victor sjöström be quite the master in this film and have star in it and direct it and even write the screenplay . that pretty amazing . while today few have any idea who sjöström be and he might be familiar to ingmar bergman fan a the star one of bergman most acclaimed film and wild strawberry . as far a this film go and it a very mixed bag . on one hand and you have to respect it because for 1921 and it a very good film . the idea of the grim reaper sit down with a dead man to discuss his wasted life be pretty imaginative . plus and the special effect of the phantom carriage be pretty convincing and technically speak this be a well craft film . on the other hand and it an amazingly date and preachy film more like something you would expect to be show in sunday school instead of in an honest to goodness theater . plus and some of the story element just do not make sense . instead of come off a dedicate or good and the die salvation army worker seem like a sap a very sad and confusing sap . why be she in love with this man . be i miss something . so and my recommendation be that if you be insanely in love with silents ( like me ) and then by all mean watch it . but and if you aren not a silent fan and this film might do nothing to convince you that this style film be brilliant because the story be so overly melodramatic and date .