Hugo Bolander Movies
- 1948
This broad Swedish comedy was based on the popular Scandinavian comic-strip character Private Karlsson. Though the title translates as Private Karlsson on Leave, the film gets many of its laughs by satirizing army-camp protocol and discipline. Gus Dahlstrom plays the title character, getting into all sorts of jams when he mingles with the civilians. Non-Swedish audiences tended to find some of the routines dull and offensive, but domestic audiences howled with hilarity. Like most service comedies of the era, Nittioettan Karlssons Permis struck its most responsive chord with ex-servicemen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gus Dahlstrom
- 1947
Hollywood had its Blondie and Dick Tracy; Sweden had its Kronblom. Ludde Gentzel stars in this cinematic rendition of the popular Swedish comic-magazine character created by Elov Persson. Put simply, Kronblom has an aversion to work, which is why he's constantly broke. The film details Kronblom's various schemes to keep food on the table without stooping to ordinary labor. In a departure from the original, the screen version of Kronblom is a man of wisdom and intelligence, enabling the audience to "pull" for him throughout. Faced with the film's 110-minute running time, however, non-Scandinavian audiences weren't as sympathetically inclined towards the portentous protagonist. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ludde Gentzel, Dagmar Ebbesen, (more)
- 1947
The English-language title of this Swedish slapstick comedy is Poor Little Sven. The star is Nils Poppe, hailed in some circles as the Swedish Charlie Chaplin but comporting himself herein more like Buster Keaton. Based on the British operetta "Mr. Cinders," the story finds the bethumped Mr. Poppe winning both financial success and the girl of his dreams, while flattening the stock of his pompous enemies. Scandinavian audiences, already predisposed to enjoy the film, were further delighted by its splendid color photography. But comedy doesn't always survive a sea change, which may be why Stackers Lille Sven wasn't released in the U.S. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nils Poppe, Annalisa Ericson, (more)
- 1946
Military comedies always did great business in Sweden, though the peculiar charms of these films were generally lost on non-Scandavian audiences. Typical of the genre is 91:an Karlsson (Private #91 Karlsson), starring Gus Dahlstrom in the title role. Since Sweden took no active part in WW2, Private Karlsson's misadventures are confined to boot camp and furloughs. Reportedly, the film was greeted with but mild laughter in Sweden, indicating that chances for its worldwide distribution were next to nil. And at 88 minutes, the "padding" really showed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gus Dahlstrom, Holger Hoeglund, (more)
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