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Tartan Video
Posted: September 14th, 2007.
VICTOR SJÖSTRÖMS SILENT CLASSIC: THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE
Double disc including Ingmar Bergmans THE IMAGE MAKERS
Legend says that whoever is the last person to die on New Years Eve will be destined to drive the PhantomCarriage, collecting dead souls for a year. When a drunkard is found at the stroke of midnight, the victim ofa vicious fight, he is forced to relive his past to see how he and those around him have been destroyed by hisselfish and destructive ways.
THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE is a classic supernatural tale by master film-maker Victor Sjöström, and was the IngmarBergmans career as a director (Bergman actually later cast Sjöström in Wild Strawberries) and in particular,the inspiration for The Seventh Seal. Made in 1920, it remains as a mesmerising and extraordinary film withstill-outstanding special photo-effects and dramatic camerawork.
Technical features: Original 1.33: Presentation; tinted black and white
Also included on second disc:
THE IMAGE MAKERS (aka Bildmakarna) is Ingmar Bergmans affectionate tribute to Sjostrom. Defined as aTV-drama, the film is set in 1920s at Swedish Filmstudios where the great silent director is shooting Korkalen,an adaptation of a popular novel. He has invited the books authoress to look at early scenes but doesnt expectintervention buy the actress. Both women feel they know the story and characters best, creating a psychologicalbattle which threatens the whole project. An emotional storm of a movie with a mesmeric role from arguablySwedens greatest theatre actress, Anita Bjork. It proves that Bergman, even in his 80s, hadnt lost his any ofhis dramatic power.
THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE and THE IMAGE MAKERS double disc is released on 12th November on DVD for £24.99.
In addition, an atmospheric and evocative new score has been written and recorded by KTL, the unique soniccollaboration between Stephen OMalley [SunnO)))] and Peter Rehberg [aka Pita], who have previously workedtogether soundtracking the bizarre theatrical production of Dennis Coopers Kindertotenlieder. For thisLimited Edition release, the packaging has specially created artwork by Stephen OMalley and film notes bythe Brothers Quay.
Technical features: Original 1.33: Presentation; tinted black and white, Uncompressed CD quality PCM StereoAudio Mastering.
PHANTOM CARRIAGE: KTL EDITION is released on DVD on 12th November for £15.99.
Click on the Amazon link above to purchase the main DVD release.
News page content input by Dominic Robinson, 2007.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.