THE FLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS English Prologue

When THE FLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS premiered, at the 1950 Venice Film Festival, it contained a specially prepared prologue on paintings and frescoes from Francis's time (mainly Giotto's frescoes on the life of the saint), to help situate and contextualize the story historically. Removed prior to the film's general Italian release, later that year, it disappeared from view until the American edition, first showin in New York in October 1952. That version of the film included what is believed to be a shortened form of the prologue, which is presented here.