Erik Balling

Writing·Nov 29, 1924·Nyborg, Danmark

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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.

Film	Credit
SSkide godt, Balling!2005 · Actor	Actor
The Olsen Gang's Last Trick1998 · Erik Balling (uncredited)	Erik Balling (uncredited)
Murder in Paradise1988 · Writer	Writer
PProfil af et job 1 – Folkene bag kameraet1988 · Self	Self
Murder in the Dark1986 · Writer	Writer
In the Middle of the Night1984 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Jönsson Gang & Dynamite Harry1982 · Screenplay	Screenplay
The Olsen Gang Long Gone1981 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence1981 · Director	Director
The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders1979 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Olsen Gang Goes to War1978 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Olsen Gang and Data-Harry Blows Up The World Bank1978 · Writer	Writer
BBandefører Balling1978 · Actor	Actor
The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry On The Trail1977 · Writer	Writer
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight1977 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Moelleby affair1976 · Writer	Writer
The Olsen Gang For Full Music1976 · Writer	Writer
The Olsen Gang Sees Red1976 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Kassen stemmer1976 · Writer	Writer
Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde1976 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Olsen Gang on the Track1975 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang1975 · Writer	Writer
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang1974 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Olsen Gang meets The King and the Jackal1974 · Writer	Writer
The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry Goes Wild1973 · Writer	Writer
The Olsen Gang Runs Amok1973 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Olsen Gang's Big Score1972 · Director	Director
The Olsen Gang Takes the Gold1972 · Writer	Writer
The Olsen Gang in Jutland1971 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Our Home Is Our Castle1971 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
One of Those Things1971 · Director, Writer, Producer	Director, Writer, Producer
Revolution My A..1970 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry1970 · Writer	Writer
The Olsen Gang in a Fix1969 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Olsen Gang1969 · Screenplay	Screenplay
The Olsen Gang1968 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Det var en lørdag aften1968 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Martha1967 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Jeg er sgu min egen1967 · Director	Director
Relax Freddy1966 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Strike First Freddy1965 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Landmandsliv1965 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Halløj i himmelsengen1965 · Director	Director
Summer in Tyrol1964 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Death Comes at High Noon1964 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Hvis lille pige er du?1963 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Girl Gogo1962 · Director	Director
Den kære familie1962 · Director	Director