Ordet

"A Legend for Today"

1955 2h 5m DA

🙌

7.9

BANGER

★7.9TMDB · 430

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The three sons of devout Danish farmer Morten have widely disparate religious beliefs. Youngest son Anders shares his father's religion, but eldest son Mikkel has lost his faith, while middle child Johannes has become delusional and proclaims that he is Jesus Christ himself. When Mikkel's wife, Inger goes into a difficult childbirth, everyone's beliefs are put to the test.

“A Legend for Today”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

DarkroomSubscription

Cast

Henrik Malberg
Morten Borgen (uncredited)
Birgitte Federspiel
Inger Borgen (uncredited)
Emil Hass Christensen
Mikkel Borgen (uncredited)
Preben Lerdorff Rye
Johannes Borgen (uncredited)
Cay Kristiansen
Anders Borgen (uncredited)
Ejner Federspiel
Peter Petersen (uncredited)
Gerda Nielsen
Anne Petersen (uncredited)
Sylvia Eckhausen
Kirstin Petersen (uncredited)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer
Writers: Kaj Munk, Carl Theodor Dreyer
Languages: Danish
Countries: Denmark

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

71 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, shot by Henning Bendtsen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Poul Schierbeck. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Edith Schlüssel shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Henrik Malberg and Birgitte Federspiel and Emil Hass Christensen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "A Legend for Today".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0048452 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Carl Theodor Dreyer directs. Henning Bendtsen behind the camera. Poul Schierbeck scores. Edith Schlüssel cuts. Produced in Denmark. Dialogue in Danish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

171 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, shot by Henning Bendtsen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Poul Schierbeck. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Edith Schlüssel shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Henrik Malberg and Birgitte Federspiel and Emil Hass Christensen carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "A Legend for Today".
7IMDB entry: tt0048452 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Released under 22 different titles around the world.