The Seventh Seal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Seventh Seal is a 1957 drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman, starring Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
Disillusioned knight Antonius Block and his cynical squire Jöns return from the Crusades to find the country ravaged by the plague. The knight encounters Death, whom he challenges to a chess match, believing he can survive as long as the game continues. The knight and his squire pass a caravan of actors: Jof and his wife Mia, with their infant son Mikael and actor-manager Jonas Skat. Waking early, Jof has a vision of Mary leading the infant Jesus, which he relates to a smilingly disbelieving Mia. Block and Jöns visit a church where a fresco of the Danse Macabre is being painted.
Production
Written by Ingmar Bergman, the film was produced by SF Studios. Erik Nordgren composed the score. Gunnar Fischer handled the cinematography. The film runs 96 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $150,000, The Seventh Seal grossed $311,212 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
Its legacy endures through a remake, a sequel and a lasting franchise; later cinema cites its influence and symbolism.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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