(1968)
4
Craig Butler
A spot-on and hilarious spoof of Ingmar Bergman films, The Dove (or De Duva, as it is also called) is a treat for film students and foreign film aficionados -- but even those with only a vague notion of "Bergmanesque" will find plenty here to enjoy. To begin with, the pidgin-Swedish language created for the film causes laughs by itself; seeing the manner in which it is sometimes "translated" in the subtitles only adds to the fun. Screenwriter Sidney Davis has done a remarkable job in distilling the essence of Bergman films into 15 minutes and an even more remarkable job of honoring the master filmmaker while still poking fun at him. George Coe and Anthony Lover's co-direction is in perfect sync with Davis' script; there's never a false note at any point. This pays off especially well in the lead-up to the climactic "game of chance," and in the carefully edited and hilariously played game itself. The actors are also well in tune with the filmmakers' intentions. A very young Madeline Kahn makes a definite impression in hr far-too-brief scene, but it is Coe as Viktor, Davis as Death and Pamela Burrell as Inga that provide Dove's best moments.
Dove on AllMovie
Dove (1968)
