Smiles of a summer night

Sweden, 1955

Film
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This film marked a milestone in Bergman’s career and his success with international audiences allowed him this foray into romantic comedy. Forming the basis for Stephen Sondheim’s musical ‘ A Little night music’, this is the story of a middle-aged lawyer, his inexperienced young wife and her step-so, who are all invited to spend the weekend at the country mansion of a beautiful actress, the lawyer’s ex-mistress. During the course of the weekend three couples meet, exchange partners and provide some lively comedic action, illustrating Bergman’s sardonic attitude towards the vagaries of love. Behind the scintillating and witty approach to this charming period comedy of manners lie the illusions and pretensions of the haute bourgeois which Bergman cleverly illistrates with his collection of fickle husbands and scheming women.

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Collection

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Credits

director

Ingmar Bergman

production company

Svensk Filmindustri

Duration

01:45:00:00

Production places
Sweden
Production dates
1955

Collection metadata

ACMI Identifier

307756

Language

English

Sound/audio

Sound

Colour

Black and White

Holdings

VHS; Access Print (Section 1)

Wikidata

Q837070

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If you would like to cite this item, please use the following template: {{cite web |url=https://acmi.net.au/works/86119--smiles-of-a-summer-night/ |title=Smiles of a summer night |author=Australian Centre for the Moving Image |access-date=27 January 2025 |publisher=Australian Centre for the Moving Image}}