Das Teufelsauge

This is a comedy in a more Shakespearean way than what an American would see as comedy. This drama/play begins in Hell where Satan is upset because he has a sty in his eye. It seems that if one were to get a virgin to allow herself to be despoiled before marriage, the eye would be cured. So the Devil sends the great lover, Don Juan, to perform just the task. He has been in Hell for over 300 years and embraces the challenge. He takes with him his Sancho Panza like character, and they invite themselves into the home of a vicar who has the lovely daughter and a hypochondriac wife who is hiding from the world. While Don Juan goes after the daughter, Pablo, the other guy goes after the wife. He has also been getting ready for as long as his master. They are accompanied by a demon who is sort of their chaperon since Pablo has been told not to mess around. What is interesting is that Don Juan is able to start making inroads immediately into the young woman who is ready to marry in a few days. What happens is a kind of commentary on faithfulness, adventure, religion, and any number of subjects. What is also interesting is how this invasion shows the cracks in the foundation and invites the characters to figure out how to deal with them. There are also a few slams made against the idea of heaven and hell and God and Satan. This is a really interesting film and probably good because Bergman can't turn off his talent.

Down in Hell, devilishly wicked Stig Jarrel (as Satan) has acquired a sty in his eye. According to an old Irish proverb, "A woman's chastity is a sty in the devil's eye." This painful condition is attributed to a 20-year-old woman on Earth who has decided to remain a virgin until her upcoming wedding night. Satan surmises, we are told (by a helpful on-screen host), that if he can get pretty Bibi Andersson (as Britt-Marie) to sinfully deflower, the Devil will be relieved of his sty. Enter and exit debonair Jarl Kulle (as Don Juan). The legendary lover is serving time in Hell, naturally. His punishment consists of endless seductions without the climactic ending. You may see where this is going...

To wit, Don Juan is sent to Earth where he'll hopefully seduce Ms. Andersson and relieve both himself and the Devil...

Ingmar Bergman begins the comedy with clever direction and settings in Hell. Imagine an old Shakespearian play, with no curtain or audience. The set-up is intriguing and initial trip to Earth heightens anticipation. Then, the story becomes unexpectedly dull. More quaint than clever, Andersson's romantic situation is the main disappointment. Saving the trip is Mr. Kulle's servant Sture Lagerwall (as Pablo), by going after pastor's wife Gertrud Fridh (as Renata). You have to wonder why Richard Burton, a great lover of the Faustian sort, did not re-make the original play as an English language film. Either he couldn't obtain the rights or felt Elizabeth might be unconvincing as the virgin.

******* The Devil's Eye/Djävulens öga (10/17/60) Ingmar Bergman ~ Jarl Kulle, Bibi Andersson, Stig Jarrel, Sture Lagerwall

Beelzebub has a sty on is eye, not really sure what it might signify, but he's discovered a virgin who he wants to tempt, so he's recruited Don Juan, to make an attempt. Diablo has a sty on his eye, an irritant that he wants to rectify, along with Pablo, Don Juan will seduce, the innocent maiden he plans to defuse. Lucifer has a sty on his eye, it lessens the effect and demystifies, perhaps clouds his perspective of what can be done, with respect to diminishing Britt-Marie's future fun. Satan has a sty on his eye, it's really starting to dissatisfy, as inversely proportional to what he intends, his cunning ploy pays almost no dividends.

A clever comedy; Satan permits Don Juan a leave of absence from hell to cure a sty in the Devil's eye which is caused by the virginity of a young earthly woman. It's a very funny movie - without being intentionally "stupid." It has a very theatrical feel, but tastefully so, and brings everything needed from Jarl Kulle as Don Juan. Nils Poppe (known best as "Jof" from "The Seventh Seal") and Bibi Andersson also contribute with an additional display of their usually skillful performances. The plot is light, but brilliant, and will probably shock regular Bergman fans. For some reason "Smiles of a Summer Night" is talked about as Bergman's "best" or even "only" comedy, but although I really like that film too, and have watched over forty of his movies, and must say that this is the funniest by a long shot. A highly enjoyable, but sadly underrated (possibly misunderstood) movie. At the time of my writing this, Djävulens Öga is not yet a DVD item in the US or the UK.

I liked this movie a lot--more than many of the dreadfully serious Bergman films.

The movie is staged like a play--complete with a narrator and acts. The story begins in Hell. It seems the devil is in a funk, as he's got a sty. Why? Apparently, there is a virginal woman whose decency is causing the devil great agony, so he sends his favorite Lothario, Don Juan, to despoil this virgin and this make the sty go away! Really weird stuff, huh?! Well, the tongue in cheek style makes this a pretty funny comedy. Not GREAT comedy, but very good AND so weird and unusual, it's worth a look.

By the way, isn't Don Juan's sidekick about the most devilish character you've ever seen? Watch it, turn off your brain and have fun.