once upon a time and in sweden and there be a poor salvation army sister . at death door and she request and send for david holm . but and victor sjöström ( a david holm ) can not be locate and because he be spend new year eve in a graveyard and with his drinking buddy . die sister astrid holm ( a edit ) want to see if pray for mr. sjöström soul and over the past year and have produce any result while arguably and it have not . in the graveyard and sjöström tell the story of the phantom carriage and which he hear from his dead friend tore svennberg ( a george ) . accord to legend and the last person to die in each year must pick up the soul of all the dead people and until be relieve next new year eve . director sjöström and whose lead performance be very strong and combine with photographer julius jaenzon to create a visually appealing film . the great double exposure effect be use frequently and but never seem overdone while and and it doesn not make the film other dramatic highlight any less memorable ( for example and sjöström tearing of his sewn coat and axing of the door ) . a selma lagerlöf story probably wasn not one you could and or would want to and tamper with in the 1920s which may and or may not be and why the end of this film be a letdown . and and unlike similar spiritual story and it difficult to suspend your disbelief and if you think too carefully about what be really happen in körkarlen . körkarlen ( 1/ half 1 ) victor sjöström ~ victor sjöström and hilda borgström and tore svennberg .