Pope Joan [The Devil’s Imposter] *** (1972, Liv Ullmann, Trevor Howard, Lesley-Anne Down, Franco Nero, Olivia de Havilland, Maximilian Schell, André Morell, Nigel Havers, Keir Dullea) – Classic Movie Review 10,141

Director Michael Anderson’s 1972 British historical biographical drama Pope Joan [The Devil’s Imposter] tells a supposedly true strange story set in the Middle Ages, and stars Liv Ullmann as a young woman alone, brutalised and abandoned, who disguises herself as a monk for safety.

She makes her way to Rome, where as a result of her kindness, spirituality and consequent popularity, she is elected Cardinal and eventually Pope, only to be torn limb from limb by the mob when her true gender is revealed.

Pope Joan is a disturbing tale told without the necessary vigour, grandeur, religious uplift and sheer otherness, but, oddly, it is still compulsively watchable and the notable cast helps a lot, with an ideal Ullmann outstanding. Set around 855 AD, John Briley’s screenplay presents Pope Joan as historical fact, though it is questionable if she existed, and she is probably legendary.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, because it doesn’t seem like a fun night out, the public of the day largely stayed away.

The all-star cast are headed by Trevor Howard as Pope Leo IV, Lesley-Anne Down as as Cecilia, Franco Nero as Louis, Olivia de Havilland as Mother Superior, Maximilian Schell as Brother Adrian, Keir Dullea as Dr Stevens, Robert Beatty as Dr Corwin, Jeremy Kemp as Joan’s Father, André Morell as Emperor Louis, Nigel Havers as Young monk, Peter Arne as Richard, George Innes as Monk, and Patrick Magee as Elder monk.

Also in the cast are Natasa Nicolescu as Joan’s Mother, Sharon Winter as Joan as a child, Susan Macready as Sister Nunciata, Shelagh Wilcocks as Sister Louise, Margareta Pogonat as Village woman Martin Benson as Lothair, Terrence Hardiman as Cardinal Anastasius, Derek Farr as Count Brisini, Richard Pearson as Father Timothy, John Shrapnel as Father James, Duncan Lamont as 1st Wounded Soldier, Ion Grafini as 2nd Wounded Soldier, Manning Wilson as Bishop, Phillip Ross as Peasant, Kurt Christian as Prince Charles, Katherine Schofield as Alma, John Abineri as Church official, and Richard Bebb as Lord of Manor.

Pope Joan [The Devil’s Imposter] is directed by Michael Anderson, runs 132 minutes (original uncut version), is made by Big City, Command Production Establishment, Roadshow Productions and Triple Eight Corporation, is released by Columbia-Warner Distributors (1972) (UK) and Columbia Pictures (1972) (US), is written by John Briley, shot in Eastmancolor by Billy Williams, produced by Leonard C. Lane (executive producer), Kurt Unger, Daniel Unger and John Briley (associate producer), and scored by Maurice Jarre, and designed by Elliot Scott.

It is shot in Cyprus, Romania and Bray International Film Centre, Windsor, England.

Additional choral music is by The Sistine Chapel Choir, directed by Domenico Bartolucci.

Anderson made it with sequences about a modern-day Evangelical preacher who believes her life parallels that of Pope Joan and psychiatrists try to send her back through her past lives to establish if she is the reincarnation of Pope Joan. Columbia Pictures removed all the contemporary sequences and released the film as a historical drama.

It was released on Region 1 DVD in 2003, and was also released re-titled in some areas as The Devil’s Imposter, with much footage cut.

In 2009, it was re-edited and the previously unreleased contemporary footage was re-inserted, and re-released as She… Who Would Be Pope.

RIP Olivia de Havilland (July 1, 1916 – July 26, 2020).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,141

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