Saint Joan: There is a 1959 film version starring Jean Seberg in her first movie role, directed by Otto Preminger, which flopped at the time but has since regained some reputation because of Jean Seberg becoming an icon. Since the script inevitably cuts and reorders, I wouldn't reccommend it as an introduction to Shaw's play. There are two highly regarded radio/audio versions:
Caedmon Records released a complete audio adaptation of the play in a four-record stereo LP boxed-set with full script booklet. It starred Siobhán McKenna as Joan, Donald Pleasence as The Inquisitor, Felix Aylmer as Peter Cauchon and Alec McCowen as The Chaplain. Blackstone Audio released a full-cast recording starring Amy Irving, Edward Herrmann, Kristoffer Tabori, Gregory Itzen, Armin Shimerman, Granville Van Dusen, among others. The production, which was directed by Yuri Rasovsky, won an Audie Award as Best Audio Drama of 2010.
Copenhagen: similarly has a (tv) movie adaptation with a stellar cast - Daniel Craig, Stephen Rea and Francesca Annis - but alas truly substantial cuts and rearrangements that change some of the important themes, so no, wouldn't reccommend as an introduction, and again, audio versions to the rescue. Audible offers two, and the most recent one, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Simon Russsel Beale and Greta Sacchi, I haven't heard yet but will next month.
Julius Caesar: here, I'd actually go for the movie, but then that's how I first saw the play, and also, it's Joseph L. Mankiewicz doing the directing and adapting, with James Mason as Brutus, John Gielgud as Cassius, and a young Marlon Brando as Mark Antony. No substantial cuts and superb performances all around.
no subject
Caedmon Records released a complete audio adaptation of the play in a four-record stereo LP boxed-set with full script booklet. It starred Siobhán McKenna as Joan, Donald Pleasence as The Inquisitor, Felix Aylmer as Peter Cauchon and Alec McCowen as The Chaplain.
Blackstone Audio released a full-cast recording starring Amy Irving, Edward Herrmann, Kristoffer Tabori, Gregory Itzen, Armin Shimerman, Granville Van Dusen, among others. The production, which was directed by Yuri Rasovsky, won an Audie Award as Best Audio Drama of 2010.
Copenhagen: similarly has a (tv) movie adaptation with a stellar cast - Daniel Craig, Stephen Rea and Francesca Annis - but alas truly substantial cuts and rearrangements that change some of the important themes, so no, wouldn't reccommend as an introduction, and again, audio versions to the rescue. Audible offers two, and the most recent one, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Simon Russsel Beale and Greta Sacchi, I haven't heard yet but will next month.
Julius Caesar: here, I'd actually go for the movie, but then that's how I first saw the play, and also, it's Joseph L. Mankiewicz doing the directing and adapting, with James Mason as Brutus, John Gielgud as Cassius, and a young Marlon Brando as Mark Antony. No substantial cuts and superb performances all around.