The Seventh Seal [Criterion Collection]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Endlessly imitated and parodied, Ingmar Bergman's landmark art movie The Seventh Seal (Det Sjunde Inseglet) retains its ability to hold an audience spellbound. Bergman regular Max von Sydow stars as a 14th century knight named Antonius Block, wearily heading home after ten years' worth of combat. Disillusioned by unending war, plague, and misery Block has concluded that God does not exist. As he trudges across the wilderness, Block is visited by Death (Bengt Ekerot), garbed in the traditional black robe. Unwilling to give up the ghost, Block challenges Death to a game of chess. If he wins, he lives -- if not, he'll allow Death to claim him. As they play, the knight and the Grim Reaper get into a spirited discussion over whether or not God exists. To recount all that happens next would diminish the impact of the film itself; we can observe that The Seventh Seal ends with one of the most indelible of all of Bergman's cinematic images: the near-silhouette "Dance of Death." Considered by some as the apotheosis of all Ingmar Bergman films (other likely candidates for that honor include Wild Strawberries and Persona), and certainly one of the most influential European art movies, The Seventh Seal won a multitude of awards, including the Special Jury Prize at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 2
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
• Subtitle: Eng
• Features:
  • Introduction by Ingmar Bergman, Recorded in 2003
  • Audio Commentary by Bergman expert Peter Cowie, with a New Afterword
  • Archival Audio Interview with Max von Sydow
  • A 1989 Tribute to Bergman by Filmmaker Woody Allen
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Optional English-Dubbed soundtrack

AWARDS

• Cannes Film Festival

•     Won Special Jury Prize - 1957

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Max von Sydow - The Knight, Antonius Block
       Gunnar Bjornstrand - Jons
       Bengt Ekerot - Death
       Nils Poppe - Jof
       Bibi Andersson - Mia
       Ake Fridell - Blacksmith Plog
       Inga Gill - Lisa
       Inga Landgr_ - Block's Wife
       Benkt - Ake Benktsson - The landlord
       Gudrun Brost - Woman at inn
       Gunnar Olsson - Church Painter
       Ulf Johansson - Knight leader
       Tor Borong - Farmer at inn
       Gunnel Lindblom - The Girl
       Erik Strandmark - Jonas Skat
       Bertil Anderberg - Raval
       Maud Hansson - The Witch, Tyan
       Lars Lind - Young Monk
       Anders Ek - The Monk

• Director:

  Ingmar Bergman

• Producer:

  Allan Ekelund

• Screenwriter:

  Ingmar Bergman

• Cinematographer:

  Gunnar Fischer

• Composer (Music Score):

  Eric Nordgren

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Sixten Ehrling

• Editor:

  Lennart Wallen

• Production Designer:

  P.A. Lundgren

• Set Designer:

  P.A. Lundgren

• Costume Designer:

  Manne Lindholm

• Makeup:

  Nila Nittle, Carl M. Lundh

• Special Effects:

  Evald Andersson

• Choreography:

  Else Fischer

REVIEW:

• For filmgoers of a certain age (baby boomers who attended college between the late '50s and late '60s), The Seventh Seal was their first exposure to the films of Ingmar Bergman. And indeed, the film has been referenced by other directors, from Woody Allen to Barry Levinson, as well as becoming the subject of a popular parody short, Dove. Although other filmmakers, such as Jean Cocteau in Orpheus, had dealt with similar concerns, Bergman made them more accessible. The Seventh Seal is a skillful blend of realistic drama (the disillusioned knight returning from the Crusades in a land wracked by plague and madness) and the allegorical (most famously, the chess game and further encounters with a black-robed figure representing Death). The historical setting provides a convenient vehicle for Bergman to deal with issues of death and spirituality that are ultimately timeless. The film also gave major exposure to actors Max von Sydow and Bibi Andersson, who both had small roles in Bergman's Wild Strawberries. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi