Erik Balling
Writing
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
Writing56
movieThe Olsen Gang's Last Trick
1998
Characters, Script Consultant
tvStrisser på Samsø
1997
Writer
tvAnthonsen
1984
Idea
movieThe Jönsson Gang Gets Gold Fever
1984
Original Story
movieThe Olsen Gang's Very Last Coup
1982
Original Film Writer
movieBeware of the Jönsson Gang
1981
Characters
movieThe Olsen Gang Goes to War
1978
Screenplay
movieThe Olsen Gang Sees Red
1976
Screenplay
movieKassen stemmer
1976
Writer
movieThe Olsen Gang on the Track
1975
Screenplay
movieThe Olsen Gang in Jutland
1971
Screenplay
movieThe Olsen Gang in a Fix
1969
Screenplay
movieThe Olsen Gang
1969
Screenplay
movieThe Olsen Gang
1968
Screenplay
movieMartha
1967
Writer
movieRelax Freddy
1966
Writer
movieLandmandsliv
1965
Writer
movieSummer in Tyrol
1964
Writer
movieCirkus Buster
1961
Writer
movie6-Day Race
1958
Screenplay
movieKispus
1956
Writer
moviePå tro og love
1955
Writer
movieAdam and Eve
1953
Writer
Directing45
tvAnthonsen
1984
Director
tvMatador
1978
Director
movieThe Olsen Gang Sees Red
1976
Director
movieOur Home Is Our Castle
1971
Director
movieOne of Those Things
1971
Director
movieRevolution My A..
1970
Director
movieThe Olsen Gang in a Fix
1969
Director
movieThe Olsen Gang
1968
Director
movieDet var en lørdag aften
1968
Director
movieMartha
1967
Director
movieJeg er sgu min egen
1967
Director
movieRelax Freddy
1966
Director
movieStrike First Freddy
1965
Director
movieLandmandsliv
1965
Director
movieHalløj i himmelsengen
1965
Director
movieSummer in Tyrol
1964
Director
movieHvis lille pige er du?
1963
Director
movieThe Girl Gogo
1962
Director
movieDen kære familie
1962
Director
movieCirkus Buster
1961
Director
movieQivitoq
1956
Director
movieKispus
1956
Director
movieKongeligt besøg
1954
Director
movieAdam and Eve
1953
Director
movieVi som går køkkenvejen
1953
Director
movieUs Petty Sinners
1952
Director
movieFor freedom and justice
1949
Assistant Director
Production7
movieThe Olsen Gang's Last Trick
1998
Associate Producer
movieOne of Those Things
1971
Producer
movieForelsket i København
1960
Producer
movie6-Day Race
1958
Producer
movieKispus
1956
Producer
moviePå tro og love
1955
Producer