Gabriel Alw Movies

Between 1916 and late 1918, Swedish filmmaker Georg af Klercker directed 10 short films and 18 features, but, following the sale of his studio to his chief rival Charles Magnusson and after such great directors as Victor Sjostrom and Mauritz Stiller became prominent, he disappeared from the industry. Though forgotten, Klercker did contribute to his country's fledgling industry. Night Music is one of Klercker's features and was originally released in 1918. With funding from Ingmar Bergman, the film was restored and rereleased in conjunction with The Last Gasp/Sista Skriket, a television adaptation of a play by Ingmar Bergman. The drama itself centers on Baron von Meislingen, a would-be poet whose talents unfortunately don't match his aspirations. The Baron owns tenements and one day learns that his latest tenant, Peter Longhair is not only eccentric, but also a talented poet. Eager to see his name in print, the Baron purchases one of Peter's poems and puts his own name upon it. It's a success and the Baron goes back for more. He is particularly interested in Peter's magnum opus, a three-act play called "Night Music," but Peter will not sell it. Shortly thereafter Peter is found dead and the Baron is credited with writing a hit play. The Baron's undoing comes about when he falls in love with a young actress who meets up with one of the many impoverished tenants who were tossed out by the nobleman's henchmen. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

The Swedish June Night didn't get much American play until after its star, Ingrid Bergman, was firmly entrenched in Hollywood. Ingrid plays a small-town girl who becomes romantically involved with fast-and-loose sailor Gunnar Sjoberg. Injured in a shooting accident, the girl can't tell the police-or reveal the extent of her wounds-without revealing her "shameful" relationship with Sjoberg. This soap-operish endeavor was Bergman's final Swedish effort before her move to America. June Night was also distributed as A Night in June, just as if there were actually a difference. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi