The Phantom Carriage (1921) Körkarlen (original title)

Director:

Victor Sjöström

Writers:

Selma Lagerlöf (novel)
Victor Sjöström

Release Date:

4 June 1922 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror

Plot:

It's New Year's Eve. Three drunkards evoke a legend. The legend tells that the last person to die in a year...

Plot Keywords:

Salvation | Fight | Cemetery | Alcoholic | Chariot

Cast

Victor Sjöström	...	David Holm
Hilda Borgström	...	Mrs. Holm
Tore Svennberg	...	Georges
Astrid Holm	...	Edit
Concordia Selander	...	Edit's Mother
Lisa Lundholm	...	Maria
Tor Weijden	...	Gustafsson
Einar Axelsson	...	David's Brother
Olof Ås	...	Driver
Nils Aréhn	...	Prison Chaplain
Simon Lindstrand	...	David's Companion
Nils Elffors	...	David's Companion
Algot Gunnarsson	...	Worker
Hildur Lithman	...	Worker's wife
John Ekman	...	Police constable
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edvin Adolphson	...	Man at the inn (uncredited)
Elof Ahrle	...	Ung man (uncredited)
Emmy Albiin	...	Tuberculosis Patient (uncredited)
Anna-Lisa Baude	...	Salvation Army Soldier (uncredited)
Josua Bengtson	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Helga Brofeldt	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Julia Cæsar	...	(uncredited)
Mona Geijer-Falkner	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Carl Harald	...	Man at the inn (uncredited)
Arthur Natorp	...	Salvation Army Soldier (uncredited)
Fridolf Rhudin	...	Young man (uncredited)
Signe Wirff	...	Waitress (uncredited)

Directed by
Victor Sjöström

Writing credits
Selma Lagerlöf		(novel)
Victor Sjöström

Produced by
Charles Magnusson	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Julius Jaenzon		(as J. Julius)

Art Direction by
Alexander Bako		(uncredited)
Axel Esbensen		(uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur Engborg	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Carl-Axel Söderström	....	assistant camera

Production Companies

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Distributors

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1921) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Decla-Bioscop AG (1921) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Metro Pictures Corporation (1922) (USA) (theatrical)
• Tartan Video (2007) (UK) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Redemption Films (1994) (UK) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Körkarlen" - Sweden (original title)

Runtime:

93 min | Germany:100 min | Sweden:107 min (16 fps) (2004 TV version) | 103 min (original release) (18 fps)

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:U (DVD rating) | USA:Not Rated | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Svensk Filmindustri, Filmstaden, Råsunda, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Trivia:

Director Victor Sjöström traveled up to author Selma Lagerlöf's house in Mårbacka to read the scenario out loud. He acted out the whole screenplay in front of her before crashing down on a sofa, totally exhausted. She looked at the director for a long time and then asked he would care for a drink. That was her seal of approval.

Quotes:

David Holm:Forgive, forgive me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Story of Film: An Odyssey: Episode #1.1" (2011)

This film is a masterpiece to put it simply.

This film is a masterpiece to put it simply. Especially the double exposure made by the cameraman Julius Jaenzon. It is skillfully made even with the standards we are used to today seventy eight years later. Viktor Sjöström, the director, also plays the main character, David Holm. On the night of new years eve he is killed in a fight, and the legend says that the first one who dies on the new year, will have to work as a soul-collector in the form of a transparent ghost. There is a new soul-collector to be appointed every year.

The scene in which the alcoholic, David Holm, rises up from his dead body (like the soul is leaving his earthly body) in the churchyard (where the fight took place) is a real award for a filmloving eye. Also when the present soul-collector arrives with his horse and carriage is a beautiful but also a scary scene. David Holm recognizes this soul-collector as a drinkingfriend from earlier life. It is now his turn to take over. Just like Scrooge in Dickens story "A christmas tale", David is shown what his life and doings has led to for the people around him.

The film is about the danger of abusing drugs, in this case alcohol. It is based upon a book by Nobel prize winner Selma Lagerlöf. Viktor Sjöström filmed a few more of her books, but this is the one with the best outcome, maybe because this book is the most filmic of them.