Hugs and Kisses [Puss & kram] *** (1967, Sven-Bertil Taube, Agneta Ekmanner, Lena Granhagen, Håkan Serner, Ingrid Boström) – Classic Movie Review 9281

Writer-director Jonas Cornell’s 1967 romantic comedy drama Hugs and Kisses [Puss Och Kram] is a bright, deliciously offbeat Swedish film centring on an aspiring author John (Håkan Serner) who is thrown out by his girlfriend Kickan (Lena Granhagen) and moves in with his friend Max (Sven-Bertil Taube) and his friend’s wife Eva (Agneta Ekmanner).

The resulting domestic troubles provide excellent entertainment through little gags and surprises, as well as serious comments about the nature of human relationships. Cornell’s lively script constantly rings true with these honest performances and his neat direction.

It is a good example of the kind of Sixties Swedish comedy that helped to blow a breath of fresh air across the era.

Also in the cast are Ingrid Boström as friend, Rolf Larsson as photographer, Leif Zern as Shop assistant, Rebecca Tarschys as journalist, Carl-Johan Rönn as photographer, Peter Cornell as young man, Tuulikki Lindroth [Tulikke Lindroth] as photo model and Staffan Cullberg as lecturer.

Hugs and Kisses [Puss Och Kram] [Puss & kram] is directed by Jonas Cornell, runs 94 minutes, is made by Sandrews, is released by Sandrew Film & Teater (1967) (Sweden), Embassy Pictures (1968) (US) and Contemporary Films (1968) (UK), is written by Jonas Cornell, is shot in black and white by Lars Swanberg, is produced by Bo Jonsson and Göran Lindgren, and the musical direction is by Bengt Ernryd.

It is shot between July and August 1966 in Stockholm, Sweden.

It attracted some controversy and became a little milestone in the history of censorship in the UK. The BBFC cut the film to remove a full-frontal nude shot where Agneta Ekmanner examines her naked body in a mirror. But some local authorities passed the film uncut without fuss or backlash and this encouraged UK censor John Trevelyan to pass If… with its full-frontal nude scene the next year.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9281

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Agneta Ekmanner with Hugs and Kisses (1967) director Jonas Cornell.