Bergman reprised the role of Joan in then-husband Roberto Rossellini’s Italian drama, “Giovanna d’Arco al rogo” (Joan of Arc at the Stake).

* “Saint Joan”: Jean Seberg was an Iowa teenager when she was chosen by Otto Preminger to star in his 1957 adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s play. However, Seberg wasn’t up to the task of the demanding role and her career was almost over before it began. Richard Widmark, Richard Todd and Anton Walbrook also star in Preminger’s static film.

“Trial of Joan of Arc”: Florence Carrez stars in French director Robert Bresson’s 1962 courtroom drama focusing on Joan’s imprisonment and trial. Based on the actual transcripts, this bleak, austere film also features Jean-Claude Fourneau.

“Saint Joan”: Genevieve Bujold received an Emmy nomination for this “Hallmark Hall of Fame” version of Shaw’s play. Roddy McDowall co-stars as the Dauphin.

* “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure: Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go’s plays Joan in this hit 1988 comedy. In this farce starring Keanu Reeves, Bill and Ted bring Joan back to the future from 1429 Orleans. She ends up helping the guys with their housework and even ends up taking over an aerobics class.

“Jeanne la Pucelle: Les batailles” and “Jeanne la Pucelle: Les Prisons”: France’s Jacques Rivette directed this 1994 two-part, five-and-a-half-hour examination of the life of Joan of Arc. Sandrine Bonnaire stars as Jeanne.

* “Joan of Arc”: Earlier this year, CBS scored high ratings and good reviews for its Emmy-nominated four-hour historical drama about the Maid of Orleans. Sixteen-year-old Leelee Sobieski stars in the title role. The all-star supporting cast includes Jacqueline Bisset, Powers Booth, Neil Patrick Harris and Peter O’Toole, who won the Emmy as Bishop Cauchon.