Dollar; Only One Night

These two early Swedish films feature Ingrid Bergman in her native tongue before coming to Hollywood. Dollar is a so-so comedy about three couples who are all infatuated with each other's spouses. Bergman plays Julia Balzar, wife of a businessman, and not so secret admirer of Louis Brenner. When Louis drops beaucoup bucks at the gambling table, Julia quietly unloads some stock in her husband's business to cover his debt. All of this is later revealed when the unhappily married trio go skiing in the mountains, and meet up with the bossy American, Mary Johnstone. In Hercule Poirot style, Johnstone diagnoses the group of friends--exposing their deceit and jealousy. Julia's husband finally realizes that she is more important than his business, and the other couples rekindle their marital love, etc. Only One Night is a much better effort, featuring Bergman as an aristocratic feminist named Eva Beckman. When her guardian, Colonel von Brede, discovers that a travelling circus barker is his bastard son, Eva is assigned the job of educating him in the ways of the upper class world. (So Valdemar, the bastard, gets to row the boat while Eva coolly brings down a brace of ducks.) Although neither are particularly interested in the other, their relationship eventually warms up--much to the Colonel's delight. But just when one thinks a standard ending, replete with rice and wedding bells, is just around the corner, the film takes a surprise turn. Valdemar makes a rather rough pass at Eva, and she discovers that the idea of physical love is repulsive to her. Bergman is very good here, and poised for stardom. Later that same year, 1942, her career would take a quantum leap with Casablanca. Only One Night would make a fine addition to most public library collections; Dollar is an optional purchase. (R. Pitman)