Prästänkan (1920)

Director:

Carl Theodor Dreyer

Writers:

Kristofer Janson (story)
Carl Theodor Dreyer (adaptation)

Release Date:

4 October 1920 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A young man is elected by a small village to be its parson. As part of his duties, he is required to marry the widow of the parson before him...

Plot Keywords:

Waterfall | Nursing Back To Health | Dancing | Drunkenness | Wedding

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)

Distributors

• Magnus Opus (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)

Also Known As:

The Witch Woman (International: English title) (USA)
The Fourth Marriage of Dame Margaret
The Parson's Widow
Youth to Youth
A Quarta Aliança da Sra. Margarida (Brazil) [pt]
Die Pastorenwitwe (Germany) [de]
La quatrième alliance de Dame Marguerite (France) [fr]
La vedova del pastore (Italy) [it]
Papinleski (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

USA:71 min (2003 alternate version)

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish | 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)

A Better Beginning

I haven't seen Carl Theodor Dreyer's directorial début, 'The President' ('Præsidenten'). I've seen 'Leaves from Satan's Book' ('Blade af Satans Bog'), however, and it was totally unimpressive. Dreyer took from Griffith's 'Intolerance,' but didn't even manage a simulacrum of the craft of Griffith. 'The Parson's Widow' is a much better beginning for Denmark's great filmmaker. It is the work of a director coming into his own, even though it's much different in some ways from his other films.

As with 'Leaves from Satan's Book' and his later films, there's the preoccupation with history and religion. But, as others agree, this is Dreyer light. The story of a man who must marry a hag to become a village's parson, and his plots to marry his young fiancée and keep the job despite it is amusing. I thought the devil costume bit was particularly humorous. Dreyer's direction is what makes this worthwhile, though. The quick pace, not lingering on shots and improved camera positioning compared to 'Leaves from Satan's Book' make this film more accessible and entertaining.

Dreyer again uses masking and fades extensively, but this time it adds to the style. He gets the most out of the actors. (It shouldn't be underestimated how quicker shot succession can improve, or detract from, otherwise unremarkable acting.) Additionally, the introduction to the past through the waterfall was an especially nice touch. The confining location sets, and more importantly, how Dreyer and cinematographer George Schnéevoigt film them also add greatly to this tightly told film. The small church full of dividers is just a great find, and they use the spaces of the home of the parson's wife very well, with camera placement and continuity editing.