Erik Balling
Writing

Erik Balling

Born 1924-11-29 · Nyborg, Denmark · Died 2005-11-19

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.

ProducerDirectorCreatorWriterScreenplayAssistant DirectorCast

Known for

The Olsen Gang in a Fix★ 6.5Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang in a Fix
1969
Revolution My A..★ 5.4Viewing moment
Revolution My A..
1970
The House at Christianshavn★ 8Viewing moment
The House at Christianshavn
1970 · Series
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang★ 7.1Viewing moment
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang
1974
The Olsen Gang's Big Score★ 6.9Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang's Big Score
1972
Matador★ 9.1Viewing moment
Matador
1978 · Series
The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders★ 6.8Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders
1979
The Olsen Gang in Jutland★ 6.9Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang in Jutland
1971
Varning för Jönssonligan★ 6.1Viewing moment
Varning för Jönssonligan
1981
The Olsen Gang's Last Trick★ 5.9Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang's Last Trick
1998
For frihed og ret★ 6.2Viewing moment
For frihed og ret
1949
The Olsen Gang★ 7Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang
1968
Olsenbanden møter Kongen og Knekten★ 7.4Viewing moment
Olsenbanden møter Kongen og Knekten
1974
The Olsen Gang Runs Amok★ 6.8Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang Runs Amok
1973
The Olsen Gang Long Gone★ 7Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang Long Gone
1981
The Olsen Gang Goes to War★ 6.8Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang Goes to War
1978
Kassen stemmer★ 5.6Viewing moment
Kassen stemmer
1976
The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence★ 7Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence
1981
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight★ 7Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight
1977
The Olsen Gang on the Track★ 7.1Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang on the Track
1975
The Jönsson Gang & Dynamite Harry★ 5.9Viewing moment
The Jönsson Gang & Dynamite Harry
1982
Olsenbanden tar gull★ 7.3Viewing moment
Olsenbanden tar gull
1972
Olsen-banden★ 7.1Viewing moment
Olsen-banden
1969
The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry On The Trail★ 6.4Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry On The Trail
1977
Strisser på Samsø★ 7Viewing moment
Strisser på Samsø
1997 · Series
Adam and Eve★ 4.6Viewing moment
Adam and Eve
1953
Anthonsen★ 10Viewing moment
Anthonsen
1984 · Series
The Olsen Gang Sees Red★ 7.4Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang Sees Red
1976
In the Middle of the Night★ 6.4Viewing moment
In the Middle of the Night
1984
Olsenbanden og Dynamitt-Harry går amok★ 6.7Viewing moment
Olsenbanden og Dynamitt-Harry går amok
1973
The Olsen Gang and Data-Harry Blows Up The World Bank★ 6.4Viewing moment
The Olsen Gang and Data-Harry Blows Up The World Bank
1978
Vi arme syndere★ 7.5Viewing moment
Vi arme syndere
1952
Det var en lørdag aften★ 6.5Viewing moment
Det var en lørdag aften
1968
Vi som går køkkenvejenViewing moment
Vi som går køkkenvejen
1953
Qivitoq★ 6Viewing moment
Qivitoq
1956
Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør★ 6.5Viewing moment
Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør
1961
6-Day Race★ 7Viewing moment
6-Day Race
1958
Halløj i himmelsengen★ 5.5Viewing moment
Halløj i himmelsengen
1965
The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte★ 5.4Viewing moment
The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte
1960
One of Those ThingsViewing moment
One of Those Things
1971

Frequent collaborators