Prison (1949 film)

1949 film by Ingmar Bergman

Prison

UK DVD cover

Directed by| Ingmar Bergman
Written by| Ingmar Bergman
Produced by| Lorens Marmstedt
Starring|

* Doris Svedlund
* Birger Malmsten
* Eva Henning

Music by| Erland von Koch

Release dates

* 19 March 1949 (1949-03-19) (Sweden)
* 4 July 1962 (1962-07-04) (US)

Running time

| 76 minutes
Country| Sweden
Language| Swedish
Budget| $30,000

Prison (Swedish: Fängelse), also known as The Devil's Wanton in the United States, is a 1949 Swedish drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It is the earliest film directed by Bergman to be based on his own original screenplay.

## Plot

[edit]

Other than film-maker Martin Grandé, the characters are types: Thomas, a writer; his wife Sofi, who leaves him after he proposes a suicide pact; Birgitta Carolina Søderberg, a teenage prostitute; and Peter, her pimp by whom she has a child that he kills. The film presents Thomas living the scenario that Grandé and he discussed, a world that is really Hell and ruled by the Devil instead of God. He and Birgitta are unable to escape their unhappiness together.[1]

## Cast

[edit]

* Doris Svedlund – Birgitta Carolina Søderberg
* Birger Malmsten – Thomas
* Eva Henning – Sofi
* Hasse Ekman – Martin Grandé
* Stig Olin – Peter
* Irma Christenson – Linnéa
* Anders Henrikson – Paul
* Marianne Löfgren – Mrs. Bohlin
* Bibi Lindkvist [sv] – Anna
* Curt Masreliez – Alf
* Britta Holmberg – Birgitta's Mother in Dream (voice)

## Production

[edit]

Producer Lorens Marmstedt agreed to finance the filming of Bergman's experimental screenplay, which the director said was in large part exploring the question, "Is earth Hell?"[2] Filming, on a very low budget of approximately $30,000, took place over only 18 days,[3] using an Expressionist style of cinematography;[1][2] characterisation is minimal and the acting flat, in keeping with the emphasis on existential symbolism. At one point, in further distancing, Thomas and Birgitta watch a ridiculous silent film together.[1]

## Reception

[edit]

Stanley Kauffmann of The New Republic wrote- 'The picture is a bit tedious, except for the character of the pimp played by Stig Olin, but it is smoothly made and shows both fluency with the medium and an understanding of actors. It also forecasts the power of introspection that Bergman later developed so beautifully.'[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c James Travers, "Prison (1949), directed by Ingmar Bergman", French Films.org, retrieved 18 June 2022.
2. ^ a b Jerry Vermilye, Ingmar Bergman: His Life and Films, Jefferson: North Carolina: McFarland, 2002, repr. 2007, ISBN 9780786429592, p. 13.
3. ^ Frank Gado, The Passion of Ingmar Bergman, Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, 1986, repr. 1996, ISBN 9780822305866, pp. 43–44.
4. ^ "Stanley Kauffmann on films". The New Republic. 1962-05-28.

## External links

[edit]

* Prison at IMDb
* Prison at the Swedish Film Institute Database

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Ingmar Bergman

* Filmography
* Stage productions
* Accolades

Films directed|

* Crisis (1946)
* It Rains on Our Love (1946)
* A Ship Bound for India (1947)
* Music in Darkness (1948)
* Port of Call (1948)
* Prison (1949)
* Thirst (1949)
* To Joy (1950)
* This Can't Happen Here (1950)
* Summer Interlude (1951)
* Secrets of Women (1952)
* Summer with Monika (1953)
* Sawdust and Tinsel (1953)
* A Lesson in Love (1954)
* Dreams (1955)
* Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)
* The Seventh Seal (1957)
* Wild Strawberries (1957)
* Brink of Life (1958)
* The Magician (1958)
* The Virgin Spring (1960)
* The Devil's Eye (1960)
* Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
* Winter Light (1963)
* The Silence (1963)
* All These Women (1964)
* Persona (1966)
* Hour of the Wolf (1968)
* Shame (1968)
* The Rite (1969)
* The Passion of Anna (1969)
* The Touch (1971)
* Cries and Whispers (1972)
* Scenes from a Marriage (1973)
* The Magic Flute (1975)
* Face to Face (1976)
* The Serpent's Egg (1977)
* Autumn Sonata (1978)
* From the Life of the Marionettes (1980)
* Fanny and Alexander (1982)
* After the Rehearsal (1984)
* The Blessed Ones (1986)
* In the Presence of a Clown (1997)
* Saraband (2003)

Films written|

* Torment (1944)
* Woman Without a Face (1947)
* Eva (1948)
* While the City Sleeps (1950)
* Divorced (1951)
* Last Pair Out (1956)
* The Pleasure Garden (1961)
* The Lie (1970)
* The Best Intentions (1992)
* Sunday's Children (1992)
* Private Confessions (1996)
* Faithless (2000)

Documentaries|

* Fårö Document (1970)
* The Making of Fanny and Alexander (1984)

Short films|

* "Daniel" in Stimulantia (1967)
* Karin's Face (1986)

Television theatre|

* Mr. Sleeman Is Coming (1957)
* The Venetian (1958)
* Rabies (1958)
* The Image Makers (2000)

Related topics|

* Bergman Week
* Ingmar Bergman Makes a Movie
* The Dove
* The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman
* Ingmar Bergman Award
* Ingmar Bergman's Cinema

Family|

* Erik Bergman (father)
* Dag Bergman (brother)
* Margareta Bergman (sister)
* Eva Bergman (daughter)
* Mats Bergman (son)
* Anna Bergman (daughter)
* Daniel Bergman (son)
* Linn Ullmann (daughter)

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