John Olsen (filmmaker)
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John Olsen (12 August 1888 – 9 December 1959) was a Danish film producer,
screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...
and theater owner. Olsen founded the Saga Studio in
Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the Øresund strait. The Øres ...
where he produced more than 30 films from 1941 to 1959, including the
Danish Culture Canon The Danish Culture Canon () consists of 108 works of cultural excellence in eight categories: architecture, visual arts, design, design and crafts, film, literature, music, performing arts, and children's culture. An initiative of Brian Mikkelsen i ...
film ''
Soldaten og Jenny ''Jenny and the Soldier'' () is a 1947 Danish dramatic film written and directed by Johan Jacobsen. The black-and-white film is based on the 1940 stage play ''Brudstykker af et mønster'' () written by Danish playwright Carl Erik Soya. The grit ...
''. He wrote 24 films between 1936 and 1960. In 1941, Olsen built and operated one of Scandinavia's largest movie theaters, the 1513-seat Saga Teatret in Copenhagen.


Early life

Friedjohn Fulton Olsen was born in Copenhagen, the second youngest son of manufacturer Frederik Ferdinand Olsen, who ran a small business of collecting rags and bones for further processing. He attended Vestre Borgerdydsskole where he earned a primary diploma, and then moved to Germany for a merchant apprenticeship.


Career

In 1910, Olsen began work for the Moving Picture Agency in London, working variously as a developer, cinematographer, distributor and company representative. After 3 years, he opened his own distribution company in London for the sale of films to Scandinavia. In 1915 he returned to Denmark and renamed the business Overseas Film Trading Company. While spending much of the year traveling to Hollywood, Olsen secured the distribution rights for the films of
Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is considered o ...
and D.W. Griffith as well as the received the films at First National and
Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...
After starting a separate movie rental company in 1933, Olsen also began producing his own films at a studio in
Hellerup Hellerup () is a very affluent district of Gentofte Municipality in the suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark. The most urban part of the district is centred on Strandvejen and is bordered by Østerbro to the south and the Øresund to the east. It compr ...
. In 1936 Olsen joined Lau Lauritzen Jr. and
Henning Karmark Henning Karmark (17 December 1907 – 11 January 1989) was a Danish film producer. He produced 90 films between 1937 and 1971 and was one of the most active producers at the ASA Film studio. He was born in Varde, Denmark and died in Nice, Fr ...
in the founding of the ASA Film Studio, where he helped to produce twenty films. In 1942, after a falling out with Henning Karmark over financial issues, Olsen started his own production company, film studio, Saga Studios in
Charlottenlund Charlottenlund is a suburban area on the coast north of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the administrative seat of Gentofte Municipality. Bordered to the east by the Øresund, to the South by Hellerup and to the north by Klampenborg, it is one of the ...
. The same year he also built the 1513-seat Saga Theater, one of Scandinavia's largest cinema. At Saga Studio, Olsen was producer for every production. To a large extent, he was also a writer or co-creator, working with
Victor Borge Børge Rosenbaum (; 3 January 1909 – 23 December 2000), known professionally as Victor Borge ( ), was a Danish and American actor, comedian, and pianist who achieved great popularity in radio and television in both North America and Europe. Hi ...
, Arvid Muller,
Paul Sarauw Paul Sarauw (30 November 1883 – 24 April 1959) was a Danish screenwriter. He wrote for more than 50 films between 1916 and 1959. He was born and died in Denmark. Selected filmography * '' Skal vi vædde en million?'' (1932) * '' Lalla vin ...
,
Annelise Reenberg Annelise Reenberg (16 September 1919 – 12 December 1994) was a Danish cinematographer, film director and screenwriter. She directed 23 films between 1950 and 1971. Filmography (selected) * ' (1950) * ''24 timer (film), 24 timer'' (1951) * ...
and others. His Saga Studio productions were very successful and included the popular hit comedies of
Dirch Passer Dirch Hartvig Passer (18 May 1926 – 3 September 1980) was a Danish actor and comedian. He was renowned for his improvisational skills and, with a filmography comprising 90 films, one of Denmark's most prolific actors. His life is depicted in ...
. In addition, Olsen produced some more serious, critically acclaimed films including ''
Der kom en dag ''Der kom en dag'' () is a 1955 Danish dramatic film directed by Sven Methling, It stars John Wittig, Kjeld Jacobsen and Astrid Villaume as Danish resistance fighters during the last days of the German occupation of Denmark in World War II. ...
'' and ''
Soldaten og Jenny ''Jenny and the Soldier'' () is a 1947 Danish dramatic film written and directed by Johan Jacobsen. The black-and-white film is based on the 1940 stage play ''Brudstykker af et mønster'' () written by Danish playwright Carl Erik Soya. The grit ...
'' which won the first
Bodil Award The Bodil Awards are the major Danish film awards given by the Danish Film Critics Association. The awards are presented annually at a ceremony in Copenhagen. Established in 1948, it is one of the oldest film awards in Europe. The awards are gi ...
for best film and is one of ten films in the Danish Cultural Canon. Olsen wrote more than twenty screenplays between 1936 and 1960, including ''Recrut 67, Petersen'', ''Det var pa Rundetarn'', ''Ferry Inn'', ''Mate Karlsen'' and ''Baronessen fra Benzintanken'', his last film. Olsen died in Copenhagen on 9 December 1959 and was buried in Frederiksberg Cemetery. John Flemming Olsen, his son from his marriage to Inger Marie Karmann on 8 April 1916, continued the leadership of the Saga Studios until it closed in 1974.


Selected filmography

* '' Sun Over Denmark'' (1936) * '' For Better, for Worse'' (1938) * ''
Rekrut 67, Petersen ''Rekrut 67, Petersen'' is a 1952 Danish family film directed by Poul Bang. Cast *Lily Broberg as Grete Petersen * Gunnar Lauring as Kaptajn Fang * Kate Mundt as Anna Mogensen *Ib Schønberg as Dr. Christiansen *Buster Larsen as Peter Rasmusse ...
'' (1952) * '' I kongens klæ'r'' (1954) * ''
Det var paa Rundetaarn ''Det var paa Rundetaarn'' is a 1955 Danish comedy film directed by Poul Bang and starring Dirch Passer and Ove Sprogøe. Cast *Dirch Passer as Poul Jensen *Ove Sprogøe as Hans Ramløse *Clara Østø as Fru Hambro *Kjeld Petersen as Landsrets ...
'' (1955) * ''
Færgekroen ''Færgekroen'' is a 1956 Danish film directed by Poul Bang and starring Dirch Passer. Cast * Dirch Passer - Erik Hansen * Ove Sprogøe - Lars Tofte * Kjeld Petersen - Jens Ravn * Lily Broberg - Kamilla * Poul Müller - Niels Ermandsen * Else ...
'' (1956) * ''
Tag til marked i Fjordby ''Tag til marked i Fjordby'' is a 1957 Danish comedy film directed by Poul Bang and starring Dirch Passer. Plot The creepy villain Lasse Larsen has a dangerous hypnotic grip over one of his half-sister lineage, dancer Lillian and forces her ...
'' (1957) * ''
Onkel Bill fra New York ''Onkel Bill fra New York'' (English: Uncle Bill from New York) is a 1959 Danish comedy film directed by Peer Guldbrandsen and starring Dirch Passer. Cast * Dirch Passer as Hans Høj * Helle Virkner as Susanne Høj * Ove Sprogøe as Johnny Je ...
'' (1959) * ''
Charles' Aunt ''Charles' Aunt'' () is a 1959 Danish comedy film directed by Poul Bang and starring Dirch Passer. The 101-minute film is based on the 1892 play ''Charley's Aunt'' by Brandon Thomas. Cast * Dirch Passer as Grev Ditlev Lensby * Ove Sprogøe a ...
'' (1959) * ''
Baronessen fra benzintanken (English: ''The Baroness from the Gas Station'') is a 1960 Danish comedy film directed by Annelise Reenberg and starring Maria Garland, Ghita Nørby, Dirch Passer and Ove Sprogøe. Cast * Maria Garland - Dowager baroness Alvilda von Rosenstee ...
'' (1960)


References


External links

*
John Olsen Biography
at the Danish Film Database
John Olsen
at the Danish Film Institute {{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen, John 1888 births 1959 deaths Danish male screenwriters Danish film producers 20th-century Danish screenwriters Film people from Copenhagen