The Gardener
About The Gardener
A gardener's son marries the daughter of a worker on the place. The gardener, who wants the girl himself, drives the son off, rapes her, and sends her away with her father. On the boat an old general gives her money. After her father dies she becomes the general's hostess. When he dies, his circle throws her out. She goes back, tears up the flowers, curses the gardener, and is found dead among the roses.
Cast & crew
More about The Gardener
Victor Sjöström directed. Mauritz Stiller wrote the script. Julius Jaenzon photographed it. Svenska Biografteatern produced the 34-minute drama in 1912. Swedish censors banned it on 20 August 1912 as contrary to good practice and for dressing up death. A special screening for Prime Minister Karl Staaff and other ministers left the ban in place.
Themes
Background
Made in 1912, the year Sweden's film censor began work, and refused a permit that August.
Making
The censor board kept the ban after the cabinet screening. The negative was treated as lost until the Washington print surfaced.
Look
Julius Jaenzon shot the nursery, the boat, and the greenhouse where the girl dies among the roses.
Preservation
Banned in Sweden in 1912 and long treated as lost. A print was found at the Library of Congress in 1979 and first shown in Stockholm on 14 October 1980.
Notes
- Sjöström plays the gardener. Gösta Ekman plays the son. Lili Bech plays the girl. John Ekman plays the general. Stiller appears as a passenger on the boat.
- It was the first film banned by the Swedish censor.
- A copy turned up at the Library of Congress in 1979.
- Sweden first showed that print on 14 October 1980 at Cinemateket / Bio Victor in Stockholm.
Scenes
- The gardener expels his son and assaults the girl.
- The general gives her his card on the boat.
- She is found dead in the roses after cursing the gardener.
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-trdgrdsmstaren-aka-the-gardener)
