The Outlaw and His Wife
About The Outlaw and His Wife
A stranger calling himself Kári is hired on the widow Halla’s northern farm. She wants to marry him. Bailiff Björn learns he is the thief Eyvind, and the couple leave for the highlands with their child and their friend Arnes. When pursuers come, Halla throws the child from a cliff. Eyvind and Halla later freeze in the snow, and he dies holding her.
Cast & crew
More about The Outlaw and His Wife
Victor Sjöström directed and plays Eyvind. Charles Magnusson produced. The script comes from Jóhann Sigurjónsson’s 1911 play. Julius Jaenzon photographed it in two sessions, spring and late summer 1917, using Åre and Abisko for Iceland. It opened on 1 January 1918. Edith Erastoff plays Halla. The Swedish title is Berg-Ejvind och hans hustru.
Themes
Making
The highlands are northern Sweden. Sjöström and Jaenzon shot in two seasons so the farm scenes and the winter exile would not have to be faked in one stretch.
Look
Julius Jaenzon shot the farm and the highland exile at Åre and Abisko, standing in for Iceland.
Music
Silent. Rudolf Sahlberg is credited with the music.
Notes
- Kári denies who he is, then beats Björn in a wrestling match, and only then tells Halla he is Eyvind.
- They live for years in the highlands. When the girl is three, Arnes says he loves Halla, is refused, and leaves.
- Arnes sees the pursuers and warns them before the fight.
- John Ekman, Jenny Tschernichin-Larsson, Nils Ahrén, and William Larsson are in the cast.
- Rudolf Sahlberg is credited with the music. The story is set in 18th-century Iceland.
Scenes
- Eyvind beats Björn in the wrestling match and then confesses.
- Halla throws the child from the cliff as the pursuers arrive.
- Eyvind finds Halla frozen and dies beside her.
Influenced by
- Jóhann Sigurjónsson’s 1911 play
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-the-outlaw-and-his-wife)
