Smiles of a Summer NightFeature Film, 1955 Turn of the century comedy about passion, jealousy and pride, which became Bergman's international breakthrough."The poor imagination of a spotty youth, the insolent dreams of an immature heart and a boundless contempt for artistic and human truth are the forces which have created this 'comedy'. I am ashamed to have seen it." - Olof Lagercrantz in Dagens Nyheter |
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"As for Smiles of a Summer Night, the situation was simply that I needed another success. Journey into Autumn [Dreams] had gone to hell and I had to attach myself again to SF. It was one of the most difficult periods in my life. For a couple of years I'd been producer at Malmö City Theater, the Harriet period was over, and I'd promised Carl-Anders Dymling that my next film wouldn't be a tragedy. He'd also intimated that if it was to be a serious piece, well then I hardly need bother my head about making a film that summer. I needed money, so I thought it wiser tom make a comedy." (Bergman on Bergman)