Media gallery for
High Tension

The film shoot was a miserable affair. Signe Hasso (Vera Irmelin), brought in to add a bit of Hollywood glamour to the production, was depressed and heavily medicated.

It was Ulf Palme, not Ebbe R, who ended up shouldering the role of Atkä Natas.

At night, Vera (Signe Hasso) stabs Natas (Ulf Palme) with a syringe filled with anesthetic and steals the secret documents.

Signe Hasso (Vera Irmelin) had not appeared in a Swedish film since the beginning of the 1940s.

Vera (Signe Hasso) has married Natas (Ulf Palme) in order to protect her parents, but Atkä tells her that he has reported them. Subsequently, they have been deported.

Police superintendent, Almkvist’s (Alf Kjellin) feelings for Vera (Signe Hasso) are revived.

Björn (Alf Kjellin) and Vera (Signe Hasso).

Instead of arresting her for murder, Björn (Alf Kjellin) takes Vera (Signe Hasso) to his home in a suburb.

"Few of my films do I feel ashamed of or detest for various reasons. This can’t happen here was the first one; I completed it accompanied by violent inner opposition. The other is The Touch."

Refugees from areas occupied by Liquidatzia, have fled to Sweden. A group has gathered to celebrate a wedding. Among the participants is the young forensic chemist Vera (Signe Hasso).

A large police operation descends on the harbor, and the boat is searched under the direction of Almkvist (Alf Kjellin). Thanks to a small dog Vera is found, tied up in a lifeboat.

Almkvist (Alf Kjellin) recalls the name of a boat the agents have talked about: MROFNIMOK GADYN.

Under protests from the captain, Björn (Alf Kjellin) brings Vera (Signe Hasso) back to Sweden, arguing that she is suspected of attempted murder.

In the UK the film was released in early 1953 under the title High Tension; in Germany it was released in 1959 as Menschenjagd.

Atkä Natas (Ulf Palme) and Björn Almkvist (Alf Kjellin).

Natas (Ulf Palme) manages to trick Björn (Alf Kjellin), and take away both his service pistol and the portfolio with the secret documents.

Vera (Signe Hasso) and Björn (Alf Kjellin).

The agents kidnap Vera (Signe Hasso).

When Natas (Ulf Palme) comes to, he is forced to admit, under torture, that he has lost the secret documents. He is ordered to retrieve them and to neutralise Vera (Signe Hasso).

Shooting schedule.

In Bergman’s shooting script, Bergman has made a small addition about Atkä Natas in the margin of cast list: ’It did not end up being Ebbe R. He was a world federalist and did not want to be part of a movie that took aim at any one country or world view. Yuck said the count!’

Swedish poster for High Tension.

Trapped on the footbridge by the Katarina Elevator, Natas (Ulf Palme) chooses to throw himself off the bridge rather than be arrested.