Hour of the Wolf

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This article is not about the WBAI Radio show, Hour of the Wolf.

Hour of the Wolf

Directed by	Ingmar Bergman
Produced by	Lars-Owe Carlberg
Written by	Ingmar Bergman
Starring	Max von Sydow Liv Ullmann Gertrud Fridh Georg Rydeberg Erland Josephson Ingrid Thulin
Release date(s)	February 19, 1968 (Sweden)
Running time	90 min.
Language	Swedish
IMDb profile

Vargtimmen (Hour of the Wolf) is a Swedish film from 1968. It is Ingmar Bergman's only horror film. (Hour of the Wolf) originated from a manuscript with the working title "The Maneaters". Bergman started working on it in the spring of 1965, during which time he suffered a minor nervous breakdown. In the end, the manuscript resulted in not one but two movies, Persona and Hour of the Wolf. Together with the former movie, Hour of the Wolf is probably one of Bergman's most personal films, though he deals with himself in one way or another in almost all of his movies. It is filmed as a documentary about an artist who has disappeared. The story of the artist and his life just before his vanishing is based on interviews with his wife, and on his diaries.

Johan Borg (von Sydow) is a painter who is haunted by what seem to be demons. He tells only his wife Alma (Ullman) about them, and the fear makes him unable to sleep. He and Alma stay up during parts of the night, especially "The Hour of the Wolf", during which, it is said, most people are either born or die. In other scenes, we are shown examples of Borg's bizarre behaviour, which lead us to question his sanity. We are given no clear answers, however.

Borg has given names to some of his demons, like "the birdman" or "the lady with the hat". During the film, he is also approached by a baron, von Merkens (Josephson), who lives at a castle nearby. The painter and his wife Alma visit them and their strange household. But are they real or not?

As he has done in previous movies, Bergman once more discusses the role of the artist and the problems he faces. Hour of the Wolf is a rather demanding film, though not as demanding as the highly modernist Persona.

[edit] Cast

Max von Sydow (Johan Borg)
Liv Ullmann (Alma Borg)
Gertrud Fridh (Corinne von Merkens)
Georg Rydeberg (Lindhorst, archivist)
Erland Josephson (Baron von Merkens)
Naima Wifstrand (Old Lady with Hat)
Ulf Johansson (Therapist Heerbrand)
Gudrun Brost (Gamla Fru von Merkens)
Bertil Anderberg (Ernst von Merkens)
Ingrid Thulin (Veronica Vogler)

[edit] rest of cast listed alphabetically

Agda Helin (Von merken's maid) (uncredited)
Lenn Hjortzberg (Musical leader) Kreisler (uncredited)
Mikael Rundquist (Boy in dream) (uncredited)
Mona Seilitz (Corpse in mortuary) (uncredited)
Folke Sundquist (Tamino) (uncredited)

Films by Ingmar Bergman

Crisis • A Ship to India • Summer with Monika • Smiles of a Summer Night • The Seventh Seal • Wild Strawberries • The Magician • The Virgin Spring • Through a Glass Darkly • Winter Light • The Silence • All These Women • Persona • Hour of the Wolf • Skammen • The Rite • The Passion of Anna • The Touch • Cries and Whispers • Scenes from a Marriage • The Magic Flute • Face to Face • The Serpent's Egg • Autumn Sonata • From the Life of the Marionettes • Fanny and Alexander • Karin's Face • After the Rehearsal • In the Presence of a Clown • Saraband