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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2005
Skide godt, Balling!
Movie
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1998
The Olsen Gang's Last Trick
Movie Erik Balling (uncredited)
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1997
Strisser på Samsø
TV show Writer
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1988
Murder in Paradise
Movie Writer
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1988
Profil af et job 1 – Folkene bag kameraet
Movie Self
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1986
Murder in the Dark
Movie Writer
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1984
Anthonsen
TV show Director
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1984
The Jönsson Gang Gets Gold Fever
Movie Original Story
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1984
In the Middle of the Night
Movie Director
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1982
The Jönsson Gang & Dynamite Harry
Movie Screenplay
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1982
The Olsen Gang's Very Last Coup
Movie Original Film Writer
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1981
The Olsen Gang Long Gone
Movie Director
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1981
Beware of the Jönsson Gang
Movie Characters
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1981
The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence
Movie Director
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1979
The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders
Movie Director
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1978
Matador
TV show Director
More credits
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1978
The Olsen Gang Goes to War
Movie Director
- 1978
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1978
Bandefører Balling
Movie
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1977
The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry On The Trail
Movie Writer
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1977
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight
Movie Director
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1976
The Olsen Gang For Full Music
Movie Writer
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1976
The Moelleby affair
Movie Writer
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1976
The Olsen Gang Sees Red
Movie Director
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1976
Kassen stemmer
Movie Writer
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1976
Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde
Movie Director
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1975
The Olsen Gang on the Track
Movie Director
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1975
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang
Movie Writer
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1974
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang
Movie Director
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1974
The Olsen Gang meets The King and the Jackal
Movie Writer
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1973
The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry Goes Wild
Movie Writer
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1973
The Olsen Gang Runs Amok
Movie Director
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1972
The Olsen Gang's Big Score
Movie Director
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1972
The Olsen Gang Takes the Gold
Movie Writer
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1971
The Olsen Gang in Jutland
Movie Director
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1971
Our Home Is Our Castle
Movie Director
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1971
One of Those Things
Movie Director
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1970
Revolution My A..
Movie Director
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1970
The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry
Movie Writer
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1970
The House at Christianshavn
TV show Director