Renée Jeanne Falconetti[1] (21 July 1892 – 12 December 1946), sometimes credited as Maria Falconetti,[2]Marie Falconetti,[3]Renée Maria Falconetti,[4][5] or simply Falconetti, was a French stage and film actress, notable for her acclaimed role as Joan of Arc in Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1928 silent The Passion of Joan of Arc and subsequent mysterious and enigmatic death.[6] There is little recorded information about her life and career on the internet, and much of the existing information about her life is contradictory.[7]
Born in Pantin, Seine-Saint-Denis, Falconetti grew up poor and was schooled by nuns who did not support her acting ambitions. Despite this, she became a stage actress in Paris by entertaining soldiers during World War I. She made a name for herself in the early 1920s, mainly playing roles in light comedies and musicals.[8]
The Passion of Joan of Arcedit
When Carl Th. Dreyer discovered Falconetti in an amateur theatre production of La Garçonne and selected her for the lead role in his upcoming production La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc,[9] she was already a celebrated stage artist at 35 years old. Her portrayal is widely considered one of the more astonishing performances committed to film, and it remained her final cinematic role. Whether or not this is her first film credit is a topic of debate, as some claim that she had two previous film credits, [10][11] though a supposed interview with Falconetti sees her claim that La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc is her first film role after a few "test pictures."[12]
Many writers have claimed that Falconetti's performance was the result of extreme cruelty at the hands of Dreyer, a notoriously demanding director who pushed her to the brink of emotional collapse. For example, film critic Roger Ebert writes:
For Falconetti, the performance was an ordeal. Legends from the set tell of Dreyer forcing her to kneel painfully on stone and then wipe all expression from her face – so that the viewer would read suppressed or inner pain. He filmed the same shots again and again, hoping that in the editing room he could find exactly the right nuance in her facial expression.[13]
However, in their biography of Dreyer, Jean and Dale Drum say that these stories are based only on rumour and that "there is no evidence that Dreyer could be called a sadist".[14] They quote onlookers who described Dreyer's working relationship with Falconetti: Initially in the production process, "Dreyer and Falconetti would watch the rushes of a single scene together, seven or eight times, until Dreyer could pick out a little bit, maybe a few feet, where the effect was what they wanted, and when they reshot the scene, she could play it without the least inhibition. Just those few feet of film had inspired her." Later, Falconetti became able to play scenes only from Dreyer's explanations, without the need even for rehearsal.[15]
After filming Joan of Arc, Falconetti continued with her career as a producer of light stage comedies, appearing with the Comédie-Française. During World War II, she escaped from France first to Switzerland, Brazil, and then left for Buenos Aires, Argentina.[16]
Falconetti had suffered from mental illness all her life, and in 1946 she died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, an apparent suicide, by a self-imposed restrictive diet after having become significantly overweight.[17] Her remains are interred at Montmartre Cemetery in Paris, section 16 (her grave site is not listed on official maps). Her grandson Gérard Falconetti also became an actor.
^Boroson, Warren (April 11, 2006). [1][permanent dead link]Daily Record. claims: "Her name was Renee Jeanne Falconetti. Her daughter, Helene Falconetti, in a letter to me now in the New York Public Library Theatre Division, states that she does not know where the wrong name 'Maria' originated."
^Luft, Herbert G. (1956). "Carl Dreyer: A Master of His Craft". Quarterly of Film Radio and Television, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Winter, 1956), pp. 181–96.
^Ebert, Roger (February 16, 1997). "GREAT MOVIE: The Passion of Joan of Arc”, review, Chicago Sun-Times.
^Mayumi Takada, Annihilating Possibilities: Witnessing and Testimony through Cinematic Love in Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's DICTEE LIT: Literature Interpretation Theory Volume 17, Number 1 / January–March 2006, 23–48
renée, jeanne, falconetti, july, 1892, december, 1946, sometimes, credited, maria, falconetti, marie, falconetti, renée, maria, falconetti, simply, falconetti, french, stage, film, actress, notable, acclaimed, role, joan, carl, theodor, dreyer, 1928, silent, p. Renee Jeanne Falconetti 1 21 July 1892 12 December 1946 sometimes credited as Maria Falconetti 2 Marie Falconetti 3 Renee Maria Falconetti 4 5 or simply Falconetti was a French stage and film actress notable for her acclaimed role as Joan of Arc in Carl Theodor Dreyer s 1928 silent The Passion of Joan of Arc and subsequent mysterious and enigmatic death 6 There is little recorded information about her life and career on the internet and much of the existing information about her life is contradictory 7 Renee Jeanne FalconettiRenee Falconetti in the movie poster for The Passion of Joan of ArcBorn 1892 07 21 21 July 1892Pantin Seine Saint Denis FranceDied12 December 1946 1946 12 12 aged 54 Buenos Aires ArgentinaResting placeMontmartre Cemetery ParisNationalityFrenchOccupationActress Contents 1 Early life and career 2 The Passion of Joan of Arc 3 Subsequent career and death 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and career editBorn in Pantin Seine Saint Denis Falconetti grew up poor and was schooled by nuns who did not support her acting ambitions Despite this she became a stage actress in Paris by entertaining soldiers during World War I She made a name for herself in the early 1920s mainly playing roles in light comedies and musicals 8 The Passion of Joan of Arc editWhen Carl Th Dreyer discovered Falconetti in an amateur theatre production of La Garconne and selected her for the lead role in his upcoming production La Passion de Jeanne d Arc 9 she was already a celebrated stage artist at 35 years old Her portrayal is widely considered one of the more astonishing performances committed to film and it remained her final cinematic role Whether or not this is her first film credit is a topic of debate as some claim that she had two previous film credits 10 11 though a supposed interview with Falconetti sees her claim that La Passion de Jeanne d Arc is her first film role after a few test pictures 12 Many writers have claimed that Falconetti s performance was the result of extreme cruelty at the hands of Dreyer a notoriously demanding director who pushed her to the brink of emotional collapse For example film critic Roger Ebert writes For Falconetti the performance was an ordeal Legends from the set tell of Dreyer forcing her to kneel painfully on stone and then wipe all expression from her face so that the viewer would read suppressed or inner pain He filmed the same shots again and again hoping that in the editing room he could find exactly the right nuance in her facial expression 13 However in their biography of Dreyer Jean and Dale Drum say that these stories are based only on rumour and that there is no evidence that Dreyer could be called a sadist 14 They quote onlookers who described Dreyer s working relationship with Falconetti Initially in the production process Dreyer and Falconetti would watch the rushes of a single scene together seven or eight times until Dreyer could pick out a little bit maybe a few feet where the effect was what they wanted and when they reshot the scene she could play it without the least inhibition Just those few feet of film had inspired her Later Falconetti became able to play scenes only from Dreyer s explanations without the need even for rehearsal 15 Subsequent career and death edit nbsp Renee Falconetti s grave Montmartre Cemetery Paris After filming Joan of Arc Falconetti continued with her career as a producer of light stage comedies appearing with the Comedie Francaise During World War II she escaped from France first to Switzerland Brazil and then left for Buenos Aires Argentina 16 Falconetti had suffered from mental illness all her life and in 1946 she died in Buenos Aires Argentina an apparent suicide by a self imposed restrictive diet after having become significantly overweight 17 Her remains are interred at Montmartre Cemetery in Paris section 16 her grave site is not listed on official maps Her grandson Gerard Falconetti also became an actor Filmography editYear Title Role Notes 1917 La comtesse de Somerive 1928 La Passion de Jeanne d Arc Jeanne d ArcReferences edit Boroson Warren April 11 2006 1 permanent dead link Daily Record claims Her name was Renee Jeanne Falconetti Her daughter Helene Falconetti in a letter to me now in the New York Public Library Theatre Division states that she does not know where the wrong name Maria originated Maria Falconetti at IMDb Luft Herbert G 1956 Carl Dreyer A Master of His Craft Quarterly of Film Radio and Television Vol 11 No 2 Winter 1956 pp 181 96 Ebert Roger February 16 1997 GREAT MOVIE The Passion of Joan of Arc review Chicago Sun Times Mayumi Takada Annihilating Possibilities Witnessing and Testimony through Cinematic Love in Theresa Hak Kyung Cha s DICTEE LIT Literature Interpretation Theory Volume 17 Number 1 January March 2006 23 48 Renee Jeanne Falconetti www carlthdreyer dk Retrieved 2023 03 04 silent film Renee Maria Falconetti Biography and Gallery www leninimports com Retrieved 2023 03 04 Renee Jeanne Falconetti www carlthdreyer dk Retrieved 2023 03 04 Renee Jeanne Falconetti www carlthdreyer dk Retrieved 2023 03 04 La comtesse de Somerive 1917 IMDb retrieved 2023 03 04 Feraudy Maurice de 1917 09 21 Le clown Short retrieved 2023 03 04 Interview med Falconetti 1 maj 1928 dfidk carlthdreyer d8v2 prod ng peytz dk in Danish Retrieved 2023 03 04 Ebert Roger February 16 1997 The Passion of Joan of Arc 1928 rogerebert com Archived from the original on April 10 2013 Retrieved April 2 2016 Jean Drum and Dale D Drum My Only Great Passion The Life and Films of Carl Th Dreyer Lanham MD Scarecrow Press 2000 p 130 Jean Drum and Dale D Drum My Only Great Passion The Life and Films of Carl Th Dreyer Lanham MD Scarecrow Press 2000 p 133 Falconetti Helene 1987 Falconetti Les Editions du CERF ISBN 2 204 02845 2 Jean and Dale D Drum My Only Great Passion The Life and Films of Carl Th Dreyer Lanham MD Scarecrow Press 2000 p 130 External links editMaria Falconetti at IMDb Warren Boroson collection of Renee Falconetti material 1962 held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Renee Jeanne Falconetti amp oldid 1202115677, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
