Movie Review: Sir Arne's Treasure (Herr Arnes pengar)

Sir Arne's Treasure (Herr Arnes pengar) a.k.a The Treasure of Arne a.k.a Snows of Destiny a.k.a The Three Who Were Doomed 

Svenska Biografteatern AB, Sweden, 1919. 

Based on Selma Lagerlöf's short novel "Herr Arnes penningar" a.k.a "The Treasure." 

Let's continue with "Svenska Stumfilmsklassiker" six silent movie DVD collection! 

When King Johan III ruled Sweden in the 16th century there was a very cold and harsh winter. King's Scottish mercenaries are planning a conspiracy. The mercenaries are deported and the leaders arrested. Sir Filip (Erik Stocklassa), Sir Donald (Bror Berger) and young Sir Archi (Richard Lund) kill the guards and escape prison. 

Three Scots escape

They flee to Marstrand where poor fishmonger Torarin (Axel Nilsson) lives with his mother Katri (Jenny Öhrström Ebbesen). In nearby Solberga lives Sir Arne (Hjalmar Selander). Sir Arne is an old priest. Torarin's dog Grim gets a bad premonition about Solberga. 

Katri and Torarin

The rogue trio half-mad from hunger robs nearby house's food when the master of the house is away. When the master returns he throws the sleeping trio out in the snow. 

The rogues eat everything

Arne has a coffer full of silver coins. It is rumoured that Arne took the money from monasteries and that the money is cursed. Arne has daughter Berghild (Wanda Rothgardt) and foster daughter Elsalill (Mary Johnson). Arne's wife (Concordia Selander) hears the rogue trio sharpening their knives. 

Arne's wife sees a vision

Rogue trio sharpening their knives

Berghild and Elsalill

At Branehög's Inn there's a party and all the villagers are invited. The rogues seize their opportunity, murdering Arne's family and stealing the treasure. Only Elsalill survives but is badly traumatized. Torarin brings her to his house. As the ice is getting weak, the robbers have to hide until spring before they can sail back to Scotland. They arrive to Torarin's house. Sir Archi feels guilty and begins to lose his nerves. He meets Elsalill who does not recognize him. Archi falls in love with her. Elsalill begins to see the Berghild's  ghost who gives her hints about the identity of the murderers. 

Robbers burn Arne's house

Sir Filip, Sir Archi and Sir Donald

Elsalill and Sir Archi

The story combines some historical adventure with moody psychological thriller and tragic love story: Do the murderers escape? And what happens to the lovers? 

Torarin and ship's captain (Gustav Aronson)

The idea of a three men (two older and one younger) committing murder and getting later their comeuppance reminds strongly of Bergman's "Jungfrukällan" (1960). The story gets a supernatural atmosphere from ominous visions and ill omens. The cursed treasure brings doom to those who touch it. Even the nature seems to conspire against the evil-doers.

Although F.W. Murnau's "Der letzte mann" is often described as the first film to make great use of a moving point of view. Wrong! Julius Jaenzon's photography in "Sir Arne's Treasure" uses stylish tracking shots as early as in 1919. Actually moving camera was used as early as in 1914 in Italian epic "Cabiria." 

The cinematography uses landscapes of frozen nature well and there is even a ship stuck in ice à la Ernest Shackleton. Some double exposure shots are used for flashbacks and ghost effects. 

This version is the 2007 Swedish Film Institute restored version with Matti Bye's soundtrack. This time the music is moody folk with electric guitar sounds and also harpsichord music. 

Rating: Excellent 

Starring: Erik Stocklassa, Bror Berger, Richard Lund, Axel Nilsson, Hjalmar Selander, Concordia Selander,  Gösta Gustafson, Mary Johnson, Wanda Rothgardt, Stina Berg, Gustav Aronson, Jenny Öhrström Ebbesen, Josua Bengtson, Georg Blomstedt, Albin Erlandzon, Yngve Nyqvist, Artur Rolén 

Director: Mauritz Stiller