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IMDb > Ansiktet (1958)
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Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   1,686 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 15% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ingmar Bergman
Writer:
Ingmar Bergman (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Magician on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 August 1959 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Into the Nether-World! You'll Gasp At This Occult Hypnotic Experience Into the Supernatural! more
Plot:
When 'Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater' comes to town, there's bound to be a spectacle. Reading reports... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
Religious symbolism in Ansiktet (The Magician) more

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Max von Sydow ... Albert Emanuel Vogler
Ingrid Thulin ... Manda Vogler (alias Mr. Aman)
Gunnar Björnstrand ... Dr. Vergerus, Minister of Health
Naima Wifstrand ... Granny Vogler
Bengt Ekerot ... Johan Spegel
Bibi Andersson ... Sara Lindqvist
Gertrud Fridh ... Ottilia Egerman
Lars Ekborg ... Simson, the coach driver
Toivo Pawlo ... Police Superintendant Starbeck
Erland Josephson ... Consul Egerman
Åke Fridell ... Tubal
Sif Ruud ... Sofia Garp
Oscar Ljung ... Antonsson, burly stableman
Ulla Sjöblom ... Henrietta Starbeck
Axel Düberg ... Rustan, young manservant
Birgitta Pettersson ... Sanna
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Leif Furhammar
Arne Martensson ... Customs officer
Frithiof Bjärne ... Border Officer (uncredited)
Tor Borong ... Border Officer (uncredited)
Harry Schein ... Customs officer (uncredited)
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Directed by
Ingmar Bergman 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Ingmar Bergman  writer

Produced by
Allan Ekelund .... producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Erik Nordgren 
 
Cinematography by
Gunnar Fischer 
 
Film Editing by
Oscar Rosander 
 
Production Design by
P.A. Lundgren 
 
Costume Design by
Greta Johansson 
Manne Lindholm 
 
Makeup Department
Börje Lundh .... makeup artist
Nils Nittel .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Carl-Henry Cagarp .... studio production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gösta Ekman .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Karl-Arne Bergman .... property master (as Karl Arne Bergman)
 
Sound Department
Åke Hansson .... sound
Aaby Wedin .... sound
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Rolf Holmquist .... assistant camera
 
Music Department
Eskil Eckert-Lundin .... conductor (as E. Eckert-Lundin)
 
Other crew
Katinka Faragó .... script supervisor (as Katherina Faragó)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Face (UK)
The Magician (USA)
Le visage (Belgium: French title) (France) [fr]
O Rosto (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Ansigtet (Denmark) [da]
Das Gesicht (West Germany) [de]
El mago (Argentina) [es]
El rostro (Spain) [es]
Het gelaat (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Il volto (Italy) [it]
Kasvot (Finland) [fi]
O anthropos me ta 2 prosopa (Greece) [el]
Twarz (Poland) [pl]
more
Runtime:
100 min | UK:107 min
Country:
Sweden
Language:
Swedish
Sound Mix:
AGA Sound System
Certification:
Finland:K-16 | UK:PG (video rating) (2001) | UK:X

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The character name Vergerus is one that recurs throughout Bergman's work and is generally associated with lack of emotion and heartlessness. more
Quotes:
Johan Spegel: I've prayed one prayer in my life: Use me, O God! But He never understood what a devoted slave I'd have been. So I was never used... But that too is a lie. Step by step you go into the dark. The movement itself is the only truth. more

FAQ

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful:-
Religious symbolism in Ansiktet (The Magician), 5 September 2006
9/10
Author: yabullar from United States

Most of Ingmar Bergman's films are meant to titillate the intellect. The Magician is no exception. It is rich with symbolism. I think it ranks right up there with "Death in Venice" on the list of misunderstood movies.

I believe the most rewarding level of meaning in "The Magician" is the religious one. Bergman was often concerned with the implications of religious beliefs. And almost always from the attitude of doubt. Consider the lines in The Seventh Seal where the vicious monk, annoyed with the knight's persistence, asks, "Will you never stop asking questions?" and the knight replies resolutely, "No. Never."

Watching this movie with the idea of Vogler as Jesus provides a perspective that informs the characters and their conduct. This melancholy magician, doubted and persecuted by the powerful, surrounded by strange and suspicious persons, is simultaneously visionary and earthy flesh and blood. He only wants to perform his miracles for the masses. Or is he a charlatan? What a powerful way to pose that question.

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Janus Films 35MM Print KC MudFlapp
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'Vergerus' cruzlee
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