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.


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