"Gösta Berlings saga" is the debut film of Greta Garbo. It was directed by Mauritz Stiller. Together with Victor Sjöström, Stiller was the leading director of the first Scandinavian wave. Stiller and Garbo went together to Hollywood. Garbo succeeded were Stiller failed. The relationship between Garbo and Stiller can be seen as the extreme version of the relationship between Marlene Dietrich and Josef von Sternberg from the same time period.
The question with debut-films of actresses that later became great film diva's is if the film is well known because of his intrinsic quality's or because of the upcoming star in it (that not necessarily has the leading role yet, as is the case in "Gösta Berlngs saga")?
"Gösta Berlings saga" is based on a novel by Selma Lagerlöf, a winner of the Nobel prize in literature. So one is inclined to assume that the film must have intrinsic quality's. Unfortunately a good story does not necessarily mean a good film and to be honest, this movie is not a great one.
Although the film as a whole is not a masterpiece, there are some mesmerising scenes. I am thinking about the scene with the fire in house Ekeby and the scene with the persuit by wolves on the frozen lake.
Also the method of introducing the cast is worth mentioning. Not as a title roll at the beginning or the end of the film, but piece by piece when an actor or actress makes his/her first appearance. From a viewpoint of remembring the characters there is a lot to be said for this method. In all honesty what information conveys a title roll at the beginning of the movie?
The question with debut-films of actresses that later became great film diva's is if the film is well known because of his intrinsic quality's or because of the upcoming star in it (that not necessarily has the leading role yet, as is the case in "Gösta Berlngs saga")?
"Gösta Berlings saga" is based on a novel by Selma Lagerlöf, a winner of the Nobel prize in literature. So one is inclined to assume that the film must have intrinsic quality's. Unfortunately a good story does not necessarily mean a good film and to be honest, this movie is not a great one.
Although the film as a whole is not a masterpiece, there are some mesmerising scenes. I am thinking about the scene with the fire in house Ekeby and the scene with the persuit by wolves on the frozen lake.
Also the method of introducing the cast is worth mentioning. Not as a title roll at the beginning or the end of the film, but piece by piece when an actor or actress makes his/her first appearance. From a viewpoint of remembring the characters there is a lot to be said for this method. In all honesty what information conveys a title roll at the beginning of the movie?