Olsen-banden ser rødt (1976)

Director:

Erik Balling

Writers:

Henning Bahs (writer)
Erik Balling (writer)

Release Date:

1 October 1976 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Plot:

Egon and the gang are hired to stage a robbery of an antique Chinese vase for an economically challenged baron...

Plot Keywords:

Olsenbanden | Father Son Relationship | Sequel | Character Name In Title

Cast

Ove Sprogøe	...	Egon Olsen
Morten Grunwald	...	Benny Frandsen
Poul Bundgaard	...	Kjeld Jensen
Kirsten Walther	...	Yvonne Jensen
Jes Holtsø	...	Børge Jensen
Lene Brøndum	...	Fie
Bjørn Watt-Boolsen	...	Lensbaron Ulrik Christian Frederik Løvenwold
Ove Verner Hansen	...	Frits
Ejner Federspiel	...	Joachim
Axel Strøbye	...	Kriminalassistent Jensen
Ole Ernst	...	Politiassistent Holm
Buster Larsen	...	Mesterkokken
Bent Mejding	...	Kapelmester
Freddy Koch	...	Hollandsk opkøber
Ernst Meyer	...	Kok
Else-Marie	...	Kokkepigen
Claus Nissen	...	Chefpsykolog Mathias Gali
Asbjørn Andersen	...	Christian IV på Det Kongelige Teater
Edward Fleming	...	Chaufffør for Hollandsk opkøber
Palle Huld	...	Direktør Hallandsen
Karl Stegger	...	Brandvagt
Poul Thomsen	...	Taxachauffør
Søren Rode	...	Mand fra Ordenskapitlet
Benny Badenfeldt
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Finn Bredahl
Togani	...	Kok, der bliver forbrændt

Directed by
Erik Balling

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Henning Bahs		writer
Erik Balling		writer

Produced by
Bo Christensen	....	producer

Original Music by
Bent Fabricius-Bjerre
Friedrich Kuhlau

Cinematography by
Henning Kristiansen

Film Editing by
Ole Steen Nielsen

Production Design by
Henning Bahs
Peter Høimark

Costume Design by
Lotte Dandanell

Makeup Department
Pia Wickmann	....	makeup artist

Art Department
Jes Holtsø	....	props
Magnus Magnusson	....	property master

Sound Department
John Nielsen	....	sound
Hans W. Sørensen	....	sound
Stig Sparre-Ulrich	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Henning Bahs	....	special effects
Peter Høimark	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Jesper Find	....	first assistant camera
Jeppe Jeppesen	....	additional photographer
Rolf Konow	....	still photographer
Jørgen Kunz	....	lighting technician
Claus Loof	....	additional photographer
Søren Sørensen	....	lighting technician

Other crew
Birthe Frost	....	script

Production Companies

• Nordisk Film

Also Known As:

The Olsen Gang Sees Red (International: English title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Det Kongelige Teater, Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

Nordisk Film

Trivia:

The Baron's family motto "Honi soit qui pense" means "Shame on those who think". It is a corruption of the motto of the English Order of the Garter: "Honi soit qui mal y pense", meaning "Shame on those who think evil about this".

Goofs:

Continuity: In preparation for the final coup at the Kopenhagen opera house, Egon orders that they obtain 16 explosive charges. During the actual coup, however, there are 24 explosions.

Movie Connections:

Follows Olsen-banden på spanden (1969)

Excellence continues in one of the most memorable entries

This is quite probably the most mentioned and possibly even watched of the movies concerning The Olsen Gang. The reason is one scene that defines the genius that is the writing and directing that is Bahs and Balling and the Olsen-Banden movies: The scene at the Danish Royal theater, featuring both the Overture of Elverhøj and one of this country's two National Anthems. Just about everyone reading this probably already knows exactly what the scene details... and anyone who doesn't should not simply read about it. It's one of the most unforgettable scenes in movie history, as far as comedy goes. For my money, anyone who considers them-self to possess a sense of humor should watch this scene at least once, and it doesn't hurt to see it more than that. I've watched this film so much that the VHS tape is worn... and I'm still enjoying the scene immensely and noticing amazing details about it. The plot is well-written and interesting. Including nobility was a marvelous idea, and they have a lot of fun with the class. The pacing is right on... I was never bored for a second. The adding of Fie, Børge's girlfriend is great, and Lene Brøndum did a lot with an amount of lines that could practically be counted on a hand. Her facial and body language do most of her acting, and it works great. Ernst Meyer provides a delightfully Franco-phile chef. Bent Mejding gives an incredible performance in the small role of the conductor. And Asbjørn Andersen deserves a mention... his last role, a cameo, and then one so fitting. It could be argued that he portrays himself. The humor is very sophisticated and retains the human touch that makes these films stand head and shoulders above the typical Danish comedy of this period(whilst, admittedly, many of them are hilarious). There is a very small amount of cartoony humor in this one, but it's such a brief occurrence, it makes little difference one way or the other. The police are made fun of again, and this time, the granting of medals and such are added to the parody pile. There appears to be a common theme between this and the former... that of workers having outlived the time they grew up in and preferred to live in. "The good old days" are no more, so to speak. A bit in this that begs mention is when Poul Bundgaard and Ove Verner Hansen, who were both opera singers, both emit some rather deep vocal sounds. There's an added touch of irony when Bundgaard, being asked what it was he just did, replies "I don't know!" whilst grinning nervously. A thoroughly well-written and highly entertaining film in a great series. I recommend this to any fan of the series and/or of Danish comedy in general. I'd suggest you make sure to have watched as many of the previous films as you can first, for important background and character knowledge. 8/10