Benjamin Christensen
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Christensen was a Danish film director, screenwriter and an actor both in film and on the stage. As a director he is most well known for the 1922 film Häxan
and as an actor, he is best known for his performance in the film Michael
(1924), in which he plays Claude Zoret, the jilted lover of the film's title character.
and initially studied medicine, but caught the acting bug and began studies at the Det Kongelige Teater (Royal Danish Theatre) in Copenhagen in 1901. Christensen's professional acting career began in Aarhus in 1907, but after a short stint as actor he abandoned the stage in order to become a wine salesman. In 1911, Christensen made his debut as a film actor; all of his pre-directorial efforts are lost, but among such films was Scenens børn (1913), the only motion picture directed by eminent Danish playwright and stage director Bjørn Bjørnson
.
In 1913, Christensen assumed control of the small, Hellborg-based production company for which he worked and reorganized it as Dansk-Biograf Kompagnie. The first film he directed, Det hemmelighedsfulde X (The Mysterious X, 1914), was one of the most astonishing directorial debuts in film history; although a routine spy melodrama, the camerawork, cutting and art direction were revolutionary for the period. Christensen himself played the main role, as he did in his second film, Hævnens nat (Blind Justice, 1916). Once again, Christensen portrayed a man wrongly accused of murder, and the artistic quality of his sophomore effort was equal to his first. Despite the success of his first two films, Christensen did not find acceptance within the Danish film industry, and after Blind Justice he returned to the stage.
Between 1918 and 1921, Christensen researched the history of necromancy as background for his next and greatest film, Häxan
(The Witches, or "Witchcraft Through the Ages," 1922), in which Christensen appeared in the role of Satan. A plotless panorama of the history of witchcraft, Häxan is a visual tour de force that utilizes nudity, gore and sheer shock value on a level that remains incredible for a silent film; nevertheless, despite being plundered by censor boards everywhere, Häxan was an international success. Based on the response to Häxan, Christensen received an invitation from UFA
to direct in Germany. He made two films for them, though Christensen's most memorable work in Germany was as an actor in the key supporting role of the painter Claude Zoret in his fellow countryman Carl Theodor Dreyer
's film Michael (1924). This would prove Christensen's last film appearance as an actor.
In 1924, M-G-M swept through the talent pool at UFA and picked up, among others, Christensen, who departed so quickly that he may not have completed his second feature, Die Frau mit dem schlechten Ruf (The Woman of Ill-Repute, 1925); it wasn't released until the end of 1925 and by that time Christensen had already disowned it. Christensen got off a good start with the Norma Shearer
vehicle The Devil's Circus
(1926), a commercial success. But the Lon Chaney
picture Mockery (1927) which followed was a scandalous failure critically, even as it still generated a modest profit. When work stalled in 1927 on M-G-M's troubled, three-years-long production of The Mysterious Island
(1929), Christensen was let go. He moved to Warner Brothers, where he made four films; the first was The Hawk's Nest
(1928), a crime drama starring Milton Sills
. The remaining three constitute a horror trilogy and were co-written with Cornell Woolrich
; The Haunted House (1928), Seven Footprints to Satan
(1929) and House of Horror (1929). By this time, Christensen had had enough of his Hollywood experience and although House of Horror was a hit, after it wrapped he went back to Denmark.
Afterward, Christensen returned once again to stage direction and did not make another film for a decade. Breaking his silence, for the Nordisk Company he wrote and directed Skilsmissens børn (Children of Divorce, 1939), a social melodrama about the generation gap; it was a surprise hit, and Christensen seemed back on track again. He followed it with Barnet (The Child, 1940) -- a film about abortion—and Gå med mig hjem (Come Home with Me, 1941) which reunited him with actress Bodil Ipsen
, who had appeared alongside Christensen in the Bjørnson film and was herself a director. However, Damen med de lyse Handsker (The Lady with the Light Gloves, 1942) was a spy thriller that proved an unmitigated disaster on the level of Mockery, and Christensen found himself out of the film business for good. Afterward, he assumed management of a movie theater in a suburb of Copenhagen and lived out the rest of his 79 years in obscurity.
with an added jazz score and narration by William S. Burroughs
, and as such became a favorite film of the counter-culture. A version restored to its original length and in superior picture quality was released by the Criterion Collection in 2001. The Mysterious X was first revived at MOMA
in 1966 and has become his second-best known film; it was combined with Blind Justice and released on a DVD by the Danish Film Institute
in 2004.
For the remainder of Christensen's output, losses are heavy and it has long been difficult to see; based on what exists, some critics have concluded that all of Christensen's American films were artistic failures. Of the German films, only the first one -- Seine Frau, die Unbekannte (His Wife, The Unknown, 1923) has survived, and of his Warner Brothers films only a poor Italian print of Seven Footprints to Satan has surfaced, although sound discs exist of House of Horror. Critical opinions about The Devil's Circus seem divided; Mockery was one of the most sought after of all lost films until it was finally located in the 1970s; however, many who have seen it have stated that it is easily the worst of Lon Chaney's M-G-M features. The Nordisk films remain little seen outside Denmark. In 1999, MOMA, and later the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley, held the first retrospective screening of Christensen's work under the rubric Benjamin Christensen: An International Dane. Of Christensen, Carl Theodor Dreyer once described him as "a man who knew exactly what he wanted and who pursued his goal with uncompromising stubbornness." After many decades of relative obscurity, Christensen is now recognized as the second most important Danish silent film director after Dreyer himself.
Häxan
Häxan is a 1922 Swedish/Danish silent horror film written and directed by Benjamin Christensen...
and as an actor, he is best known for his performance in the film Michael
Michael (1924 film)
Michael was a silent film released in 1924, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, director of other notable silents such as The Passion of Joan of Arc , Master of the House , and Leaves from Satan's Book...
(1924), in which he plays Claude Zoret, the jilted lover of the film's title character.
Biography
Benjamin Christensen was born in ViborgViborg, Denmark
Viborg , a town in central Jutland, Denmark, is the seat of both Viborg municipality and Region Midtjylland. Viborg is also the seat of the Western High Court, the High Court for the Jutland peninsula...
and initially studied medicine, but caught the acting bug and began studies at the Det Kongelige Teater (Royal Danish Theatre) in Copenhagen in 1901. Christensen's professional acting career began in Aarhus in 1907, but after a short stint as actor he abandoned the stage in order to become a wine salesman. In 1911, Christensen made his debut as a film actor; all of his pre-directorial efforts are lost, but among such films was Scenens børn (1913), the only motion picture directed by eminent Danish playwright and stage director Bjørn Bjørnson
Bjørn Bjørnson
Bjørn Bjørnson was a Norwegian stage actor and theatre director.-Biography:He was born in Kristiania, the son of author Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and his wife Karoline Bjørnson. In 1876, he was admitted as a student at the Stern Conservatory operated by Julius Stern in Berlin, Germany...
.
In 1913, Christensen assumed control of the small, Hellborg-based production company for which he worked and reorganized it as Dansk-Biograf Kompagnie. The first film he directed, Det hemmelighedsfulde X (The Mysterious X, 1914), was one of the most astonishing directorial debuts in film history; although a routine spy melodrama, the camerawork, cutting and art direction were revolutionary for the period. Christensen himself played the main role, as he did in his second film, Hævnens nat (Blind Justice, 1916). Once again, Christensen portrayed a man wrongly accused of murder, and the artistic quality of his sophomore effort was equal to his first. Despite the success of his first two films, Christensen did not find acceptance within the Danish film industry, and after Blind Justice he returned to the stage.
Between 1918 and 1921, Christensen researched the history of necromancy as background for his next and greatest film, Häxan
Häxan
Häxan is a 1922 Swedish/Danish silent horror film written and directed by Benjamin Christensen...
(The Witches, or "Witchcraft Through the Ages," 1922), in which Christensen appeared in the role of Satan. A plotless panorama of the history of witchcraft, Häxan is a visual tour de force that utilizes nudity, gore and sheer shock value on a level that remains incredible for a silent film; nevertheless, despite being plundered by censor boards everywhere, Häxan was an international success. Based on the response to Häxan, Christensen received an invitation from UFA
UFA
Ufa is a city in Russia.UFA or Ufa may also refer to:*Ufa River, a river in Russia*Ufa, Ethiopia, a town in Ethiopia*Ultra flat architecture, a network architecture design for LTE 4G mobile telecommunication networks...
to direct in Germany. He made two films for them, though Christensen's most memorable work in Germany was as an actor in the key supporting role of the painter Claude Zoret in his fellow countryman Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer, Jr. was a Danish film director. He is regarded by many critics and filmmakers as one of the greatest directors in cinema.-Life:Dreyer was born illegitimate in Copenhagen, Denmark...
's film Michael (1924). This would prove Christensen's last film appearance as an actor.
In 1924, M-G-M swept through the talent pool at UFA and picked up, among others, Christensen, who departed so quickly that he may not have completed his second feature, Die Frau mit dem schlechten Ruf (The Woman of Ill-Repute, 1925); it wasn't released until the end of 1925 and by that time Christensen had already disowned it. Christensen got off a good start with the Norma Shearer
Norma Shearer
Edith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
vehicle The Devil's Circus
The Devil's Circus
The Devil's Circus is a 1926 drama film directed by Danish director Benjamin Christensen, based upon his screenplay. The film stars Norma Shearer and Charles Emmett Mack...
(1926), a commercial success. But the Lon Chaney
Lon Chaney
Chaney is an American surname of French origin, and may refer to:* Charles "Bubba" Chaney , Louisiana politician* Chris Chaney, US musician* Darrel Chaney, US baseball player* Don Chaney, US basketballer* Esty Chaney , US baseballer...
picture Mockery (1927) which followed was a scandalous failure critically, even as it still generated a modest profit. When work stalled in 1927 on M-G-M's troubled, three-years-long production of The Mysterious Island
The Mysterious Island (1929 film)
The Mysterious Island is an MGM film directed by Lucien Hubbard, a film adaptation of Jules Verne's novel L'Île mystérieuse , published in 1874...
(1929), Christensen was let go. He moved to Warner Brothers, where he made four films; the first was The Hawk's Nest
The Hawk's Nest (film)
The Hawk's Nest was a 1928 American film directed by Benjamin Christensen. It is believed to be lost.-Plot summary:The title of The Hawk's Nest comes from the speakeasy around which most of the action revolves. Two bootleggers, played by Milton Sills and Mitchell Lewis, quarrel over a dancer while...
(1928), a crime drama starring Milton Sills
Milton Sills
Milton Sills was a highly successful American stage and film actor of the early twentieth century....
. The remaining three constitute a horror trilogy and were co-written with Cornell Woolrich
Cornell Woolrich
Cornell George Hopley-Woolrich was an American novelist and short story writer who sometimes wrote under the pseudonyms William Irish and George Hopley....
; The Haunted House (1928), Seven Footprints to Satan
Seven Footprints to Satan (film)
Seven Footprints to Satan is a 1929 American dark comedy film directed by Danish filmmaker Benjamin Christensen. Based on the book of the same name by Abraham Merritt, it stars Thelma Todd, Creighton Hale, William V. Mong and Sheldon Lewis, and contains appearances by Sojin and Angelo Rossitto...
(1929) and House of Horror (1929). By this time, Christensen had had enough of his Hollywood experience and although House of Horror was a hit, after it wrapped he went back to Denmark.
Afterward, Christensen returned once again to stage direction and did not make another film for a decade. Breaking his silence, for the Nordisk Company he wrote and directed Skilsmissens børn (Children of Divorce, 1939), a social melodrama about the generation gap; it was a surprise hit, and Christensen seemed back on track again. He followed it with Barnet (The Child, 1940) -- a film about abortion—and Gå med mig hjem (Come Home with Me, 1941) which reunited him with actress Bodil Ipsen
Bodil Ipsen
Bodil Ipsen was a Danish actress and film director, and is considered one of the great stars of Danish cinematic history. Her acting career, which began in theater and silent films, was marked by leading roles in large folk comedies and melodramas...
, who had appeared alongside Christensen in the Bjørnson film and was herself a director. However, Damen med de lyse Handsker (The Lady with the Light Gloves, 1942) was a spy thriller that proved an unmitigated disaster on the level of Mockery, and Christensen found himself out of the film business for good. Afterward, he assumed management of a movie theater in a suburb of Copenhagen and lived out the rest of his 79 years in obscurity.
Legacy
Häxan is by far Christensen's best-known film; there is no other silent film quite like it. Long circulating as a silent in 16mm market, it was re-edited into a shorter version in 1967 by British film maker Antony BalchAntony Balch
Antony Balch was an English film director and distributor, best known for his screen collaborations with Beat Generation author William S...
with an added jazz score and narration by William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
, and as such became a favorite film of the counter-culture. A version restored to its original length and in superior picture quality was released by the Criterion Collection in 2001. The Mysterious X was first revived at MOMA
Moma
Moma may refer to:* Moma , an owlet moth genus* Moma Airport, a Russian public airport* Moma District, Nampula, Mozambique* Moma River, a right tributary of the Indigirka River* Google Moma, the Google corporate intranet...
in 1966 and has become his second-best known film; it was combined with Blind Justice and released on a DVD by the Danish Film Institute
Danish Film Institute
The Danish Film Institute is the national Danish agency responsible for supporting and encouraging film and cinema culture, and for conserving these in the national interest....
in 2004.
For the remainder of Christensen's output, losses are heavy and it has long been difficult to see; based on what exists, some critics have concluded that all of Christensen's American films were artistic failures. Of the German films, only the first one -- Seine Frau, die Unbekannte (His Wife, The Unknown, 1923) has survived, and of his Warner Brothers films only a poor Italian print of Seven Footprints to Satan has surfaced, although sound discs exist of House of Horror. Critical opinions about The Devil's Circus seem divided; Mockery was one of the most sought after of all lost films until it was finally located in the 1970s; however, many who have seen it have stated that it is easily the worst of Lon Chaney's M-G-M features. The Nordisk films remain little seen outside Denmark. In 1999, MOMA, and later the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley, held the first retrospective screening of Christensen's work under the rubric Benjamin Christensen: An International Dane. Of Christensen, Carl Theodor Dreyer once described him as "a man who knew exactly what he wanted and who pursued his goal with uncompromising stubbornness." After many decades of relative obscurity, Christensen is now recognized as the second most important Danish silent film director after Dreyer himself.
External links
- Essay by David Kendrick http://www.kinoeye.org/03/11/kendrick11.php
- Film Reference Article http://www.filmreference.com/Directors-Bu-Co/Christensen-Benjamin.html
- Allmovie Bio http://www.allmovie.com/artist/benjamin-christensen-12988/bio