Prästänkan (1920)

Director:

Carl Theodor Dreyer

Writers:

Kristofer Janson (story)
Carl Theodor Dreyer (adaptation)

Release Date:

4 October 1920 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Farm | Fiancee | Horse | Guilt | Accident

Cast

Greta Almroth	...	Mari
Einar Röd	...	Söfren
Hildur Carlberg	...	Margarete Pedersdotter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Olav Aukrust	...	First Candidate
Emil Helsengreen	...	The Gardener
Mathilde Nielsen	...	Gunvor
Lorentz Thyholt	...	The Beadle
Kurt Welin	...	Second Candidate

Directed by
Carl Theodor Dreyer

Writing credits
Kristofer Janson		(story "Prestekonen")
Carl Theodor Dreyer		(adaptation)

Cinematography by
George Schnéevoigt

Editorial Department
Bret Hampton	....	editor: video (2003 alternate version)

Music Department
Neal Kurz	....	music compiler: Edvard Grieg's works (2003 alternate version)
Neal Kurz	....	musician (2003 alternate version)

Other crew
David H. Shepard	....	video producer (2003 alternate version) (as David Shepard)
Jan Wahl	....	titles: English titles (2003 alternate version)

Production Companies

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Also Known As:

The Witch Woman (International: English title) (USA)
The Fourth Marriage of Dame Margaret
The Parson's Widow
Youth to Youth
Papinleski (Finland) [fi]
Pastorenwitwe, Die (Germany) [de]
Quatrième alliance de Dame Marguerite, La (France) [fr]
Vedova del pastore, La (Italy) [it]

Runtime:

USA:71 min (2003 alternate version)

Country:

Sweden | Denmark

Language:

Danish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:TV-14 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Lillehammer, Norway

Company:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood" (1995)

Imagine "Day of Wrath" directed by Chaplin...

The name Carl Theodor Dreyer may inspire images of slow pans, heavy religious/mystical themes, and somnolent pacing, but it was not always thus. During his apprenticeship at Nordisk in the early '20's Dreyer scripted, edited, and directed all kinds of films. "The Parson's Widow" anticipates themes in the mature Dreyer, namely religion and carnality, but cloaks them in an agreeable, fast-paced (for Dreyer!) silent comedy.

A young parson wins a plum parish in 17th century Norway, but is obliged to marry the widow of his deceased predecessor and pretend his attractive young fiancee is his sister. Dreyer milks the situation for gags but goes for a sentimental finish a la Charlot. The master's touch is apparent in the close-ups of the pastor's would-be rivals and parishioners and a slow pan presaging the 360-degree views in "Vampyr." Amazingly, HIldur Carlsburg in the title role closely resembles Maurice Schutz, the old chatelain in "Vampyr," and the mother-in-law in "Day of Wrath."

All in all, a good film. But it is hard to believe that the director of this pleasant work could produce "La Passion de Jeanne D'Arc" just 6 years later.