Karl Gjellerup, the author of the book behind this movie won the Nobel Prize award and this is perhaps his best drama. The film version is true to the book, but surprisingly it did not get to be acknowledged as deserved by the critics nor the public. People had other more intrusive dramas to relate to in 1943. Yet, they did not fancy Carl Th. Dreyer much either. The director is no Dreyer, but he uses his professional craft to pull a solid and worthwhile adaptation across that holds to this day, if you perceive it the way it was intended. The film 'Præsten i Vejlby' sets a theme that can be compared with 'Møllen'. The dutch mill is a main character as well as the well casted group of actors, and there is even some spooky superstition adding to the horror like presentation. And of course the poor miller has to pay for his act, as was the rule in old moral dramas. Vera Gebuhr is more of a woman with ambition of social climbing than a mere femme fatal, which suits the drama very well and prevents a more simplified conceptual presentation.
