Elof Ahrle Movies

The title of this Swedish comedy, which translates as 65, 66 and I, refers to the serial numbers assigned to three militiamen. One of the three is a reluctant impostor, a wealthy businessman who dons a military uniform when his own clothes are stolen. The only person who knows his true identity is a young lieutenant, and he's not about to talk lest he jeopardize his previously forbidden romance with the businessman's daughter. Forced to take orders rather than give them for the first time in his life, our middle-aged hero finds that he's actually happier as a lowly private than as a captain of industry. The humor level in 65, 66 Och Yag is as broad as the businessman's behind, and just as funny. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jazzgossen (The Jazz Boy) is the filmed biography of famed Swedish showbiz entrepreneur Teddy Anker. During the Roaring '20s, socialite Anker (played by Hasse Ekman, who also directed), diverts his family millions into managing a nightclub, promoting prizefights, inaugurating a movie company, and various and sundry other forms of entertainment-industry largesse. Losing his fortune in the financial crash of the early 1930s, Anker picks himself up, dusts himself off, and starts all over again. The story ends during WWII when, despite Sweden's neutrality, Anker vows to do his bit for the war effort. Several of Teddy Anker's contemporaries play themselves, including musican Karl Gerhard, who originally popularized the title song. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

As noted by James Stewart in The Philadelphia Story, there's nothing like watching the privileged class enjoy its privileges. This was the principal attraction of the 1948 Swedish comedy, Livet pa Forsbyholm Manor (Life at Forsbyholm Manor). Henrik Hill's screenplay manages to leave no stone unturned in finding workable comic situations in and around a drafty old mansion. Immensely popular Scandinavian stars Sickan Carlsson and Egon Larsson managed to help the audiences ignore the film's paucity of plot. Outside of Sweden, however, the film did next to no business. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Elof Ahrle was producer, director and star of the Swedish seriocomedy Sangen om Stockholm. The title translates as Song of Stockholm, and indeed several songs are sung in the course of the film's 92 minutes. The story concerns a band of itinerant musicians, headed by the ineluctable Ahrle. For additional box-office insurance, real-life bandleader Sune Waldimir, then one of Sweden's most popular attractions, appears as himself. Critics in 1947 were not altogether impressed by the film, though many nice things were said about Sune Waldimir's natural acting ability. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi