The Touch [Beröringen] ** (1971, Elliott Gould, Bibi Andersson, Max von Sydow) – Classic Movie Review 8074

Writer/ producer/ director Ingmar Bergman makes his first film in English, the 1971 The Touch, and casts an American star. A mistake!

Super though Elliott Gould usually is, he at a loss in Ingmar Bergmanland in this failed experiment. It does not ring true for a moment, but it is impeccably made as always, with marvellous cinematography in Eastmancolor from the masterly Sven Nykvist.

It is an angst-driven drama about infidelity and adultery. Bibi Andersson plays Swedish housewife and mother Karin Vergerus, who is married to doctor Andreas Vergerus (Max von Sydow), but has a fling with troubled Jewish foreign archaeologist David Kovac (Gould), who is working close to her house.

Also in the cast are Sheila Reid as Sara Kovac, Maria Nolgard, Ake Lindstrom and Staffan Hallerstam.

Bergman’s second film in English is The Serpent’s Egg (1977).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8074

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