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IMDbPro

The Phantom Carriage

Original title: Körkarlen
  • 19211921
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
18,981
564
The Phantom Carriage (1921)
Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for The Phantom Carriage
Play trailer1:31
1 Video
52 Photos
DramaFantasyHorror
On New Year's Eve, the driver of a ghostly carriage forces a drunken man to reflect on his selfish, wasted life.On New Year's Eve, the driver of a ghostly carriage forces a drunken man to reflect on his selfish, wasted life.On New Year's Eve, the driver of a ghostly carriage forces a drunken man to reflect on his selfish, wasted life.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
18,981
564
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Victor Sjöström
    • Writers
      • Selma Lagerlöf(novel)
      • Victor Sjöström
    • Stars
      • Victor Sjöström
      • Hilda Borgström
      • Tore Svennberg
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Victor Sjöström
    • Writers
      • Selma Lagerlöf(novel)
      • Victor Sjöström
    • Stars
      • Victor Sjöström
      • Hilda Borgström
      • Tore Svennberg
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 81User reviews
    • 90Critic reviews

    Videos1

    The Phantom Carriage: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    Trailer 1:31
    The Phantom Carriage: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]

    Photos52

    Astrid Holm and Lisa Lundholm in The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    Astrid Holm and Tore Svennberg in The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    Astrid Holm and Lisa Lundholm in The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    Astrid Holm and Tore Svennberg in The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    Victor Sjöström and Tore Svennberg in The Phantom Carriage (1921)
    The Phantom Carriage (1921)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Victor Sjöström
    Victor Sjöström
    • David Holm
    Hilda Borgström
    Hilda Borgström
    • Mrs. Holm
    Tore Svennberg
    Tore Svennberg
    • Georges
    Astrid Holm
    Astrid Holm
    • Edit
    Concordia Selander
    • Edit's Mother
    Lisa Lundholm
    Lisa Lundholm
    • Maria
    Tor Weijden
    Tor Weijden
    • Gustafsson
    Einar Axelsson
    Einar Axelsson
    • David's Brother
    Olof Ås
    • Driver
    Nils Aréhn
    Nils Aréhn
    • Prison Chaplain
    Simon Lindstrand
    • David's Companion
    Nils Elffors
    • David's Companion
    Algot Gunnarsson
    • Worker
    Hildur Lithman
    • Worker's Wife
    John Ekman
    John Ekman
    • Police Constable
    Edvin Adolphson
    Edvin Adolphson
    • Man at the Inn
    • (uncredited)
    Elof Ahrle
    Elof Ahrle
    • Young Man
    • (uncredited)
    Emmy Albiin
    Emmy Albiin
    • Tuberculosis Patient
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Victor Sjöström
    • Writers
      • Selma Lagerlöf(novel)
      • Victor Sjöström
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ingmar Bergman watched this film at least once every summer, either alone or in the company of younger people. He also stated that this film, to him, was once "the film of all films", and that it was a main influence on his own work.
    • Quotes

      Georges: You know, David, if I could send a message to mankind, I would send them a New Year's greeting. I would like them to dwell on a single New Year's prayer: 'Lord, please let my soul come to maturity before it is reaped.'

    • Connections
      Featured in Ved den danske films vugge (1941)

    User reviews81

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Brilliant film; KTL soundtrack recommended
    Victor Sjostrom's silent film masterpiece The Phantom Carriage has recently been released on DVD with a new soundtrack recorded by KTL. The duo, comprising American guitarist Stephen O'Malley and Austrian laptop artist Peter Rehberg, has conjured an extraordinary collection of sounds to accompany and accentuate the original film footage from 1921. An ominous banging sound introduces each Act and a medley of drones, guitar chords and feedback ebbs and flows as the grim drama unfolds.

    As impressive as the new soundtrack is, the film remains the real star with its timeless rendering of a dark and dystopian fairy tale. According to this tale the last person to die before the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve is condemned to spend a year behind the reins of the eponymous phantom carriage, collecting the souls of the dead. This is the fate of the anti-hero of the film, David Holm, who is moved to painful scrutiny of his life following his untimely death and subsequent encounter with the driver of the carriage.

    This film is often referred to as a horror film and although this is a fitting label, the real horror here resides not in the supernatural elements but rather in the depiction of human suffering at the hands of others. Sjostrom gives a remarkable performance as the drunken, spiteful and menacing Holm in life, and the wretched, frightened Holm looking back from the land of the dead and shrinking from his past deeds.

    Striking imagery abounds throughout The Phantom Carriage and more than compensates for the inevitably limited dialogue. The ill-omened onset of midnight is powerfully illustrated through the image of a clock-face hovering alone in the darkening night sky like a second moon. Equally impressively, the dead are depicted through pioneering semi-transparent imagery and the scenes of the phantom carriage riding over land and sea remain chilling to watch.

    Sjostrom's film deserves its place as one of the most esteemed silent films of all time and the new soundtrack by KTL is a superb accentuation of its themes. This is a must-see.
    helpful•31
    3
    • Robert_Woodward
    • Mar 29, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 4, 1922 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Sweden
    • Languages
      • None
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
      • Візник
    • Filming locations
      • Svensk Filmindustri, Filmstaden, Råsunda, Stockholms län, Sweden
    • Production company
      • Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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