Vividly recreating a medieval world tormented by plague and superstition, Bergman’s allegorical drama–centred on a knight (von Sydow), returned from the Crusades, who challenges Death to a game of chess in order to postpone his demise–remains fascinating (and finally rather touching) as a study of faith in crisis. Packed with powerful images, it punctuates its bleakness with moments of pleasingly pawky humour.

Narratively bold and visually striking, The Seventh Seal brought Ingmar Bergman to the world stage -- and remains every bit as compelling today (Rotten Tomatoes).