Gunnar Hedes saga (The Blizzard) | 1923 | Drama

Title: Gunnar Hedes saga (The Blizzard) | 1923 | Drama Director: Mauritz Stiller Studio: AB Svensk Filminspelning / Svenska Biografteatern Starring: Einar Hanson, Mary Johnson, Pauline Brunius, Hugo Björne, Stina Berg Based on: Novel *En herrgårdssägen* (The Tale of a Manor) by Selma Lagerlöf Release Date: January 1 1923 Runtime: Approximately 101 minutes Format: Silent black and white Country: Sweden Language: Silent with Swedish intertitles Genres: Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction to Gunnar Hede and family expectations 00:15:00 Father’s death and pressure to take over estate 00:30:00 Gunnar meets traveling performers and Ingrid 00:45:00 Renouncing wealth for a different life 01:00:00 Journey with reindeer herd into the wilderness 01:15:00 Snowstorm and personal crisis 01:30:00 Resolution and return --- Summary: Gunnar Hedes saga, released in English as *The Blizzard*, is a 1923 Swedish silent drama directed by Mauritz Stiller about Gunnar Hede, a young man who dreams of becoming a musician but is compelled by family duty to take over his father’s estate. Struggling with the demands of tradition and his own artistic aspirations, Gunnar embarks on a perilous adventure driving a herd of reindeer south in hopes of financial success. The film blends psychological drama with expansive outdoor sequences as Gunnar’s journey into the frozen north tests his resolve and identity, culminating in a snowstorm that pushes him to the brink of madness before a final emotional resolution. --- Background: Directed by one of Sweden’s leading silent film auteurs, Mauritz Stiller, *Gunnar Hedes saga* is a loose adaptation of Selma Lagerlöf’s novel *The Tale of a Manor*. The screenplay diverges from the original text while retaining key elements of personal ambition and rural life, and was produced through Svenska Biografteatern during the peak of Swedish cinema’s influence in the early 1920s. --- Trivia: The film’s English title is *The Blizzard*, and it has also been known by titles such as *Snowbound* and *The Story of Gunnar Hede*. It was one of Einar Hanson’s earliest leading roles, helping to launch his international career. The film is partially lost, with only about two-thirds of the original footage known to survive. Principal photography included location shooting in Swedish landscapes to evoke the Arctic setting. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: January 1 1923 Original Studio / Distributor: AB Svensk Filminspelning / Svenska Biografteatern Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #GunnarHedesSaga #TheBlizzard1923 #MauritzStiller #SilentFilm #SwedishCinema #ClassicDrama #PublicDomain