When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.
Gunnar Björnstrand
Bengt Ekerot
Nils Poppe
Max von Sydow
Bibi Andersson
Inga Gill
Maud Hansson
Inga Landgré
Gunnel Lindblom
Bertil Anderberg
Anders Ek
Åke Fridell
Gunnar Olsson
Erik Strandmark
Lars Lind