#0000A/#237: BERGMAN, Ingmar: Smiles Of A Summer Night (1955)

BERGMAN, Ingmar (Sweden)

Smiles Of A Summer Night [1955]

Spine #0000A/Spine #237

Blu-ray/DVD

2011 synopsis

After fifteen films that received mostly local acclaim, the 1955 comedy Smiles of a Summer Night (Sommarnattens leende) at last ushered in an international audience for Ingmar Bergman. In turn-of-the-century Sweden, four men and four women attempt to navigate the laws of attraction. During a weekend in the country, the women collude to force the men's hands in matters of the heart, exposing their pretensions and insecurities along the way. Chock-full of flirtatious propositions and sharp witticisms delivered by such Swedish screen legends as Gunnar Björnstrand and Harriet Andersson, Smiles of a Summer Night is one of cinema's great erotic comedies.

2018 synopsis

After fifteen films that received mostly local acclaim, the comedy Smiles of a Summer Night at last ushered in an international audience for Bergman. In turn-of-the-century Sweden, four men and four women attempt to navigate the laws of attraction. During a weekend in the country, the women collude to force the men's hands in matters of the heart, exposing their pretensions and insecurities along the way. Chock-full of flirtatious propositions and sharp witticisms delivered by such Swedish screen legends as Gunnar Björnstrand and Harriet Andersson, Smiles of a Summer Night is one of cinema's great erotic comedies.

108 minutes

Black & White

Monaural

in Swedish

1:33:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2011/2018

Director/Writer

Ingmar Bergman was 37 when he wrote and directed Smiles of a Summer Night.

Other Bergman films in the Collection:

#0000A/Eclipse Series 1: Crisis (1946)
#0000A/Eclipse Series 1: A Ship To India (1947)
#0000A/Eclipse Series 1: Port Of Call (1948)

#0000A/Eclipse Series 1: Thirst (1949)
#0000A/Eclipse Series 1: To Joy (1949)
#0000A/#613: Summer Interlude (1951)
#0000A: Waiting Women (1952)
#0000A/#614: Summer With Monika (1953)
#0000A/#412: Sawdust And Tinsel (1953)
#0000A: A Lesson In Love (1954)
#0000A: Dreams (1955)
#0000A/#11: The Seventh Seal (1957)
#0000A/#139: Wild Strawberries (1957)
#0000A/#537: The Magician (1958)
#0000A: Brink Of Life (1958)
#0000A/#321: The Virgin Spring (1960)
#0000A: The Devil's Eye (1960)
#0000A/#209: Through A Glass Darkly (1961)
#0000A/#210: Winter Light (1962)
#0000A/#211: The Silence (1963)
#0000A: All These Women (1964)
#0000A/#701: Persona (1966)
#0000A/#961: Shame (1968)
#0000A: Hour Of The Wolf (1968)
#0000A: The Passion Of Anna (1969)
#0000A: The Rite (1969)
#0000A: Fårö Document [1970)

#0000A: The Touch (1971)
#0000A/#101: Cries And Whispers (1972)
#0000A/#229: Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
#0000A/#71: The Magic Flute (1975)
#0000A: The Serpent's Egg (1977)
#0000A/#60: Autumn Sonata (1978)
#0000A: Fårö Document 1979 (1979)

#0000A: From The Life Of Marionettes (1980)
#0000A/#262: Fanny And Alexander -- The Television Version (1982)
#0000A/#263: Fanny And Alexander -- The Theatrical Version (1982)
#0000A/#264: The Making Of Fanny And Alexander (1982)
#0000A: After The Rehearsal (1984)
#0000A: Saraband (2003)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

#0000A: 250-page book featuring an essay by John Simon. 

#237:

Twenty-six page booklet featuring essays by Simon and Pauline Kael.

Commentary

None.

#0000A/#237:

Video introduction

To the film by director Bergman.

Video conversation

Between Bergman scholar Peter Cowie and writer Jörn Donner, executive producer of Fanny and Alexander.

Original theatrical trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

99

By Director
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