Gunnar Björnstrand
Encyclopedia
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
. He was born in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. He appeared in over 180 films.
Björnstrand was a versatile actor who could play tough and tender as well as comedy and tragedy. His daughter Veronica Björnstrand is also an actress. One of his most famous roles was as the worldly squire who makes such a contrast to his austere and spiritual master in Bergman's most famous film The Seventh Seal.
Selected filmography
- Torment (1944, dir. Alf Sjöberg)
- It Rains on Our LoveIt Rains on Our LoveIt Rains on Our Love is a 1946 Swedish film by Ingmar Bergman. This is the first time Gunnar Björnstrand acted in a Bergman directed film...
(1946) - Two WomenTwo Women (1947 film)Two Women is a 1947 Swedish film directed by Arnold Sjöstrand. It was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Eva Dahlbeck - Sonja Bergman* Cécile Ossbahr - Cecilia Alling* Gunnar Björnstrand - Bengt* Georg Rydeberg - Henry Alling...
(1947) - Night Is My Future (1948)
- Secrets of WomenSecrets of WomenSecrets of Women is a 1952 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman.The film is one of the director's early films and is basically a drama about young relationships told by a group of women...
(1952) - Sawdust and TinselSawdust and Tinsel-Plot:An aging circus ringmaster visits his estranged wife to see his young sons. Meanwhile, his jealous young lover has an affair with an actor.-Cast:* Åke Grönberg – Albert Johansson* Harriet Andersson – Anne* Hasse Ekman – Frans* Anders Ek – Frost...
(1953) - A Lesson in LoveA Lesson in LoveA Lesson in Love is a 1954 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman.The film is a comedy by Ingmar Bergman and one of his early films. It deals with the marriage of David and his wife Marianne.The filmscore is by Dag Wirén.-Cast:...
(1954) - DreamsDreams (1955 film)-Plot:Susanne is the owner of a model agency in Stockholm. Doris, her most popular model, has an argument with her fiancé, Palle, just before she goes with Susanne to Gothenburg to be photographed in a new collection....
(1955) - Smiles of a Summer NightSmiles of a Summer NightSmiles of a Summer Night a.k.a. Smiles on a Summer Night is a 1955 Swedish comedy film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It was the first of Bergman's films to bring the director international success, due to its exposure at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival...
(1955) - The Seventh SealThe Seventh SealThe Seventh Seal is a 1957 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Set during the Black Death, it tells of the journey of a medieval knight and a game of chess he plays with the personification of Death , who has come to take his life. Bergman developed the film from his own play...
(1957) - Night Light (1957, dir. Lars-Eric Kjellgren)
- Wild StrawberriesWild Strawberries (film)Wild Strawberries is a 1957 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, about an old man recalling his past. The original Swedish title is Smultronstället, which literally means "the wild strawberry patch", but idiomatically means an underrated gem of a place...
(1957) - The MagicianThe Magician (1958 film)The Magician is a 1958 film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Its original Swedish title is Ansiktet, which means "the face", and it was released theatrically as The Face in the United Kingdom, although video releases have used the U.S. title.The film stars Max von Sydow as a traveling...
(1958) - Miss AprilMiss April (1958 film)Miss April is a 1958 Swedish comedy film directed by Göran Gentele. It was entered into the 1959 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Gunnar Björnstrand - Marcus Arwidson* Lena Söderblom - Maj Bergman* Jarl Kulle - Osvald Berg* Gaby Stenberg - Vera Stenberg...
(1958) - The Devil's EyeThe Devil's EyeThe Devil's Eye is a 1960 Swedish fantasy-comedy film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman.- Plot :The devil has a stye in his eye, caused by the purity of a vicar's daughter. To get rid of it, he sends Don Juan up from hell to seduce the 20-year-old Britt-Marie and to rob her of her virginity...
(1960) - Through a Glass DarklyThrough a Glass Darkly (film)Through a Glass Darkly is a 1961 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, and produced by Allan Ekelund. The film is a three-act "chamber film", in which four family members act as mirrors for each other. It is the first of many Bergman films to be shot on the island of Fårö...
(1961) - The Pleasure GardenThe Pleasure Garden (1961 film)The Pleasure Garden , is a 1961 Swedish film directed by Alf Kjellin and written by Ingmar Bergman.-Cast:* Sickan Carlsson – Fanny, waitress* Gunnar Björnstrand – David Samuel Franzén* Bibi Andersson – Anna, Fanny's daughter* Per Myrberg – Emil...
(1961, dir. Alf Kjellin) - Winter LightWinter LightWinter Light is a 1962 Swedish drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Bergman regulars Gunnar Björnstrand, Ingrid Thulin and Max von Sydow. The film follows Tomas Ericsson , pastor of a small rural Swedish church, as he deals with existential crisis and his...
(1963) - Loving CouplesLoving Couples (1964 film)Loving Couples is a 1964 Swedish drama film directed by Mai Zetterling. It was entered into the 1965 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Harriet Andersson - Agda Frideborg* Gunnel Lindblom - Adele Holmström - née Silfverstjerna* Gio Petré - Angela von Pahlen...
(1964) - PersonaPersona (film)Persona is a film by Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, released in 1966, and starring Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann. Bergman held this film to be one of his most important; in his book Images, he writes: "Today I feel that in Persona—and later in Cries and Whispers—I had gone as far as I could go...
(1966) - Hagbard and SigneHagbard and SigneHagbard and Signe is a 1967 Danish-Swedish-Icelandic drama film directed by Gabriel Axel and starring Søren Strømberg. The film won a Technical Prize at the 1967 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Oleg Vidov - Hagbard* Gitte Hænning - Signe...
(1967) - The GirlsThe Girls (film)-Cast:* Bibi Andersson as Liz* Harriet Andersson as Marianne* Gunnel Lindblom as Gunilla* Gunnar Björnstrand as Hugo* Erland Josephson as Carl* Frank Sundström as the doctor* Åke Lindström as Bengt* Stig Engström as Thommy* Ulf Palme as director-Release:...
(1968) - Shame (1968)
- The Rite (1969)
- Face to FaceFace to Face (1976 film)Face to Face is a 1976 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. It tells the story of a psychiatrist who is suffering from a mental illness. It stars Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson. The film was screened at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, but was not entered into the main competition...
(1976) - Autumn SonataAutumn SonataAutumn Sonata is a 1978 Swedish drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. The film stars Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann and Lena Nyman. It tells the story of a celebrated classical pianist who is confronted by her neglected daughter...
(1978) - Fanny and AlexanderFanny and AlexanderFanny and Alexander is a 1982 Swedish fantasy drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. It was originally conceived as a four-part TV movie and cut in that version, spanning 312 minutes. A 188-minute version was created later for cinematic release, although this version was in fact the...
(1982)