Hour of the Wolf

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Hour of the Wolf
Directed by	Ingmar Bergman
Produced by	Lars-Owe Carlberg
Written by	Ingmar Bergman
Starring	Max von Sydow Liv Ullmann Gertrud Fridh Georg Rydeberg Erland Josephson Ingrid Thulin
Music by	Lars Johan Werle
Cinematography	Sven Nykvist
Editing by	Ulla Ryghe
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	February 19, 1968 (Sweden)
Running time	90 min.
Country	Sweden
Language	Swedish

Hour of the Wolf (Swedish: Vargtimmen) is a 1968 Swedish psychological horror film starring Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann. It is Ingmar Bergman's only gothic horror film.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Production 3 Cast 4 DVD Releases 5 External links

[edit] Plot

Johan Borg (von Sydow) is a painter who is haunted by what seem to be demons. He only tells his wife Alma (Ullman) about them, and his fear makes him unable to sleep. He and Alma stay up during parts of the night, especially "The Hour of the Wolf", during which, it is said, most people either are born or die. In other scenes, we are shown examples of Borg's bizarre behaviour, which lead the viewer to question Borg's sanity.

Borg has given names to some of his demons, like "the birdman" or "the lady with the hat". He is approached by a baron, von Merkens (Josephson), who lives in a nearby castle. The painter and his wife Alma visit them and their strange household, but it is not clear whether or not they actually exist.

[edit] Production

Hour of the Wolf originated from a manuscript with the working title "The Maneaters". Bergman began work on it in the spring of 1965, during which time he suffered a minor nervous breakdown. In the end, the manuscript resulted in not one but two movies, Persona and Hour of the Wolf. Together with the former work, Hour of the Wolf is probably one of Bergman's most personal films, though almost all of his films have autobiographical elements. It is filmed as if it were a true story about an artist who has disappeared. The story of the artist and his life just before he vanishes is based on interviews with his wife, and on his diaries.

[edit] Cast

• Max von Sydow (Johan Borg)
• Liv Ullmann (Alma Borg)
• Gertrud Fridh (Corinne von Merkens)
• Georg Rydeberg (Lindhorst, archivist)
• Erland Josephson (Baron von Merkens)
• Naima Wifstrand (Old Lady with Hat)
• Ulf Johansson (Therapist Heerbrand)
• Gudrun Brost (Gamla Fru von Merkens)
• Bertil Anderberg (Ernst von Merkens)
• Ingrid Thulin (Veronica Vogler)
• Agda Helin (Von merken's maid) (uncredited)
• Lenn Hjortzberg (Musical leader) Kreisler (uncredited)
• Mikael Rundquist (Boy in dream) (uncredited)
• Mona Seilitz (Corpse in mortuary) (uncredited)
• Folke Sundquist (Tamino) (uncredited)

[edit] DVD Releases

In America MGM released Hour of the Wolf as a special edition but in the UK it has been released without even a trailer as a special feature. In both countries they have been released in a box set with Shame (film), The Passion of Anna, The Serpent's Egg and in the American release Persona (film) and a bonus disc.

[edit] External links

• Hour of the Wolf at the Internet Movie Database
• Hour of the Wolf at Allmovie

v • d • e The films of Ingmar Bergman 1940s Crisis (1946) • It Rains on Our Love (1946) • A Ship to India (1947) • Music in Darkness (1948) • Port of Call (1948) • Prison (1949) • Thirst (1949) 1950s To Joy (1950) • This Can't Happen Here (1950) • Summer Interlude (1951) • Secrets of Women (1952) • Summer with Monika (1953) • Sawdust and Tinsel (1953) • A Lesson in Love (1954) • Dreams (1955) • Smiles of a Summer Night (1955) • The Seventh Seal (1957) • Wild Strawberries (1957) • Brink of Life (1958) • The Magician (1958) 1960s The Virgin Spring (1960) • The Devil's Eye (1960) • Through a Glass Darkly (1961) • Winter Light (1962) • The Silence (1963) • All These Women (1964) • Persona (1966) • Hour of the Wolf (1968) • Shame (1968) • The Rite (1969) • The Passion of Anna (1969) 1970s Faro Document (1970) • The Touch (1971) • Cries and Whispers (1972) • Scenes from a Marriage (1973) • The Magic Flute (1975) • Face to Face (1976) • The Serpent's Egg (1977) • Autumn Sonata (1978) • Faro Document 1979 (1979) 1980s From the Life of the Marionettes (1980) • Fanny and Alexander (1982) • Karin's Face (1984) • 2000s Saraband (2003) TV plays Mr. Sleeman Is Coming (1957) • The Venetian (1958) • Rabies (1958) Storm Weather (1960) • A Dream Play (1963) • Don Juan (1965) • The Misanthrope (1974) • Hustruskolan (1983) • After the Rehearsal (1984) • De två saliga (1986) • Markisinnan de Sade (1992) • Backanterna (1993) • The Last Gasp (1995) • In the Presence of a Clown (1997) • The Image Makers (2000)

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