TheLittleSongbird Review of Sawdust and Tinsel

Sawdust and Tinsel (1953)

Along with Summer with Monika, one of the best of Bergman's early films

[10/10 · 9 November 2012]

While not quite one of Ingmar Bergman's best, it comes very close. It is a very professional-looking film, with many memorable images and Sven Nykvist's truly beautiful cinematography. The music also has a haunting quality to it, which fitted with the visuals perfectly. Combined with Bergman's superb direction, a pessimistic yet powerful story complete with very truthfully written and acted flashbacks, very compellingly real characters- they're not necessarily likable nor were they intended to be- and a very thought-provoking script Sawdust and Tinsel has so many good things about it. And then we have the acting, Gunnar Bjornstrand, Anders Ak, Ake Gronberg and especially Harriet Anderssen are all outstanding, Bjornstrand and Anderssen were regulars in Bergman's films and it is easy to see why. So overall, one of the best of Bergman's early films in my opinion. 10/10 Bethany Cox