JOAN THE WOMAN
starring Geraldine Farrar, Theodore Roberts, Wallace Reid, Hobart
Bosworth and Raymond Hatton
MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE
March, 1917
One feels rather helpless in attempting to review such a massive
spectacle as this the most ambitious picture that has been
shown on Broadway this season, and for many others. Jeanie McPherson
wrote the script, and to her must, necessarily, go a good bit
of the credit, for she has given us a gripping, absorbing scenario,
thoroly (sic) consistent in every respect. Cecil B. DeMille directed
it, which is further proof of its excellence. Geraldine Farrar
as Joan is a wonderful and impressive figure always. She gives
us a new and sympathetic picture of Joan. Hitherto, Joan of Arc
has been looked upon as a woman who gave up merely her life for
the sake of her country. Joan the Woman gives up that which is
dearer to many women her love! She sacrifices all on he
altar of her country - and her reward is martyrdom. Too much cannot
be said in praise of the production. The photography is magnificent
- the locations could not be improved upon - the battle-scenes
have the strength and fire of "Intolerance" - the long
list of principals in support of the star - all is excellent,
magnificently done. The cast is much too long to give here. Suffice
it to say that Theodore Roberts should stand next to the star
in point of excellence of acting - his "Cauchon the Terrible"
is a character to remember. Tully Marshall is great as the mad
monk, Wallace Reid's Eric Trent is almost as good as his Don Juan,
and Raymond Hatton gives a splendid piece of work as the bigoted,
childish, yet somehow pathetic king. There may be - doubtless
are - faults to be found, criticisms to be made; but the wrier
did not see them! "Joan the Woman" is, in the writer's
own mind, the biggest treat on Broadway!
R.B.C.
I concur in about all R.B.C. says, but I would add a dissenting note regarding the interpretation of Miss Farrar, for I think she was miscast. There was nothing of the visionary, the spirituelle, the naiveté, in her interpretation, and she was rather the cool, calculating, designing, masterful woman, which is not at all the kind of person I understand Joan to have been. I also think that Wallace Reid did not quite measure up to his heroic part, and that Hobart Bosworth looked and acted the warrior so superbly as to make Mr. Reid look like a matinee soldier by comparison.