Fången på Karlstens fästning

This is not one of my favourite af Klercker films. A tale of secret documets (a new explosive invented) and a not very masterly master-ciminal who is after the plans - a typical "McGuffin" of the period. It is very typical of a kind of film that was becoming increasingly popular especially in north Europe (Germany and the Netherlands) and, in its slightly later form, would have an enormous influence on the young Hitchcock. But This one is a confused and rather pointless story. However, as always with af Klercker worth watchinf for the mise en scène (albeit less good than normal) and the splendid locations (this time a fortress on a mountainous island in Kungälv (a region where he also filmed I minnenas band in the same year) which makes for a thrilling finale.

Manne Gothson has discovered a new explosive, more powerful than any other. Nils Olaf Chrisander wants it for his government, but Gothson patriotically intends to hand it over to his own government. Chrisander gets some bully boys to help him steal it from Gothson's safe. However, they are surprised by Gothson's daughter, Maja Cassel. So they take her along. Chrisanfer puts her in a waveswept castle, where he falls in love with her. Can she get word to her boyfriend, Arvid Hammarlund, to rescue her?

George af Klercker's movie is in great shape, with handsome toning, and the presentation had an exciting if repetitive score. Although the early parts of the movie are the standard melodramatic bits, when we get to the fortress, cameraman Gosta Staring finds interesting shots of stone and sea, and some good angles to shoot Miss Cassel against. The effect is pretty good, even if the editing is not optimal to bring out the excitement as Hammarlund races to rescue Miss Cassel.