Only One Night (1939 film)

Only One Night
Directed byGustaf Molander
Written byHarald Tandrup (novel)
Gösta Stevens
Harald Tandrup
StarringIngrid Bergman
Edvin Adolphson
Aino Taube
CinematographyElner Åkesson
Ferenc Zádori
Edited byOscar Rosander
Music byEric Bengtson
Jules Sylvain
Production
company
Distributed bySvensk Filmindustri
Release date
  • 20 February 1939 (1939-02-20)
Running time
91 minutes
CountrySweden
LanguageSwedish

Only One Night (Swedish: En enda natt) is a 1939 Swedish romantic drama film directed by Gustaf Molander and starring Ingrid Bergman, Edvin Adolphson and Aino Taube. Bergman agreed to appear in the film in exchange for being given the lead role she sought in A Woman's Face the previous year.[1]

Plot

Valdemar Moreaux works as a carnival barker who also helps manage the show for the widowed owner Helga Martensson, with whom he has been living. When Martensson suggests that they get married, however, he describes himself as a "rootless" free spirit who might move on to something else.

The show has been set up on the large estate of Magnus von Brede, a former army colonel. Observing the carnival from a distance with his ward, Eva Beckman, he remarks that Valdemar reminds him of someone and soon invites the younger man to his mansion. Von Brede quickly forgives Valdemar and the carnival for not asking permission to use his property, but also is confirmed in his belief that Valdemar might be his illegitimate son, conceived years ago during a one-night stand. Seeing qualities that he likes in this apparent son, he offers Valdemar a job managing his stable of prize horses without telling him about their relationship. Eva, currently working on her dissertation a degree in Philosophy, is amused by her guardian's interests but otherwise confesses no particular attraction to Valdemar, who accepts the job, leaving behind a sad and angry Martensson.

Arriving at the mansion, Valdemar is surprised to learn that he will be living not in the stable but in one of the house's lavish guest suites. Soon, though, von Brede reveals Valdemar's relationship to him. Eva is still interested in this new resident, but remains emotionally aloof. As time passes, though, the colonel takes charge of giving the young man a crash course in culture, speech, and etiquette that will be necessary for this future heir and tries to encourage a romantic relationship between Valdemar and Eva. As they travel together for further culture and education Valdemar and Eva become closer but agree to remain only as friends. Eventually, though, the couple become even closer.

In spite of his unsought advantages, Valdemar cannot quite shake his feeling of rootlessness, and he visits Martensson who is now working for another traveling circus. Although she would clearly like to have him back, she is still angry. That rejection confirms Valdemar's intention to propose marriage to Eva, who gladly accepts, and the couple announce the happy news to von Brede. However, one night after an engagement party, the couple are about to retire to their separate bedrooms. The drunken Valdemar eases his way into Eva's bedroom, which she handles at first with humor, but then fights him off and denounces his "filthy" behavior.

The engagement now broken, Valdemar leaves von Brede and returns to the circus and Martensson. In an ending scene, set some time later, these two are now happily married, with a child.

Cast

References

  1. ^ Neiiendam p.69

Bibliography

  • Soila, Tytti. The Cinema of Scandinavia. Wallflower Press, 2005.


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