Erik Balling

Erik Balling

WritingNyborg, 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.

Directed by Erik

Landmandsliv

Landmandsliv

5.0Film
1965
The House at Christianshavn

The House at Christianshavn

8.0TV
1970
The Olsen Gang on the Track

The Olsen Gang on the Track

7.2Film
1975
Matador

Matador

9.2TV
1978
The Girl Gogo

The Girl Gogo

6.7Film
1962
Kongeligt besøg

Kongeligt besøg

6.0Film
1954
The Olsen Gang in a Fix

The Olsen Gang in a Fix

6.6Film
1969
Our Home Is Our Castle

Our Home Is Our Castle

6.6Film
1971
Vi som går køkkenvejen

Vi som går køkkenvejen

0.0Film
1953
Martha

Martha

6.7Film
1967
Cirkus Buster

Cirkus Buster

6.0Film
1961
The Olsen Gang Runs Amok

The Olsen Gang Runs Amok

6.9Film
1973
One of Those Things

One of Those Things

0.0Film
1971
Anthonsen

Anthonsen

0.0TV
1984
In the Middle of the Night

In the Middle of the Night

6.5Film
1984
Halløj i himmelsengen

Halløj i himmelsengen

5.5Film
1965
The Poet and the Little Mother

The Poet and the Little Mother

6.4Film
1959
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight

The Olsen Gang Outta Sight

7.0Film
1977
Hvis lille pige er du?

Hvis lille pige er du?

6.2Film
1963
Strike First Freddy

Strike First Freddy

5.8Film
1965
The Olsen Gang

The Olsen Gang

7.0Film
1968
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang

The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang

7.2Film
1974
The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders

The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders

6.8Film
1979
The Olsen Gang in Jutland

The Olsen Gang in Jutland

6.9Film
1971
Qivitoq

Qivitoq

6.1Film
1956
The Olsen Gang Goes to War

The Olsen Gang Goes to War

6.9Film
1978
The Olsen Gang Long Gone

The Olsen Gang Long Gone

6.6Film
1981
Death Comes at High Noon

Death Comes at High Noon

7.2Film
1964
The Olsen Gang's Big Score

The Olsen Gang's Big Score

6.7Film
1972
The Olsen Gang Sees Red

The Olsen Gang Sees Red

7.4Film
1976
Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve

4.3Film
1953
Den kære familie

Den kære familie

7.2Film
1962
Revolution My A..

Revolution My A..

6.3Film
1970
The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence

The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence

6.9Film
1981
Kispus

Kispus

5.5Film
1956
Relax Freddy

Relax Freddy

6.2Film
1966
The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte

The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte

5.4Film
1960
Summer in Tyrol

Summer in Tyrol

6.4Film
1964
Jeg er sgu min egen

Jeg er sgu min egen

10.0Film
1967
Us Petty Sinners

Us Petty Sinners

7.5Film
1952
Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør

Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør

6.5Film
1961
Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde

Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde

6.0Film
1976
Det var en lørdag aften

Det var en lørdag aften

6.5Film
1968
Faith, Hope and Witchcraft

Faith, Hope and Witchcraft

6.0Film
1960

Starring Erik