The Magician (1958) Ansiktet (original title)

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman (writer)

Release Date:

27 August 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Into the Nether-World! You'll Gasp At This Occult Hypnotic Experience Into the Supernatural!

Plot:

When 'Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater' comes to town, there's bound to be a spectacle. Reading reports...

Plot Keywords:

Parable | 1800s | Illusion | Magician

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Max von Sydow	...	Albert Emanuel Vogler
Ingrid Thulin	...	Manda Vogler (alias Mr. Aman)
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Dr. Vergerus, Minister of Health
Naima Wifstrand	...	Granny Vogler
Bengt Ekerot	...	Johan Spegel
Bibi Andersson	...	Sara Lindqvist
Gertrud Fridh	...	Ottilia Egerman
Lars Ekborg	...	Simson, the coach driver
Toivo Pawlo	...	Police Superintendant Starbeck
Erland Josephson	...	Consul Egerman
Åke Fridell	...	Tubal
Sif Ruud	...	Sofia Garp
Oscar Ljung	...	Antonsson, burly stableman
Ulla Sjöblom	...	Henrietta Starbeck
Axel Düberg	...	Rustan, young manservant
Birgitta Pettersson	...	Sanna
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frithiof Bjärne	...	Border Officer (uncredited)
Tor Borong	...	Border Officer (uncredited)
Arne Martensson	...	Customs Officer (uncredited)
Harry Schein	...	Customs officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Ingmar Bergman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ingmar Bergman		writer

Produced by
Allan Ekelund	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Erik Nordgren

Cinematography by
Gunnar Fischer

Film Editing by
Oscar Rosander

Production Design by
P.A. Lundgren

Costume Design by
Greta Johansson
Manne Lindholm

Makeup Department
Börje Lundh	....	makeup artist
Nils Nittel	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Carl-Henry Cagarp	....	studio production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gösta Ekman	....	assistant director

Art Department
Karl-Arne Bergman	....	property master (as Karl Arne Bergman)

Sound Department
Åke Hansson	....	sound
Aaby Wedin	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Rolf Holmquist	....	assistant camera

Music Department
Eskil Eckert-Lundin	....	conductor (as E. Eckert-Lundin)

Other crew
Katinka Faragó	....	script supervisor (as Katherina Faragó)

Production Companies

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Distributors

• DLS Film (1960) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Janus Films (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Continental Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1978) (USA) (TV)
• Tartan Video (1993) (UK) (VHS) (subtitled)

Also Known As:

"Ansiktet" - Sweden (original title)

Runtime:

100 min | UK:107 min

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

AGA Sound System

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | UK:PG (video rating) (2001) | UK:X | Netherlands:18 (original rating) (1960) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Djurgardsslaten 49-51, Skansen, Djurgården, Östermalm, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Trivia:

The character of Vogler was based on Bergman himself.

Quotes:

Johan Spegel:I've prayed one prayer in my life: Use me, O God! But He never understood what a devoted slave I'd have been. So I was never used... But that too is a lie. Step by step you go into the dark. The movement itself is the only truth.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.11" (2011)

I didn't die, but I haunt the living.

Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater rolls into town and is promptly summoned for a meet with the town big wigs. Hoping to expose all involved in the theatre as charlatans, the disbelievers request a personal show before allowing the show to go public. With very interesting results.

There is a belief amongst many Ingmar Begman fans that Ansiktet {The Magician} is far too accessible a piece to be considered one of his greatest pieces. And whilst it does find Bergman more easy to understand for the casual viewer, it's however still complex enough to thrill and niggle the mind in equal measure. Taking two factors that he very much adored, masks and magic, Bergman threads them off into various directions, and in the process testing us the audience as to just what to expect from the story. The mysterious wonder of it all is naturally aided by Bergman's use of light and shadowy trickery, symbols loom heavy without dampening the theme on offer, with nothing of course actually quite being as it seems.

As is normally the case under the master director, the cast are uniformally strong. With Gunnar Bjornstrand and Ingrid Thulin particularly standing out. But really this is all about tricks and ideas relating to magic and its blending in with reality. So much so that with the end comes an awakening that we the audience are indeed props in one of Bergman's shows, and that can never be a bad or even an accessible thing.

A fascinating picture from a very fascinating director. 8/10