Gösta Berling is a young and attractive minister. Because of his alcoholism and his daring sermons, he is eventually defrocked. He becomes tutor of countess Marta's stepdaughter and they fall in love. But the countess has a plan of her own.

Greta Garbo
as Elizabeth Dohna

Lars Hanson
as Gösta Berling

Gerda Lundequist
as Margaretha Samzelius (the mayor's wife)

Karin Swanström
as Gustafva Sinclaire

Jenny Hasselqvist
as Marianne Sinclaire

Mona Mårtenson
as Ebba Dohna

Sven Scholander
as Sintram

Ellen Hartman-Cederström
as Märtha Dohna

Torsten Hammarén
as Henrik Dohna

Hilda Forsslund
as Margaretha's mother