Körkarlen (The Phantom Carriage - The Stroke of Midnight)
Stars: Victor Sjöström, Hilda Borgström, Tore Svennberg
Director: Victor Sjöström
Runtime: 140 Minutes
Language: English subtitles -
Color: Tinted and Toned / Black and White
Extras: The original Swedish edit and the Metro edit for American release
Format: DVD-
Rating: NR
Price: $16.95
Körkarlen
(1921)
The Phantom Carriage
Directed by Victor Sjöström
Cast:
Victor Sjöström ... David Holm
Hilda Borgström ... Mrs. Holm
Tore Svennberg ... Georges
Astrid Holm ... Edit
Concordia Selander ... Edit's Mother
Lisa Lundholm ... Maria
Tor Weijden ... Gustafsson
Einar Axelsson ... David's Brother
Olof Ås ... Driver
Nils Ahrén ... Prison Chaplain
Simon Lindstrand ... David's Companion
Nils Elffors ... David's Companion
Algot Gunnarsson ... Worker
Hildur Lithman ... Worker's wife
John Ekman ... Police constable
This disc includes the original Swedish edit: Körkarlen a.k.a. The Phantom Carriage and the Metro edit for America, released as The Stroke of Midnight. (each run 70 minutes) Based on Selma Lagerlof's rendition of a Swedish folktale, this moody, surrealistic drama takes it's title from Death's favorite mode of transport, which must be driven by the last sinner to die before year's end. Victor Sjöström both directed and stared in this film, fashioning a supernatural morality tale replete with atmospheric lighting and superimposition effects that were ahead of their time in 1920 and still chill today. He plays David Holm, a beliigerent drunkard who must contend with past misdeeds of pettiness and alcoholism as he gathers the souls of the dead. Will he roam the roads forever as a ghostly driver or achieve salvation beyond Death's spectre? This suspenseful, visually arresting classic was shot by masterful cinematographer Julius Jaenzon.
