Dryer did dream about making a film of the life of Christ, but died before he received funding. Leaves From Satan’s Book (1919) however, seems like a dry run for his unmade masterpiece. Using four vignettes (or short stories), Satan’s destruction is mapped throughout history. The influence here is clearly Griffith’s Intolerance (1916), but has none of the former’s complexity or depth. Still, it’s an entertaining film on its own merit and we see much of Dryer’s early genius that reached maturity in the late twenties.
If Leaves shows an artist’s potential, The Seventh Seal (1957) is clearly the work of a master hitting his stride. The well-known story of a weary knight playing chess with Death has been imitated and parodied countless times, but none of these subsequent works compare to Bergman’s stark brilliance and questioning of God’s role in a world filled with human misery.
Bergman and Dryer might not always be the cheeriest of filmmakers, but their movies provide more honest questions and thoughts on Christian ethics than you’ll find in many pulpits these days. If this kind of sermon interests you, grab a pew down front and don’t forget your popcorn!