Search - Smiles of a Summer Night [Criterion Collection] on DVD

Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children Movie Release: 1955 DVD Release: 05/25/2004 Format: DVD - Black and White Edition: Dual Layered,Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: Swedish Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 48 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 22 Genres: Comedy, Comedy of Manners, Ensemble Film

Bergman's comic masterpiece opens with middle-aged lawyer Frederik Egerman (Gunnar Bjornstrand) again failing to consummate his marriage with the much younger Anne (Ulla Jacobsson). While visiting a former lover, actress Desiree Armfeldt (Eva Dahlbeck), he crosses swords with her current lover, Count Malcolm (Jarl Kulle), after both men learn that Frederik is the father of her illegitimate child. At Desiree's behest, her mother invites Egerman, the Count, and their wives along with Egerman's grown son, Henrik (Björn Bjelvenstam) to her manor house for the weekend. Before their departure, divinity student Henrik wards off the eager advances of the housemaid by reading from the Bible aloud, but it seems clear that he and Anne are quite taken with one another. After arriving at the Ryarp estate the guests are served a dinner spiked with a love potion which provokes swift reactions. The bewildered Frederik becomes aware of the increasingly intense bond between Henrik and Anne, and the Countess (Margit Carlquist) makes a public bet with her husband that she can seduce Frederik. Shocked by the dinner-table conversation, the strait-laced Henrik retires to his room to commit suicide. In the course of his bumbling attempt, he has the good fortune to learn why so many prefer sex to death. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide

Eva Dahlbeck - Desirée Armfeldt
Ulla Jacobsson - Anne Egerman
Harriet Andersson - Petra, the maid
Margit Carlquist - Charlotte Malcolm
Gunnar Björnstrand - Fredrik Egerman
Jarl Kulle - Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm

A masterful romantic comedy exploring love and loyalty as seen through the eyes of distinguished Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, the director's international breakthrough comes to DVD as part of The Criterion Collection. Presented in 1.33:1 full-frame and offering audio rendered in Swedish Dolby Digital Mono with optional English subtitles, this release also offers a wealth of bonus materials that will certainly be of interest to Bergman fans. Beginning with an introduction by the director himself, viewers can also access a newly filmed video discussion of the Smiles of a Summer Night with film historian Peter Cowie and producer Jörn Donner, a new piece from -Ingmar Bergman Directs author John Simon, an essay by noted film critic Pauline Kael, and an original Swedish theatrical trailer. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide