The Phantom Carriage

(1921)

114 minutes

Horror / Fantasy / Romance / Silent

Directed by Victor Sjöström

Cast:

Victor Sjöström as David Holm

Hilda Borgström as Mrs. Holm

Tore Svennberg as Georges

Astrid Holm as Edit

Concordia Selander as Edit's Mother

Lisa Lundholm as Maria

Tor Weijden as Gustafsson

Einar Axelsson as David's Brother

Olof Ås as Driver

Nils Aréhn as Prison Chaplain

Simon Lindstrand as David's Companion

Nils Elffors as David's Companion

Algot Gunnarsson as Worker

Hildur Lithman as Worker's wife

John Ekman as Police constable

It's New Year's Eve. Three drunks conjure a myth. The myth is about what will happen to the last person’s death in a year. If he happens to be one who sinned a lot, for an entire year he will have to drive the Phantom Chariot. His duties will include picking up the souls of the dead. What will happen to one of the drunks, David Holm, for he dies right at midnight?

The Phantom Carriage is an awe-inspiring and artistic silent movie, with phenomenal special effects for a movie of its time. The audience gets a good sense of what the characters are all about. There is a confusing part of the story when it is known that Sister Edit is in love with David Holm. How could a knowledgeable woman love a man who has done wrong to others? She must see something in him that others may not.