Vintage original 27x41 in. advance "Style B" one-sheet poster from the classic 1940's historical war drama/biopic, JOAN OF ARC, released in Technicolor in 1948 by RKO Radio Pictures and directed by Victor Fleming, starring Ingrid Bergman. In the Fifteenth Century, France is a defeated and ruined nation after the One Hundred Years War against England. The fourteen years old farm girl Joan of Arc (Ingrid Bergman) claims to hear voices from Heaven asking her to lead God's Army against Orleans and crowning the weak Dauphin Charles VII (Jose Ferrer) as King of France. Joan gathers the people with her faith, forms an army and conquerors Orleans. When her army is ready to attack Paris, the corrupt Charles sells his country to England and dismiss the army. Joan is arrested, sold to the Burgundians England and submitted to a shameful political trial in Rouen castle.

RKO issued two advance one-sheet posters to publicize the "coming" of this film before it was released in theaters. This is the beautiful "Style B" one-sheet which depicts a large image of Ingrid Bergman as Joan of Arc, wearing a suit of arm, as she reacts in pain after being shot by an arrow in her shoulder. The lower portion of the poster depicts a follow-up scene as various people come to her aid after being wounded. These images are complimented by the poster's bright yellow background. 

Folded as originally issued, this vintage original one-sheet poster is in its highly desirable original unbacked, unrestored state. It is in fine condition without any pinholes, stains, tear or writing. The are small vertical tears and horizontal folds on various portions of the top border. The first and last inch of the center vertical fold has split and the bottom corners have various creases with slightly more signs of wear on the bottom left corner. There are no areas of paper loss in the borders, as there are just small folds or creases on the corners. The beautiful bold colors are fresh and vibrant without any signs of fading. This poster is in outstanding condition for its age.

Provenance: The Eric Caidin Collection (Eric was the former owner of Hollywood Book and Poster Company on Hollywood Boulevard and the son of movie poster collector/attorney Stanley Caidin).

This film was a dream project of Ingrid Bergman, who had tried for years to have it produced. According to some biographies of Ingrid Bergman, Howard Hughes saved her from possible injury during a visit to the set when she fell off her horse. He caught her, but rather awkwardly, with one hand firmly on her crotch. Hughes made sure no photographs of the incident were taken (or survived).