Of all the wonderful Ingrid Bergman dramas, I don't understand why Joan of Arc was one of the famous ones. Sure, it's always nice to see her sparkling blue eyes in Technicolor, but the script was corny and the production almost felt like it was a spoof. Remember how silly Danny Kaye looked in his suit of armor in The Court Jester? I couldn't shake the image from my head when Ingrid put on her own oversized armor. A larger than life actress in her own right, I'm not sure it was really her fault that Joan of Arc was so lousy. Perhaps no one could have saved this spectacle.
It is notable for debuting José Ferrer to the screen public, although it's hardly a memorable performance. Just wait two years and catch him in his signature Cyrano de Bergerac. You'll also see many, many familiar faces in the supporting cast: Charles Bickford, Gene Lockhart, Ward Bond, Roman Bohnen, Selena Royle, Ray Teal, Robert Barrat, Jimmy Lydon, Richard Ney, and George Coulouris. If you're a die-hard old movie buff, you'll want to put this classic on your list. But it won't really give you a great impression of Ingrid Bergman. Try her out in the lesser known drama The Visit for one of her career-best performances.
It is notable for debuting José Ferrer to the screen public, although it's hardly a memorable performance. Just wait two years and catch him in his signature Cyrano de Bergerac. You'll also see many, many familiar faces in the supporting cast: Charles Bickford, Gene Lockhart, Ward Bond, Roman Bohnen, Selena Royle, Ray Teal, Robert Barrat, Jimmy Lydon, Richard Ney, and George Coulouris. If you're a die-hard old movie buff, you'll want to put this classic on your list. But it won't really give you a great impression of Ingrid Bergman. Try her out in the lesser known drama The Visit for one of her career-best performances.