KVINNAS ANSIKTE EN (A WOMAN’S FACE)
Sweden, 1938, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Ingrid Bergman, Tore Svennberg.
Directed by Gustaf Molander.
A Woman’s Face is one of two films that Gustaf Molander made in Sweden with Ingrid Bergman. He made Intermezzo with her in 1936. It was her ticket to the United States and a remake of Intermezzo with Leslie Howard. The remake of A Woman’s Face was with George Cukor directing Joan Crawford.
This is a melodrama full of plot turns and twists. The child Anna has burnt her face, this has destroyed her appearance, she is mean and bitter. She becomes involved in blackmail with a group. However, after finding a plastic surgeon who renews her face, she changes her life to become a nanny. However, the group conspires against her…
Gustaf Molander was involved in film direction from 1920 continuing through till 1960 when he spent the 1960s working in Swedish television. All his productions were in Sweden.
It is, of course, interesting to see Ingrid Bergman in her early twenties in one of her earliest roles.
1. A Swedish production? Of the 30s? In comparison with films made by other industries at the time? A film of Ingrid Bergman?
2. The thriller conversations, a world of sophistication? The town, homes? The period from the early 20th century to the 30s? Black and white photography? The score?
3. The title, the focus on Anna, on her face and its disfigurement? On the plastic surgery and the change?
4. Anna as a child, tough, Ingrid Bergman in the role? The effect of the burning? Her disfigured face? Her growing up, her bitterness? Her joining the group? The irony of discovering the plastic surgeon? The surgery? The thief? Her disappearance with her beautiful face? The doctor and his help? Her giving the letters back? The open ending?
5. The blackmailing group, the waiter, the woman and the letters, the lover, appointments, confrontations? Anna and her place within the group?
6. Anna and her new job, the wealthy man? Her meeting the nice young man? Caring for the boy? Caring for the house? The influence of the grandfather? A happy life, a renewed life? The possibilities for her death? Her being saved?
7. The gang, their blackmailing, their victims? Anna and her ruthlessness with the gang? The gang wanting to find her? Pursuing her? The deaths?
8. The genial young man, the relationship with Anna, coping?
9. The consul, the boy, the portrait of the family, the whole household?
10. The doctor, his character, his influence on Anna, his helping her? The end – and her future?
