Dreyer's most universally acclaimed masterpiece remains one of the most staggeringly intense films ever made. It deals only with the final stages of Joan's trial and her execution, and is composed almost exclusively of close-ups: hands, robes, crosses, metal bars, and (most of all) faces. The face we see most is, naturally, Falconetti's as Joan, and it's hard to imagine a performer evincing physical anguish and spiritual exaltation more palpably. Dreyer encloses this stark, infinitely expressive face with other characters and sets that are equally devoid of decoration and equally direct in conveying both material and metaphysical essences. The entire film is less moulded in light than carved in stone: it's magisterial cinema, and almost unbearably moving.

Direction: Carl Theodor Dreyer.

Screenplay: Joseph Delteil, Carl Theodor Dreyer.

Photography: Rudolf Maté.

Editing: Carl Theodor Dreyer.

Art Direction: Hermann Warm, Jean Hugo.

Costumes: Valentine Hugo.

Renée Falconetti...........................................Jeanne d'Arc

Eugène Silvain..........................................Pierre Cauchon

André Berley...............................................Jean d'Estivet

Maurice Schutz....................................Nicholas Loyseleur

Antonin Artaud....................................................Massieu

Michel Simon..............................................Jean Lemaître

Jean d'Yd...............................................Guillaume Evrard

Ravet........................................................Jean Beaupère