Edderkoppen (2000– )

A reporter is drawn into the dark side of post-war Copenhagen as he attempts to uncover a crime syndicate on an unprecedented level.

Writer:

Ole Christian Madsen (creator)

Stars:

Jakob Cedergren, Stine Stengade, Lars Mikkelsen

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Jakob Cedergren	...	Bjarne Madsen (6 episodes, 2000)
Stine Stengade	...	Lisbeth Gordan (6 episodes, 2000)
Lars Mikkelsen	...	Ole Madsen (6 episodes, 2000)
Bent Mejding	...	H.C. Vissing (6 episodes, 2000)
Lars Bom	...	Arthur Næslund (6 episodes, 2000)
Birthe Neumann	...	Vera Madsen (6 episodes, 2000)
Bjarne Henriksen	...	Svend Aage Hjalmar (6 episodes, 2000)
Louise Mieritz	...	Eva Lund (6 episodes, 2000)
Flemming Enevold	...	Georg Vanbjerg (6 episodes, 2000)
Troels Lyby	...	Walter (6 episodes, 2000)
Max Hansen	...	Ove Ramsing (6 episodes, 2000)
Steen Springborg	...	Peder Taulov (6 episodes, 2000)
Henrik Prip	...	Aaberg (6 episodes, 2000)
Peter Flyvholm	...	Jochumsen (6 episodes, 2000)
Peter Steen	...	Ingvar Gordan (5 episodes, 2000)
Lotte Andersen	...	Lillian Olsen (5 episodes, 2000)
Klaus Bondam	...	Gylling (5 episodes, 2000)
Peter Rygaard	...	Hjort (5 episodes, 2000)
Claus Ryskjær	...	Væsel (5 episodes, 2000)
Lars Brygmann	...	Dam Jensen (4 episodes, 2000)
Preben Harris	...	Vilhelm Davidsen (4 episodes, 2000)
Susse Wold	...	Kitty Gordan (4 episodes, 2000)
Gerard Bidstrup	...	Svenne (4 episodes, 2000)
Thure Lindhardt	...	Billy (4 episodes, 2000)
Jimmy Jørgensen	...	Krølle (4 episodes, 2000)
Thomas Milton Walther	...	Victor (4 episodes, 2000)
Mikkel Vadsholt	...	Røde (4 episodes, 2000)
Per Goldschmidt	...	Meyer (4 episodes, 2000)
Henrik Birch	...	Advokat (4 episodes, 2000)
Steen Stig Lommer	...	Carlo (4 episodes, 2000)
Henrik Koefoed	...	Overbetjent Pedersen (3 episodes, 2000)
Thomas Bo Larsen	...	Arne Hansen (3 episodes, 2000)
Trine Dyrholm	...	Topsy (3 episodes, 2000)
Kjeld Nørgaard	...	Asmus (3 episodes, 2000)
Lars Lunøe	...	Justitsministeren (3 episodes, 2000)
Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Rudolf Novak (3 episodes, 2000)
Michael Hasselflug	...	Volmer Olsen (3 episodes, 2000)
Jens Jørn Spottag	...	Erik Thuesen (2 episodes, 2000)
Paprika Steen	...	Helga Krog (2 episodes, 2000)
Al Agami	...	Chip (2 episodes, 2000)
Ole Thestrup	...	Foto-Brandt (2 episodes, 2000)
Søren Pilmark	...	Jørgen Schiøtt (2 episodes, 2000)
Niels Anders Thorn	...	Grev Erik (2 episodes, 2000)
Birgit Zinn	...	Pensionatsværtinde (2 episodes, 2000)
Moussa Diallo	...	Dale (2 episodes, 2000)
Marianne Høgsbro	...	Dommer (2 episodes, 2000)
Hans Henrik Clemensen	...	Carlzon (2 episodes, 2000)
Martin Roy Wade		(2 episodes, 2000)
Pia Koch Stead	...	Greta (2 episodes, 2000)
Nikolaj Steen	...	Busch (2 episodes, 2000)
Katrine Madsen	...	Sangerinde (2 episodes, 2000)
Jesper Bodilsen	...	Bassist (2 episodes, 2000)
Carsten Bagge	...	Trommeslager (2 episodes, 2000)
Carsten Skov Nielsen	...	Vibrafonist (2 episodes, 2000)
Mads Tolling	...	Violinist (2 episodes, 2000)
Jacob Dinesen	...	Tenorsaxofonist (2 episodes, 2000)
Søren Kristiansen	...	Pianist (2 episodes, 2000)
Carina Due	...	Værtinde (2 episodes, 2000)

Storyline

The series follows young reporter Bjarne Madsen in Copenhagen in 1949, a time marked by the aftermath of World War II. Madsen is inexperienced, but enthusiastic; when he gets a hunch of a crime syndicate of black market trade he hunts the story head-first, much to the discomfort of his more conservative newspaper colleagues. However, as Madsen uncovers new elements of the story an older colleague catches interest, and together they venture into the dark side of the big city. Meanwhile, Bjarne's brother returns from America with new ideas of jazz and big money, and they are both drawn to the beauty and talents of young diva Gordan.

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Plot Keywords:

reporter | jazz | copenhagen denmark | death | police | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History | Romance | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Danmarks Radio [dk] (danish)

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Release Date:

26 March 2000 (Denmark)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Danmarks Radio (DR), Metronome Productions, Sveriges Television (SVT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

58 min 58 min (6 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The orchestra used in the series is The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Connections

Featured in I Edderkoppens kølvand (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Bare du vil smitte mig lidt"
Performed by Marguerite Viby

User Reviews

Best Danish TV-show in years

"Edderkoppen" (The Spider) is definitely one of the best Danish television shows in years - if not ever. It beats "Riget" (The Kingdom) in everything, except originality, because The Spider is above anything else an exercise in style. It is very clear that the makers of this 6-episode tv-show know their film noir and they put this knowledge to good use!

Based loosely on a true Danish criminal case, the series centers around a young reporter, Bjarne Madsen, who picks up on black market dealings in the years 1949-50 in Denmark - a period where police corruption flourished and a real Danish mob seemed to exist. His struggle for the truth results in events he cannot control, and before he knows it more than black market dealings are the issues and the stakes are high indeed.

I have nothing but respect for the makers of this mini-series. As I mentioned it is not particularly original - most of the ideas and the action has been seen before (albeit not in a Danish context) - but is is incredibly well-produced. A staggering 6 million Danish crowns (about 1 million dollars) was spent on each one-hour episode. This may not seem much by US-standards, but in Denmark 6 million crowns is a lot for a TV-production. And it pays off: the production design is wonderful, the acting is mostly brilliant (certainly better than in The Kingdom), the directing almost flawless, and the script is well-written and thrilling until the end. Søren Hyldgaards orchestral score (performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra) is wonderful too, although it is very clear that he was inspired by foreign film composers, especially Jerry Goldsmith and his score for "L.A. Confidential".

In all, "The Spider" is one of the best TV-productions ever to come out of Denmark, and it is highly recommended!