Swedish screenwriter, playwright, film producer and director Ingmar Bergman's 16th feature film which he wrote, premiered in Stockholm, was screened In competition at the 9th Cannes International Film Festival in 1956 (the filmmaker's first feature film shown at the festival) and is a Swedish production which was shot at a film studio in Råsunda, Stockholms Iän and on location at Jordberga Slott, Anderslöv i Ystad, Sweden. It was produced by Swedish film producer Allan Ekelund (1918-2009). It tells the story about Fredrik Egerman, a middle-aged attorney who lives in a small town in the 19th century with his adult son from a previous marriage named Henrik, who is a theology student, his 19-year-old wife Anne who loves him as if he was her father, and his young servant Petra. Though Fredrik's two-year long marriage with Anne has not been consummated due to Anne's reluctance, he tells her that he will wait, but Fredrik's restrained discontent leads him to visit an old mistress and stage actress named Desirée Armfeldt who is performing in town. Desirée is glad to see Fredrik again and after telling her about his marital problems, she invites him to her home. On their way from Desiree's loge, Fredrik falls in a puddle. He is offered some dry clothes at Desiree's house that belongs to another man, and after getting dressed he discovers a young boy called Fredrik whom he immediately thinks is his son. All of the sudden there is a knock on the door, and in walks Desirée's lover, a married army officer named Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm who takes one look at the man whom he sees is wearing his clothes and challenges him to a duel.Distinctly and engagingly directed by Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, this multifaceted fictional tale which is narrated from multiple viewpoints, draws an intriguing portrayal of numerous converging relationships between young and middle-aged men and women. While notable for it's atmospheric milieu depictions, stellar production design by Swedish art director and production designer P.A. Lundgren (1911-2011), black-and-white cinematography by Swedish cinematographer Gunnar Fischer (1910-2011) and costume design by German-Swedish costume designer Mago (1925-2008), this dialog-driven, narrative-driven and humorous comedy-drama depicts some condensed studies of character and contains a good score by Swedish composer Erik Nordgren (1913-1992).This charming, rhythmic, theatrical and somewhat romantic chamber drama from the mid-1950s about love, marriage, infidelity and interpersonal relations which became Ingmar Bergman's first internationally acclaimed feature film, is impelled and reinforced by it's quick-witted dialog, colorful characters, interrelating stories, subtle character development, cogent narrative structure and the brilliant acting performances by Swedish actor Gunnar Björnstrand (1909-1986), Swedish actor and director Jarl Kulle (1927-1997), Swedish actor Björn Bjelfvenstam and Swedish actresses Harriet Andersson, Margit Carlqvist, Ulla Jackobsen (1929-1982), Bibi Andersson and actress and writer Eva Dahlbeck (1920-2008). A compelling, poignantly atmospheric and memorable character piece which gained, among other awards, the Best Poetic Humor prize at the 9th Cannes International Film Festival in 1956.

Ingmar Bergman's "Smiles of a Summer Night" is a charming comedy (in its way) about love and romance. Here, everyone is in love, but with the wrong person. Fredrik Egerman (Gunnar Bjornstrand) is married to a much younger Anne (Ulla Jacobsson) who remains a virgin. Fredrik's grown son, Henrik (Bjorn Bjelvenstam) is a minister and in love with Anne; Desiree Armfeldt (Eva Dahlback) is having an affair with Count Carl-Magnus (Jarl Kulle), but she's still got it bad for her ex-lover, the aforementioned Fredrik. Carl-Magnus' wife, Charlotte (Margit Carlquist) still loves her husband. And Petra (Hariett Andersson), the maid, likes having sex.And so it goes in this game of musical beds, attempted suicide, beds that come through the wall, a roll in the hay, and a carriage escape by night. The performances are delightful, particular from Eva Dahlbeck, whose Desiree has been around the block, and Ulla Jacobsson, who gives Anne a wonderful childlike quality. As the bereft minister, Bjorn Bjelvenstam plays it straight, making his misery all the funnier.The women in this film are absolutely beautiful, as is the cinematography. The starkness of the black and white images is quite stunning, and the landscape shots look like famous photographs.This is different from many Bergman films that were to come, and it's a lovely reminder that this man could do anything he set his mind to, including send in the clowns.

Smiles of a Summer Night (1955) **** (out of 4) Delightful romantic comedy from Ingmar Bergman about various couples whom end up at an estate where love, relationships and sex are the topics. It took about ten minutes for me to warm up to the film but once the action (ala dialogue) got started the film just flew by with plenty of nice laughs as well as some terrific dialogue. The performances by the entire cast were terrific, especially Gunnar Bjornstrand and Ulla Jacobson. It's hard to believe that Woody Allen failed to capture much of this film's humor with his semi-remake A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy.

In the beginning of the Twentieth Century, the successful fifty years old lawyer Fredrik Egerman (Gunnar Björnstrand) has been married for three years with his naive nineteen years old wife Anne (Ulla Jacobsson), who is still virgin. His adult son from his former marriage, Henrik (Björn Bjelvenstam), lives in celibate preparing to be a priest. Their servant is the young and futile Petra (Harriet Andersson), who easily falls in love for every man. When Frederik goes to the theater with Anne, he sees the actress and his former mistress Desiree Armfeldt (Eva Dahlbeck) and he meets her alone in her dressing room after the performance. They go to her house, Frederik falls in one puddle and she gives the robe and the pajamas of her present lover, the military Count Carl Magnus Malcolm (Jarl Kulle), who is married with Anne's friend Countess Charlotte Malcolm (Margit Carlquist). However, Malcolm unexpectedly arrives and after the unpleasant encounter of the trio, Desiree ends their relationship. On the next morning, Desiree plots a weekend in her mother's summer real state with Frederik, Anne, Henrik, Malcolm and Charlotte, with the intention of seducing Frederik again. Along the night, with the three smiles of love, four couples are formed."Sommarnattens Leende" is a delightful, cynical and witty romantic comedy with wonderful dialogs and situations. Showing a magnificent art direction and cinematography, this sardonic story discloses three different types of love: the pure of the youngsters, represented by Anne and Henrik; the silly and quite naive, represented by the maid Petra and the groom Frid; and the cynical and malicious of the arrogant Malcolm and Charlotte and the Machiavellian Desiree and Frederik. In the DVD, Ingmar Bergman explains the importance of this movie in his career, with the recognition of the Sweden Industry giving independence for him after the worldwide success of "Sommarnattens Leende" inclusive in Cannes Festival. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Sorrisos de Uma Noite de Amor" ("Smiles of a Night of Love")