#A12/#237: BERGMAN, Ingmar: Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)

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BERGMAN, Ingmar (Sweden)
Smiles of a Summer Night [1955]
Spine #A12/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:


The Film


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

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