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Erik Balling

Erik Balling

Writing·November 29, 1924·November 19, 200580 years old·Nyborg, Danmark

Erik Balling was one of the most beloved Danish filmmaker in the 20th century. Balling was a director, a producer and a writer. Erik Balling was mostly famous for creating such TV epics as "Matador" and "Huset På Christianshavn" and the film-series of "Olsen banden". Erik Balling was born the 19th of November 1925 in the Danish city of Nyborg, as a son of a priest. In 1946 Balling was hired as an assistant at "Nordisk Film Kompagni" - the world's oldest film production company. His talent was soon recognised, and Balling soon had the opportunity to work as a director. His debut as a director came in 1952, with the film: "Vi arme syndere". Balling soon gained a reputation of having good technical skills, and after that film his talent was widely recognised. In 1957 he became head of "Nordisk Film" - the youngest one ever. Balling was mostly famous for his comedies. In his early days he directed Poeten og Lillemor (1959) and Sommer i Tyrol (1964), which were very popular at the time. In the middle of the 1960s Balling tried to chance his style when it came to comedies. At this time the popular James Bond films circled the globe, Balling's next film was inspired by those films, teaming up with Henning Bahs to make the Jamed Bond spoof "Slå Først Frede" (1965), which became very popular in Denmark - so popular it spawned a sequel Slap af, Frede! (1966). This co-work with Henning Bahs was so fruitful that they made many more movies together. This co-work eventually led to film-series of "Olsen banden", which started with Olsen-banden (1968) - and eventually they made a total of 14 "Olsen banden" film, plus a TV series and a movie version where the characters in "Olsen banden" are children. "Olsen banden" was about a small band of small time criminals, trying to become millionaires. "Olsen banden" were not only very popular in Denmark, but also in East-Germany, Poland, Sweden and Norway - especially in Norway and Sweden, who eventually made their own national versions of "Olsen banden", namely the Norwegian "Olsen banden" and the Swedish "Jönssonligan" - Henning Bahs and Erik Balling also helped the Norwegians and the Swedes to write those. In that late 60s and early 70s Balling made the popular Danish TV series "Huset På Christianshavn", which also became the basis for a movie: "Ballade på Christianshavn (1971)". In 1970 Balling produced the very popular Danish TV epic "Matador". More than fifty percent of Denmark's population watched "Matador" in those days. "Matador" was about life in a smaller city in Denmark in the 30s and 40s. Balling was always known for his warm style, when he portrayed humans. Throughout his life, he received many prizes. He was 80 years old when he died the 19th of November 2005.

Known For
Filmography · 70
2005Skide godt, Balling!1998The Olsen Gang's Last Trick1997Strisser på SamsøTV1988Murder in Paradise1988Profil af et job 1 – Folkene bag kameraet1986Murder in the Dark1984AnthonsenTV1984The Jönsson Gang Gets Gold Fever1984In the Middle of the Night1982The Jönsson Gang & Dynamite Harry1982The Olsen Gang's Very Last Coup1981The Olsen Gang Long Gone1981Beware of the Jönsson Gang1981The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence1979The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders1978MatadorTV1978The Olsen Gang Goes to War1978The Olsen Gang and Data-Harry Blows Up The World Bank1978Bandefører Balling1977The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry On The Trail1977The Olsen Gang Outta Sight1976The Moelleby affair1976The Olsen Gang For Full Music1976The Olsen Gang Sees Red1976Kassen stemmer1976Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde1975The Olsen Gang on the Track1975The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang1974The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang1974The Olsen Gang meets The King and the Jackal1973The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry Goes Wild1973The Olsen Gang Runs Amok1972The Olsen Gang's Big Score1972The Olsen Gang Takes the Gold1971The Olsen Gang in Jutland1971Our Home Is Our Castle1971One of Those Things1970Revolution My A..1970The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry1970The House at ChristianshavnTV1969The Olsen Gang in a Fix1969The Olsen Gang1968The Olsen Gang1968Det var en lørdag aften1967Martha1967Jeg er sgu min egen1966Relax Freddy1965Strike First Freddy1965Landmandsliv1965Halløj i himmelsengen1964Summer in Tyrol1964Death Comes at High Noon1963Hvis lille pige er du?1962The Girl Gogo1962Den kære familie1961Cirkus Buster1961Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør1960Forelsket i København1960The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte1960Faith, Hope and Witchcraft1959The Poet and the Little Mother19586-Day Race1956Qivitoq1956Kispus1955På tro og love1954Kongeligt besøg1953Adam and Eve1953Vi som går køkkenvejen1952Us Petty Sinners1949For freedom and justice
Erik Balling | Moodie Movies