The cinematic genius who famously made a game of death on screen has been bested by the Grim Reaper at last -- but he leaves behind an astonishing body of work.

The 7th Seal is definitely a classic. I also like the nightmare sequence in his film called Wild Strawberries. Beyond these films, I am not that familiar with Ingmar's work.

In some of his obituaries, I've read that there is one film of his that is like a horror film called "Hour of the Wolf". It's about an artist who has nightmares about getting stuck on an island inhabited by demons. I'd like to see this film sometime. Has anyone seen this film before?

Another arthouse legend passes
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/film/2007/07/first_ingmar_bergman_now_michelangelo_antonioni.ht ml

TCM has amended it's regularly scheduled programing tonight. They will instead be airing a broadcast of THE DICK CAVETT SHOW featuring Ingmar Bergman followed by THE SEVENTH SEAL.

Check the link: http://www.tcm.com/schedule/index.jsp?startDate=07/31/2007&timezone=MST&cid=N

- GJS

He was great in Casablanca.

He was great in Casablanca.

You don't know how hard I kept restraining myself from saying that!

- GJS ; ^ )

In some of his obituaries, I've read that there is one film of his that is like a horror film called "Hour of the Wolf". It's about an artist who has nightmares about getting stuck on an island inhabited by demons. I'd like to see this film sometime. Has anyone seen this film before?

I've seen it, and it's in my collection.

It's a great horror movie.

I vividly recall one sequence from it that I had originally seen as a child while watching the Academy Awards that year. The ceremony used to have a lot more lengthy film clips for all nominees, and in this case they were showing the clips from the Best Foreign Film nominees. In Ingmar's film clip, an old woman is sitting in a stark room with the protagonist (played by Max Von Sydow), who watches in horror as she very quietly proceeds to pull the skin of her wrinkled face, ripping i completely off, and then dropping her popped out eyeballs into a glass of water on the table in front of him.

At my tender age of 9, it was very disturbing.

I love Bergman and have watched several of his films more than once and will continue to do so. A giant.

One movie eveyone should see is THE VIRGIN SPRING. Not only is it a great movie and one of Bergman's most accessible, but it is the perfect arguement against everyone who complains about remakes, rip-offs, or even movies that have some elements similiar to another movie. Or those who judge movies solely on their plot or subject matter. THE VIRGIN SPRING has the same basic plot as countless revenge-themed exploitation movies, but Bergman turned it into a work of art. It is all about the execution.

I saw that one years ago. It's great.

The Seventh Seal is probably still my favorite of this works. Great filmmaker.

If imitation and parody are the sincerest form of flattery, Mr. Bergman must have felt flattered on numerous occasions. If you haven't seen it, check out the spot-on parody short The Dove — De Düva (1968), with mock-Swedish dialogue laced with freshman Latin and Yiddish, and featuring a young Madeline Kahn as a lesbian!

"The Dove" video download (http://bloggerhosting.com/thedove/thedove.html)

And the cult classic Incubus (yes, THAT Incubus, the one in Esperanto starring the Shat-Man) was obviously influenced by Bergman's early work.

And let's not forget those Bris soap commercials...

http://slatev.com/player.html?id=1127687094

Gruffydd,
I ordered a copy of The Hour of the Wolf.
Thanks for the info.
Roland

I watched the Dick Cavett interview, but the tape I used was shorter than normal and only recorded half of The Seventh Seal! X#%X@&!!!

So you only got three and a half seals?

Here ya go! ;)

The guy with the club must be Death.

I saw the movie the other night. It definitely has some memorable scenes with the elderly lady removing her face, the guy who walks up the wall, the sex humilation scene, and the vampire-like scenes. But, I thought movie wasn't really that scary. Watching the man go insane was kind of boring. Liv Ullman is pretty attractive, though. She was pregnant with Ingmar Bergman's baby when she made this film.

One of my faves - Cries And Whispers.

I just can't believe he died on my birthday...along with Walsh...:-(

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Fanny & Alexander. It's a beautiful love letter of a film, and certainly one of Bergman's most accessible.