Review of The Devil's Eye (1960) by Art S — 28 Jan 2015

Bergman's follow-up to The Virgin Spring had all the makings of a really wicked comedy: the Devil sends Don Juan up from Hell to seduce a virgin before her wedding day in order to cure a sty in his eye (virgins apparently cause this condition).

But something has gone wrong. If you are thinking that the concept is dated and sexist, well, yes there is that -- although Bergman's noted sensitivity to women's perspectives does show through in Bibi Andersson's character (she plays the virgin as open-minded and modern).

However, the real problem is with Don Juan - too stilted, too uninteresting - and with Bergman's screenplay - too unfocused. Nevertheless, there are some excellent bits - an old demon gets locked in the cupboard after being tricked into looking for booze; and Don Juan's sidekick (an elfish Tom Waits/Walter Huston as Ol' Scratch creation) does well putting the moves on the preacher's wife.

A bit more bite might have helped but Bergman may have had other aims in addition to comedy (at the expense of comedy, perhaps).