Sometimes silly, and many times a bit too much of a Catholic moral, but quite touching when intended. Sadly, however, the emotional parts could have worked even better if synchronized sound was already available.
I'm not entirely positive how it works, but i'm sure it doesn't work like that. After a certain amount of time every copyright becomes exempt, regardless of who made it, after which it becomes part of the public domain - or something.
The Phantom Carriage is a Swedish silent film that could be New Year's answer to A Christmas Carol. According to a myth, whoever dies first in the new year must drive Death's carriage for that annum. The man selected gets a Scrooge-like chance to visit the people he's hurt, and perhaps make amends. It's a ghost story, but it's also a character study, and a moral fable. Our man David is extremely wicked, and when a saintly woman tries to help him sort out his life, his wickedness even makes her good deeds turn to vinegar. And yet, she persists. This is a story about forgiveness, and its lesson is that since it is never too late to repent, it is never wrong to forgive. Now, it is a little slow in the beginning (and not particularly fast even once it gets going), and it structured around several flashbacks, its structure at times confusing. We don't begin with a complete picture, but things start to make sense moving forward. The picture rewards your patience. And that's a neat folk tale out of which to make a movie.
This is one of my favorite silent films and one of the best films of the era. The story is a bit like It's a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol. I liked seeing Sjostrom again after seeing him in Bergman's great Wild Strawberries, made nearly 40 years later.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 15 of 18
nicolaskrizan
Selma and Sjöström rules!http://beyond1001movies.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/backtrack-korkarlen-1921/
demagogo
Sometimes silly, and many times a bit too much of a Catholic moral, but quite touching when intended. Sadly, however, the emotional parts could have worked even better if synchronized sound was already available.Storaxe
I'm not entirely positive how it works, but i'm sure it doesn't work like that. After a certain amount of time every copyright becomes exempt, regardless of who made it, after which it becomes part of the public domain - or something.Runar
Properbly not since the movie was made by Svensk Filmindustri that still exists.Storaxe
Does anyone know if it is in the public domain?Emiam
7/10But a masterpiece in many ways. A true Swedish classic.
Kublai Khan
David Holm is truly a horrible scoundrel.JoeMorrissy
A truly magnificent movie, one of my favourite silent films.Siskoid
The Phantom Carriage is a Swedish silent film that could be New Year's answer to A Christmas Carol. According to a myth, whoever dies first in the new year must drive Death's carriage for that annum. The man selected gets a Scrooge-like chance to visit the people he's hurt, and perhaps make amends. It's a ghost story, but it's also a character study, and a moral fable. Our man David is extremely wicked, and when a saintly woman tries to help him sort out his life, his wickedness even makes her good deeds turn to vinegar. And yet, she persists. This is a story about forgiveness, and its lesson is that since it is never too late to repent, it is never wrong to forgive. Now, it is a little slow in the beginning (and not particularly fast even once it gets going), and it structured around several flashbacks, its structure at times confusing. We don't begin with a complete picture, but things start to make sense moving forward. The picture rewards your patience. And that's a neat folk tale out of which to make a movie.crcurran
So much from so few tools at the time to storytell on screen. Brilliant!-1flb2-
An excellent movie. Very powerful with a message of change and redemption.daisyaday
http://www.archive.org/details/PhantomCarraigeInevitable_destiny
Who cares if its "public domain", our trusted pirate friends, from the bay, will be able to help you anyways.wowwee123
http://www.archive.org/details/PhantomCarraigeessaywhu
This is one of my favorite silent films and one of the best films of the era. The story is a bit like It's a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol. I liked seeing Sjostrom again after seeing him in Bergman's great Wild Strawberries, made nearly 40 years later.Showing items 1 – 15 of 18