Ingmar Bergman’s extensive output includes around 60 films for cinema and TV, 172 theatre productions, INGMAR BERGMAN and approximately 300 writings. Image: © TT Nyhetsbyrån Image: © Ingmar Bergman Foundation Image: © Ingmar Bergman Foundation 1918 1929 1938 1941 The second of three children, It all started with puppet theatre, In 1938, Bergman started wor- Bergman’s reputation grew, Ernst Ingmar Bergman was with which Bergman began to k at and when one of Sweden’s born on 14 July 1918 in Uppsala experiment at the age of 11, the theatre Mäster Olofsgården foremost children’s theatres, north of Stockholm. His father and which he developed to a in Stockholm. His first pro- Sagoteatern (Swedish for fairy- was Erik Bergman, a conserv- highly sophisticated extent duction was Sutton Vane’s tale theatre), opened up in ative parish minister with strict prior to his entry into ‘real’ Outward Bound. ‘Death is no 1941 and staged plays at Stock- ideas of parenting. His mother theatre in the late 1930s. liberator’ Bergman wrote in holm’s Civic Centre, Bergman was Right from the outset Bergman the programme notes for his was chosen as its head. The Karin Bergman, a qualified was inspired by his house gods, amateur debut, in which he first play he directed was The nurse. In many contexts Berg- Alf Sjöberg and Olof Molander, also played a part as death’s Tinder Box. In total, Bergman man has whose production of A Dream henchman. Rumours about staged seven productions at spoken of his upbringing as Play (1935) Bergman described Bergman’s rigorous rehearsal the Civic Centre. strict, with occasional moments as ‘the bedrock of all theatre regime, his loose language and of tenderness, intimacy and experiences’. Alongside his violent tempers quickly spread, love. puppet theatre, at this time he giving rise to the nickname that also made up ‘film’ stories with stuck with him throughout his the laterna magica his brother career, the ‘demon director’. had received for Christmas, but which Bergman took hold of through a trade. Beppo the Clown, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Death of Punch, Little Red Riding Hood, Torment Sniggel Snuggel/The Three Stupidities The Ascheberg Widow at Wittskövle, Encounter with Punch, The Tinder Box, The Tinder Box, MOVIE [Notes on Katinka] A Midsummer When the Devil [Workbook No 5], Night’s Dream, Makes an Offer, [Workbook No 6], THEATRE The Ghost Sonata, The Hotel Room Crisis, [Workbook No 7], In Bethlehem, The Father, Macbeth, It Rains on Our Lov [Workbook No 56], WRITINGS The Merchant of Venice, Bluebird Little Red Riding Hood, Caligula, [The Adventures of Woman Without a Face, The Hangman/ Hans Christian Andersen The Gambling Hall/ Rachel and the Macbeth, Punch and the Libertine Geography and Love, A Ship to India The Golden Chariot, play in Stockholm! in the Countryside], Mr Sleeman Cometh Cinema Doorman, The Pelican, Niels Ebbesen, The Day Ends Early, The Man Who [Notes on The Father], A Confession, or, School, a 12-year hell, Requiem, Swanwhite, Afraid to Live, Just Before Awakening, The Dutchman, LivedTwice, [Notes on The Torment: Knife on a boil, Summer The Black Glove, Ghost Sonata], [The Death of Jack The Fun Fair, Playing with Fire, Autumn Rhapsody/ A short tale about one of Jacobowsky and Farewell interview, the Ripper], The Romantics, The Hour-Glass/ [The Circus], U-boat 39, Jack the Ripper’s earliest the Colonel, Magic, Encounter, The Pot of Broth, [I’m getting worn out, childhood memories, Christmas/Advent, [Engineer Holm’s house], When the Devil Kriss-Krass-Filibom: Unto My Fear, thought Punch], About filming a play, An evening of cabaret Return, Makes an Offer, A kind of dedication, New Year’s Cabaret, Episode, The Waves [Punch got a Probably a genius, for the entire family, The Melody A Beautiful Rose [On Rabies], The Pelican, [Through the Christmas tree], The best novelette, Lucky Per’s Journey that Disappeared [Workbook No 13], open window], Jack Among the Actors, [Workbook No 11], Rabies, The Death of Punch, The magic country fair, On ‘Lucky Per’s Journey’, Our Town, [Workbook No 14], [How long has she [‘The Travelling Com- [Notes on [Workbook No 49], Reduce Morals, In Grandmother’s House, [Workbook No 3], A Fairy Tale, been like this], panion’: Bergman’s Niels Ebbesen], It Rains on Our Love, adaptation], [Little street in a mining The Legend A year’s repertory has Ruth, [Workbook No 4] [A scene from [Workbook No 8], town: a complete scene], The comedy come to an end, To the Audience! [Beppo Wish List, the Punch Family], about Jenny, Three centipede feet, Events, the Clown], [Workbook No 9], Torment, [Notes on In Bethlehem], [Notes from on location], [‘Kärringbroö,’ read The Puzzle [Everyone forgets Experimental theatre!, To the Audience![Red [The mist], Autumnal Thoughts, [Workbook No 48], the notice board by Riding Hood], [Workbook No 12], Represents Eros, one factor…], Experimental theatre... the bridge.], The Fourth Story of [Now Joakim knows that The keys of the A Glimpse into Rachel and the Cinema [This drama plays again, Tivoli: Five Scenes, or Matheus Manders, Puma’s been drinking], Kingdom of Heaven, [Speech on the Future, Doorman: A Play in out on stage], Outward Bound some of them, or, About a Murderer, [Notes on Lucky children’s theatre], Conversation between Three Acts, The Hunchback Dream in July, The Drama of Paul, [Workbook No 1], Per’s Journey], [Draft, 1940’s], The Novella, a head of finance and a of Notre Dame, [Welcoming speech Swedish film and [Workbook No 2], Theatrics in town, The Opera, theatre manager, Marie My Child Is Mine, Not just to entertain, Particular central features The art of for the premiere of On Why the Gangster theatre: Collaboration in Selma Lagerlöf’s writing [On Outward Bound] The Tivoli cinema viewing The Tinder Box] The Lonely Writes Poetry We have to do Macbeth! [On Reduce Morals] or opposition A Ship to India 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 Image: © Lennart Nilsson / TT Image: © Skå-rep / TT Image: © Bonniers Hylen Image:© Lennart Nilsson 1944 1946 1953 1957 1960 When Bergman took over as Bergman debuted as a film Cinematographer Sven Nykvist One of Bergman’s most well- In 1960, Bergman was nominat- head of the Helsingborg City director with Crisis. ‘But this shot the interiors for Bergman’s known films,The Seventh Seal, ed Theatre at the age of 26, he first shooting day was the first film Sawdust and Tinsel, pulling premiered. Bergman said about for his first Academy Award. became the youngest head one in my cinematic life. I had off an amazing 180-degree the production: ‘It’s better to do He would be nominated for of a major theatre in Europe. made meticulous preparations. pan of Åke Grönberg holding this than a bad comedy. I don’t eight more. Though he never Having recently lost its state Every scene was carefully a pistol. It was the first time give a damn about the money.’ won one for best director or funding, the theatre itself was thought out, every camera they collaborated, and the shot Four other films were released best writer, three of his films on the brink of ruin. His task was angle prepared. In theory I made such an impression on that same year, with Bergman won the Academy Award to bring back the audiences, knew exactly what I wanted Bergman that he is reputed as director, writer or co-writer. for Best Foreign Language and consequently, the rep- to do. In reality, everything to have said that he wanted The Seventh Seal won the Jury Film: The Virgin Spring, 1960, ertoire became ‘shamelessly went straight to hell.’ Nykvist for all his films going Special Prize at Cannes and was Through a Glass Darkly, 1961, populist’, according to Bergman forward. For production com- nominated for the Palm d’Or. and Fanny and Alexander, himself. One year later, the pany reasons, Nykvist did not 1983. The latter took home theatre had its state funding resume work with Bergman four Academy Awards out of restored. The same year, 1944, until The Virgin Spring in 1960. six nominations. His films also he wrote his first film script, generated Academy Awards Torment. As there was no formal for his colleague Sven Nykvist, education for filmmaking, who received awards as Best Bergman learned by partici- Cinematographer on the pating on and off the film set. Bergman-directed films Cries and Whispers and Fanny and Alexander. Summer with Monika, Sawdust and Tinsel Last Couple Out Summer Interlude, A Caprice, Mr Sleeman Is Coming, Music in Darkness, Divorced, A Lesson in Love The Poor Bride, The Seventh Seal, The Venetian, Waiting Women The Dutchman, Port of Call, Bris Soap Commercial The Apple-Tree Table, Everyman, Wild Strawberries, Rabies, Blood Wedding, Unto My Fear, Eve Erik XIV, The Rose Tattoo, The Merry Widow, The Minister of Uddarbo, Brink of Life, There Are Crimes Six Characters in Dancing on the Pier, Grandmother Light in the Shack, and Crimes, Search of an Author, Twilight Games, Dreams, Night Light and Our Lord, The Magician Come Up Empty, To Joy, The Country Girl, The Day Ends Early, The Castle The Ghost Sonata, Smiles of a Cheaters, The Devil’s Eye, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, He Who Has Nothing, Lodolezzi Sings, Prison, High Tension, Summer Night Through a Glass Darkly, Summer, The Restless Heart, [Workbook No 15], Wood Painting The Prisoner, Storm, Portrait of a Madonna, The Legend, Macbeth, Thirst While the City Sleeps The Ball, Pleasure Garden The City, The Crown Bride, Pages from a Non- The making of film, The Misanthrope, The Virgin Spring The Tunnel, Ur-Faust, Mother Love, The Restless Heart, A Shadow/Medea, Existent Diary,