''Prison'' ( sv, Fängelse), also known as ''The Devil's Wanton'' in the United States, is a 1949 Swedish

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super- ...

directed by

Ingmar Bergman Ernst Ingmar Bergman (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007) was a Swedish film director, screenwriter, producer and playwright. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, his films are known as "profoun ...

. It is the earliest film directed by Bergman to be based on his own original screenplay.

Plot

Other than film-maker Martin Grandé, the characters are types: Thomas, a writer; his wife Sofi, who leaves him after he proposes a suicide pact; Birgitta Carolina Søderberg, a teenage prostitute; and Peter, her pimp by whom she has a child that he kills. The film presents Thomas living the scenario that Grandé and he discussed, a world that is really Hell and ruled by the Devil instead of God. He and Birgitta are unable to escape their unhappiness together.James Travers
"Prison (1949), directed by Ingmar Bergman"
French Films.org, retrieved 18 June 2022.

Cast

Doris Svedlund Doris Svedlund (11 December 1926 – 7 September 1985) was a Swedish film actress. She starred in Ingmar Bergman's 1948 film ''Prison'', and in the 1951 film ''Divorced'', which Bergman wrote. Partial filmography * ''When the Meadows Blosso ...

– Birgitta Carolina Søderberg *

Birger Malmsten Birger Malmsten (23 December 1920 – 15 February 1991) was a Swedish actor. He had many roles in Ingmar Bergman's films. Selected filmography * ''South of the Highway'' (1936) – Student (uncredited) * ' (1940) – Staff Member (uncredited ...

– Thomas *

Eva Henning Eva Henning (born Eva Wetlesen; 10 May 1920 – 18 April 2016) was a Swedish stage and movie actress. Career Born in Newark, New York, US, Henning was trained at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school (1938–40) in Sweden and made her ...

– Sofi *

Hasse Ekman Hasse Ekman (born Hans Gösta Ekman; 10September 191515February 2004) was a Swedish director, actor, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Biography Hasse Ekman is probably Sweden's most successful and critically acclaimed fi ...

– Martin Grandé *

Stig Olin Stig Olin, né ''Högberg'' (11 September 1920 – 28 June 2008) was a Swedish actor, theatre director, songwriter and singer. He was the father of actress Lena Olin and singer Mats Olin. He was married to film actresses Britta Holmberg an ...

– Peter *

Irma Christenson Irma Christenson (14 January 1915 – 21 February 1993) was a Swedish actress notable for her many roles in the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, and in many films. Christenson was born in the small village of Hunnebostrand. She studied at ...

– Linnéa *

Anders Henrikson Anders Henrik Henrikson (13 June 1896 – 17 October 1965) was a Swedish actor and film director. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1913 and 1965. He also directed 30 films between 1933 and 1956. Selected filmography Actor * '' The ...

– Paul *

Marianne Löfgren Marianne Löfgren (24 February 1910 – 4 September 1957) was a Swedish actress. She played in Åke Ohberg's ''Elvira Madigan'' (1943), director Ingmar Bergman's debut ''Crisis'' in 1946, Hasse Ekman's ''Girl with Hyacinths'' (1950) and in ...

– Mrs. Bohlin * – Anna *

Curt Masreliez Curt Masreliez (19 July 1919 – 21 June 1979) was a Swedish stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 50 films and television shows between 1939 and 1973. Masreliez worked at Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern as well as the theatres in Hels ...

– Alf *

Britta Holmberg Britta Alice Holmberg (21 December 1921 – 3 June 2004) was a Swedish actress. She appeared in 18 films between 1942 and 1973. She was married to actor Stig Olin (they eventually divorced), and is the mother of actress Lena Olin Lena M ...

– Birgitta's Mother in Dream (voice)

Production

Producer

Lorens Marmstedt Lorens Marmstedt, né Sigfrid Lorens Eriksson (29 October 1908 – 4 April 1966) was a Swedish film producer. He produced more than 50 films between 1932 and 1965. Selected filmography * ''The Love Express'' (1932) * '' A Stolen Waltz'' (193 ...

agreed to finance the filming of Bergman's experimental screenplay, which the director said was in large part exploring the question, "Is earth Hell?"Jerry Vermilye, ''Ingmar Bergman: His Life and Films'', Jefferson: North Carolina: McFarland, 2002, repr. 2007,
p. 13
Filming, on a very low budget of approximately $30,000, took place over only 18 days,Frank Gado, ''The Passion of Ingmar Bergman'', Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, 1986, repr. 1996,
pp. 43–44
using an

Expressionist Expressionism is a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radi ...

style of cinematography; characterisation is minimal and the acting flat, in keeping with the emphasis on existential symbolism. At one point, in further distancing, Thomas and Birgitta watch a ridiculous silent film together.

References

External links

* * 1949 films Films directed by Ingmar Bergman Films with screenplays by Ingmar Bergman Swedish black-and-white films 1940s Swedish-language films 1949 drama films Swedish drama films 1940s Swedish films {{1940s-Sweden-film-stub