According to a legend of the ninth century, a nun called Joan disguised herself as a monk to escape the ravishing attentions of the Saxon marauders. She hung on to her mannish habits, was elected Pope and presided over her flock with compassion and intelligence.
Her deception was discovered when walking in the streets of Rome, she gave birth to a baby. The angry crowd tore Joan limb from limb.
In Pope Joan, producer Kurt Unger and director Michael Anderson took obvious care not to offend the Vatican by a sensational treatment of the tall tale of lust and Church intrigue.
Liv Ullmann is splendid and dignified as Joan, but far more believable are Maximilian Schell as her jolly monk boyfriend; Franco Nero as a crafty emperor detecting the girl-Pope’s sex, and Trevor Howard as the very ripe and muscular pope who Joan succeeds.
The film was made at Bray Studios in the UK.
Pope Joan
Liv Ullmann Joan’s Father
Jeremy Kemp Joan’s Mother
Natasa Nicolescu Joan as a child
Sharon Winter Lord of Manor
Richard Bebb Richard
Peter Arne Elder monk
Patrick Magee Young monk
Nigel Havers Cecilia
Lesley-Anne Down Sister Nunciata
Susan Macready Sister Louise
Shelagh Wilcocks Mother Superior
Olivia de Havilland Emperor Louis
André Morell Lothair
Martin Benson Louis
Franco Nero Prince Charles
Kurt Christian Father Adrian
Maximilian Schell Dr Corwin
Robert Beatty Alma
Katherine Schofield Pope Leo IV
Trevor Howard Father James
John Shrapnel Friar Timothy
Richard Pearson Cardinal Anastasius
Terrence Hardiman Cardinal Jerome
John Byron Count Brisini
Derek Farr Dr Stevens
Keir Dullea
Director
Michael Anderson
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In Pope Joan, producer Kurt Unger and director Michael Anderson took obvious care not to offend the Vatican by a sensational treatment of the tall tale of lust and Church intrigue.
