When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.
Released: Feb 16, 1957
Runtime: 96 minutes
Stars: Max von Sydow, Bengt Ekerot, Gunnar Björnstrand, Nils Poppe, Bibi Andersson, Inga Landgré
Crew: Gunnar Fischer (Director of Photography), Lennart Wallén (Editor), Erik Nordgren (Original Music Composer), P.A. Lundgren (Production Design), Allan Ekelund (Producer), Ingmar Bergman (Director)