Gjest Baardsen is a Norwegian film from 1939 directed by Tancred Ibsen.[1][2] Alfred Maurstad played the title role.[2] The film is based on the life of the outlaw Gjest Baardsen, but it is a blend of fact and fiction. The plot is taken from a chapbook published by Holger Sinding under the pseudonym Halle Sira.[3]
| Gjest Baardsen | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Tancred Ibsen |
| Written by | Tancred Ibsen |
| Produced by | Tancred Ibsen |
| Starring | Alfred Maurstad Vibeke Falk Joachim Holst-Jensen Lauritz Falk Jens Holstad Karl Bergmann Sophus Dahl Lars Tvinde Martin Linge |
| Cinematography | Per G. Jonson Ulf Greber |
| Music by | Adolf Kristoffer Nielsen |
| Distributed by | Norsk Film A/S |
Release date |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | Norway |
| Language | Norwegian |
The film was shot at the Fuhr farm in Luster, at Turtagrø in the Sogn Mountains, and at Videseter in the Stryn Mountains.
The film was screened in the United States with English subtitles in the 1940s.[4][5][6]
Plot edit
The film is set in a time of famine. Norway has been at war with England and Sweden, and times are difficult. Gjest Baardsen has gotten into trouble with the law, apparently due to a trifle. But Gjest breaks free, and instead it is the sheriff that is handcuffed while Gjest escapes.
Reviews edit
Newspapers have written the following about the film: "Meet the master thief and the folk hero Gjest Baardsen, who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. He tricks the constable and bailiff into a fight, and no prisons or chains can hold him."[7] "Maurstad plays the folk hero with an obsessive freshness, with daring moves and a Hardanger fiddle, and escapes over fjords and mountains."[8]
Cast edit
- Alfred Maurstad as Gjest Baardsen
- Vibeke Falk as Anna Reinche
- Joachim Holst-Jensen as Mons Peder Michelsen, the jailer
- Lauritz Falk as an officer
- Jens Holstad as an officer
- Karl Bergmann as Reincke, the customs officer
- Sophus Dahl as a constable
- Lars Tvinde as a constable
- Sigurd Magnussøn as a constable
- Henny Skjønberg as Karen
- Henrik Børseth as a farmer
- Edvard Drabløs as a fisherman
- Martin Linge as a fisherman
- Einar Tveito as Mathias Strandvik
- Ole Leikvang as a farmer
- Johannes Jensen as Johannes, the constable's officer
- Victor Ivarson as the inspector
- Johan Hauge as the judge
- Hans Bille as the chief of police
- Thorleif Mikkelsen as a policeman
Songs edit
- "Fjellsangen" (lyrics by Holger Sinding, melody by Adolf Kristoffer Nielsen), sung by Alfred Maurstad
- "Svarterabben" (lyrics and melody by Alfred Maurstad), sung by Alfred Maurstad
Alfred Maustad and an orchestra directed by Adolf Kristoffer Nielsen also recorded these two songs in Oslo on February 20, 1940. They were released on the Telefunken 78 rpm record T-8261,[9] and the first song also on the Sonora 78 rpm record 3748.[10]
References edit
- ^ Hjort, Mette; Lindqvist, Ursula (2016). A Companion to Nordic Cinema. Malden, MA: Wiley Blackwell. p. 195.
- ^ a b Iverson, Gunnar; Soderbergh Widding, Astrid; Soila, Tytti (2005). Nordic National Cinemas. London: Routledge. p. 107.
- ^ Sira, Halle (1891). Gjest Baardsen: en Forbryders Livsroman: Fortælling fra Aarhundredets Begyndelse: Efter Forhørsakter, Optegnelser og Meddelelser, 1.-2. Del. Kristiania: Folkeskriftselskabet.
- ^ Sorensen, Sterling (May 4, 1943). "Drama". The Capital Times. Madison, WI. p. 9. Retrieved October 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Norwegian Film 'Gjest Baardsen' Here April 21–22". Leader-telegram. Eau Claire, WI. April 21, 1942. p. 5. Retrieved October 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "'Gjest Baardsen' Norwegian Talking Picture Coming". The Havre Daily News. Havre, MT. June 18, 1943. p. 3. Retrieved October 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Film i dag: Gjest Baardsen". Dagsavisen. No. 204. August 3, 2006. p. 41. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
Møt mestertyven og folkehelten Gjest Baardsen – som stjeler fra de rike og gir til de fattige. Han lurer lensmann og fut opp i stry – og ingen fengsler eller lenker kan holde ham.
- ^ "Verdal kino: Gjest Baardsen". Innherreds Folkeblad Verdalingen. No. 37. May 13, 1969. p. 2. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
Maurstad spiller folkehelten med en besettende friskfyraktighet, med kjempesleng og hardingfele og rømninger over fjord og fjell.
- ^ "78 RPM – Alfred Maurstad – Fjellsangen / Svarterabben". 45worlds. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
- ^ "Alfred Maurstad". Musiknostalgi. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
