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Charles XII

Original title: Karl XII
  • 1925
  • 2h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
21
YOUR RATING
Charles XII (1925)
DramaHistory

An historical film depicting the life of Charles XII of Sweden (1682-1718), who oversaw the expansion of the Swedish Empire until its defeat at the Battle of Poltava.An historical film depicting the life of Charles XII of Sweden (1682-1718), who oversaw the expansion of the Swedish Empire until its defeat at the Battle of Poltava.An historical film depicting the life of Charles XII of Sweden (1682-1718), who oversaw the expansion of the Swedish Empire until its defeat at the Battle of Poltava.

  • Director
    • John W. Brunius
  • Writer
    • Hjalmar Bergman
  • Stars
    • Gösta Ekman
    • Bengt Djurberg
    • Augusta Lindberg
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    21
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John W. Brunius
    • Writer
      • Hjalmar Bergman
    • Stars
      • Gösta Ekman
      • Bengt Djurberg
      • Augusta Lindberg
    • 1User review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos58

    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)
    Charles XII (1925)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gösta Ekman
    Gösta Ekman
    • Karl XII
    Bengt Djurberg
    Bengt Djurberg
    • Sven Björnberg
    Augusta Lindberg
    • Kerstin Ulfclou
    Mona Mårtenson
    Mona Mårtenson
    • Anna Ulfclou
    Harry Roeck Hansen
    • Erik Ulfclou
    Axel Lagerberg
    • John Ulfclou
    Paul Seelig
    Paul Seelig
    • Bengt Ulfclou
    Ragnar Billberg
    Ragnar Billberg
    • Hans Küsel
    Palle Brunius
    • Lill-Lasse Ulfclou
    Pauline Brunius
    Pauline Brunius
    • Aurora Königsmarck
    Nicolai De Seversky
    • Tsar Peter I
    Tyra Dörum
    • Kajsa
    Einar Fröberg
    • King Fredrik IV of Denmark
    Märtha Lindlöf
    • Queen Hedvig Eleonora
    Edit Rolf
    Edit Rolf
    • Princess Ulrika Eleonora
    Concordia Selander
    Åsa Törnekvist
    • Princess Hedvig Sofia
    Tor Weijden
    Tor Weijden
    • August II of Sachsen
    • Director
      • John W. Brunius
    • Writer
      • Hjalmar Bergman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Edited into Isoviha (1939)

    User reviews1

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Grandiose spectacle of the 20s badly in need of restoration.
    This was originally a spectacular project in two films of altogether 265 minutes, which in 1933 were cut down into only one film of 100 minutes with a sound track of music to it. The mutilated film gives an impression like of a news reel of the Great Nordic War in the early 1700s with no depth to it at all and little characterization except for the king who is mainly only posing. Even the script is poor although written by one of the leading Swedish authors at the time, while the main impact of the film is the grandiose battle scenes involving many statists in no end to their muddle. Brunius made two more epic silent films like this, and both are better than this one. However, it's a great story and tragedy, the fall of the super power of Sweden in that war in which Peter the Great and Russia took over the lead of power in north-eastern Europe, and you can't make a bad film on such a historical impeccable and impressive ground, while the film actually misses much of the story and ignores half of it. Denmark and Finland are not involved or mentioned at all, although they were major parts of the tragedy, the most important part of the first battle of Narva (the sudden snow storm) is totally ignored, and Peter the Great is made almost a caricature. Gösta Ekman as the king makes him an impressive character indeed and almost without speaking. The sub plot of the family is interesting, and it probably plays a significant part in the original. Like Abel Gance's great 5 hour film of Napoleon, also this original should be worth discovering and restoring.

    The music fitted in 1933 is interesting, though. It's a miscellanous blend of very much Handel, some Chopin and Borodin in the Polish and Russian scenes, even a stroke of Sibelius, while the dominating tune is the March of Charles XII of doubtful origin, possibly even Russian, which fits well into the context.
    helpful•3
    0
    • clanciai
    • Jan 27, 2018

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 30, 1933 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Sweden
    • Language
      • None
    • Also known as
      • Karl XII
    • Filming locations
      • A7, Visby, Gotlands län, Sweden(fd Gotlands Artellerikår A7)
    • Production company
      • Swedish Historical Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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