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Sawdust and Tinsel (1953)

Gycklarnas afton (original title)
Not Rated | | Drama | 9 April 1956 (USA)
The complicated relationships between a circus ringmaster, his estranged wife and his lover.

Director:

Ingmar Bergman
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
Åke Grönberg ... Albert Johansson
Harriet Andersson ... Anne
Hasse Ekman ... Frans
Anders Ek ... Frost
Gudrun Brost ... Alma
Annika Tretow ... Agda
Erik Strandmark Erik Strandmark ... Jens
Gunnar Björnstrand ... Mr. Sjuberg
Curt Löwgren Curt Löwgren ... Blom
Kiki Kiki ... The Dwarf
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Storyline

While traveling in caravan through the country of Sweden, one member of the decadent Alberti Circus tells the owner and ringmaster Albert Johansson a sad story about the clown Frost: seven years ago, his wife Alma was surprised by him bathing naked in a lake with a regiment. When the circus arrives in the town where Albert's wife Agda and sons live, he decides to pay a visit with his young mistress Anne to a famous local troupe to borrow some capes, hats and vests for their tonight show. They are humiliated by the director Mr. Sjuberg, but he lends the pieces, and the lead actor Frans gives an unsuccessful pass on Anne. When Albert decides to visit Agda, the jealous Anne meets Frans, who seduces her with an apparently valuable necklace, and they have a love affair. Anne finds that the necklace is actually worthless and returns to the circus. Meanwhile, Agda refuses to accept Albert back and he sees Anne leaving the theater and going to the jewelry. During the exhibition, Albert and ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

DESPERATELY they fought the desires, the passions that dragged them down deeper and deeper into... "The Naked Night" See more »

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

9 April 1956 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Sawdust and Tinsel See more »

Filming Locations:

Arild, Skåne län, Sweden See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sandrews See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

After the economic debacle of "Gycklarnas Afton", produced by Sandrews, Bergman returned to SF, Svensk Filmindustri. See more »

Quotes

Anne: I can crack nuts with my teeth too.
Frans: Now I'm scared.
See more »

Alternate Versions

A scene in the first half of the film, in which the circus troupe parades into town to publicize their show, is unaccountably missing from the American version. In this scene, one furthering the film's theme of humiliation, the local police confiscate the performers' horses, which forces them to pull the heavy wagons back to their camp themselves. See more »

Connections

Featured in Great Directors (2009) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Masterpiece
23 July 2012 | by zetesSee all my reviews

Another one of Ingmar Bergman's best films, this one involves a shoddy, flea-bitten circus early in the 20th Century. Ake Gronberg is the ringleader and Harriet Andersson his young, beautiful second wife. The failing circus arrives in the town where Gronberg left his first wife, who has since become a successful shop owner, and two sons. While he's away visiting them, Andersson, who (rightly) believes he is trying to dump her for a comfortable home life, sneaks off to the local theater, hoping she can hook up with an actor and leave the circus herself. This film is a constant stream of humiliation - but, as cruel as it gets, it never feels like Bergman is mocking these characters. They are quite likable, as pathetic as they are, and you suffer along with them. It's pretty much a perfect film. Shot for shot, I am in awe of it. And each performance is one for the ages. Anders Ek in particular is memorable as a rubber-faced, alcoholic clown. A flashback near the beginning of the film where he humiliates himself to protect his wife from the leering of soldiers (which she gladly invites) is one of the most gruelling sequences in the cinema - and yet it's only the beginning.


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