Ok back to Bergman and this one's a comedy. As I mentioned he made a few and 1955's Smiles of a Summer Night is important for a few reasons. His earlier films weren't big hits in Sweden and his producer wanted one or his contract would be canceled. His troubling lovelife also led him to depression so he decided to write a comedy. And what a comedy! This film became an international success that established his reputation and allowed him complete freedom in selecting his future projects. He followed this one with The Seventh Seal and other great films.
This is one of the wittiest comedies ever made and full of sly humor and sight gags. The plot evolves around four mismatched couples in 1901 Sweden. An older man hasn't consummated his marriage to a younger woman and seeks advice from his former mistress, an actress. His son is unlucky in his pursuit of their sexy maid. A countess wants to win back her husband's love but he's involved with the actress who decides to fix their problems when she invites everyone to a party at her mother's estate. As if all this isn't complicated enough, their problems become more convoluted but things do work out well for everyone but not as you or they expect in this Battle of the Sexes.
This Criterion edition is another winner but no with English dubbed soundtrack. There's not a lot of subtitles and they are amusing. Combining them with the players' expressions makes for an enjoyable romp. You don't get comedies as classy and stylish as this one so enjoy a glass of good wine while you savor the humor and period decor. As I mentioned in an earlier entry, Woody Allen, a huge Bergman fan, used Smiles as the basis for his A Midsummer's Sex Comedy. Here's a trailer that gives you an idea of the plot but it's nowhere as rewarding as watching the film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suMQZRAOivo
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