Erik Balling
2.6Writing

Erik Balling

Nov 29, 1924 - Nyborg, 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.

Credits

Cast

Media
Movie1978Bandefører Balling
Movie1998The Olsen Gang's Last TrickErik Balling (uncredited)
Movie2005Skide godt, Balling!
Movie1988Profil af et job 1 – Folkene bag kameraetSelf

Crew

Media
Movie1968The Olsen GangDirectorDirecting
Movie1968The Olsen GangScreenplayWriting
Movie1971The Olsen Gang in JutlandDirectorDirecting
Movie1971The Olsen Gang in JutlandScreenplayWriting
Movie1975The Olsen Gang on the TrackDirectorDirecting
Movie1975The Olsen Gang on the TrackScreenplayWriting
Movie1976The Olsen Gang Sees RedDirectorDirecting
Movie1976The Olsen Gang Sees RedScreenplayWriting
Movie1967MarthaDirectorDirecting
Movie1967MarthaWriterWriting
Movie1974The Last Exploits of the Olsen GangDirectorDirecting
Movie1974The Last Exploits of the Olsen GangWriterWriting
Movie1979The Olsen Gang Never SurrendersDirectorDirecting
Movie1979The Olsen Gang Never SurrendersWriterWriting
Movie1966Relax FreddyDirectorDirecting
Movie1965Strike First FreddyDirectorDirecting
Movie1969The Olsen Gang in a FixDirectorDirecting
Movie1969The Olsen Gang in a FixScreenplayWriting
Movie1978The Olsen Gang Goes to WarDirectorDirecting
Movie1978The Olsen Gang Goes to WarScreenplayWriting
Movie1984In the Middle of the NightDirectorDirecting
Movie1984In the Middle of the NightWriterWriting
Movie1986Murder in the DarkWriterWriting
Movie1977The Olsen Gang Outta SightDirectorDirecting
Movie1977The Olsen Gang Outta SightWriterWriting
Movie1982The Jönsson Gang & Dynamite HarryScreenplayWriting
Movie1961Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumørDirectorDirecting
Movie1972The Olsen Gang's Big ScoreDirectorDirecting
Movie1972The Olsen Gang's Big ScoreAuthorWriting
Movie1973The Olsen Gang Runs AmokDirectorDirecting
Movie1981The Olsen Gang Long GoneDirectorDirecting
Movie1981The Olsen Gang Jumps the FenceDirectorDirecting
Movie1981The Olsen Gang Jumps the FenceAuthorWriting
Movie1971Our Home Is Our CastleDirectorDirecting
Movie1971Our Home Is Our CastleWriterWriting
Movie1956QivitoqDirectorDirecting
Movie1960The Poet and Lillemor and LotteDirectorDirecting
Movie1962Den kære familieDirectorDirecting
Movie1953Adam and EveDirectorDirecting
Movie1953Adam and EveWriterWriting
Movie1967Jeg er sgu min egenDirectorDirecting
Movie1970Revolution My A..DirectorDirecting
Movie1962The Girl GogoDirectorDirecting
Movie1956KispusDirectorDirecting
Movie1976Kassen stemmerWriterWriting
Movie1968Det var en lørdag aftenDirectorDirecting
Movie1968Det var en lørdag aftenWriterWriting
Movie1971One of Those ThingsDirectorDirecting
Movie1960Faith, Hope and WitchcraftDirectorDirecting
Movie1960Faith, Hope and WitchcraftWriterWriting
Movie1956KispusWriterWriting
Movie1956KispusProducerProduction
Movie1965LandmandslivDirectorDirecting
Movie1965LandmandslivWriterWriting
Movie1960The Poet and Lillemor and LotteWriterWriting
Movie1961Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumørWriterWriting
Movie1953Vi som går køkkenvejenDirectorDirecting
Movie1965Halløj i himmelsengenDirectorDirecting
Movie1964Summer in TyrolDirectorDirecting
Movie1964Summer in TyrolWriterWriting
Movie1965Strike First FreddyWriterWriting
Movie1955På tro og loveWriterWriting
Movie1961Cirkus BusterDirectorDirecting
Movie1964Death Comes at High NoonDirectorDirecting
Movie1959The Poet and the Little MotherDirectorDirecting
Movie1963Hvis lille pige er du?DirectorDirecting
Movie1963Hvis lille pige er du?WriterWriting
Movie1966Relax FreddyWriterWriting
Movie1954Kongeligt besøgDirectorDirecting
Movie1976The Moelleby affairWriterWriting
Movie1964Death Comes at High NoonWriterWriting
Movie1971One of Those ThingsWriterWriting
Movie1971One of Those ThingsProducerProduction
Movie1988Murder in ParadiseWriterWriting
Movie1959The Poet and the Little MotherWriterWriting
Movie1970Revolution My A..WriterWriting
Movie1970The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-HarryWriterWriting
Movie1972The Olsen Gang Takes the GoldWriterWriting
Movie1973The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry Goes WildWriterWriting
Movie1974The Olsen Gang meets The King and the JackalWriterWriting
Movie1975The Last Exploits of the Olsen GangWriterWriting
Movie1976The Olsen Gang For Full MusicWriterWriting
Movie1977The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry On The TrailWriterWriting
Movie1978The Olsen Gang and Data-Harry Blows Up The World BankWriterWriting
Movie19586-Day RaceProducerProduction
Movie19586-Day RaceScreenplayWriting
Movie1969The Olsen GangScreenplayWriting
Movie1955På tro og loveProducerProduction
Movie1973The Olsen Gang Runs AmokWriterWriting
Movie1981The Olsen Gang Long GoneWriterWriting
Movie1998The Olsen Gang's Last TrickCharactersWriting
Movie1998The Olsen Gang's Last TrickAssociate ProducerProduction
Movie1998The Olsen Gang's Last TrickScript ConsultantWriting
Movie1949For freedom and justiceAssistant DirectorDirecting
Movie1960Forelsket i KøbenhavnProducerProduction
Movie1981Beware of the Jönsson GangCharactersWriting
Movie1952Us Petty SinnersDirectorDirecting
Movie1984The Jönsson Gang Gets Gold FeverOriginal StoryWriting
Movie1976Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfældeDirectorDirecting
Movie1976Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfældeWriterWriting
TV Show1978MatadorDirectorDirecting
TV Show1970The House at ChristianshavnDirectorDirecting
TV Show1997Strisser på SamsøWriterWriting
TV Show1984AnthonsenDirectorDirecting
TV Show1984AnthonsenIdeaWriting
TV Show1970The House at ChristianshavnWriterWriting
TV Show1970The House at ChristianshavnProducerProduction
TV Show1970The House at ChristianshavnCreatorCrew
TV Show1978MatadorCreatorCreator
TV Show1970The House at ChristianshavnCreatorCreator
TV Show1984AnthonsenCreatorCreator