De røde heste
Encyclopedia
The Red Horses, is a 1950 Danish romantic drama directed by Alice O'Fredericks
and Jon Iversen
, based on the popular novel by Morten Korch
. The film stars Poul Reichhardt
and Tove Maës
as young newlyweds who try to save an old family farm by winning a horse race. The Red Horses is the most watched Danish film of all time.
Munk purchased some fine ponies of a red breed which he had hoped could be trained as winning trotters and save the farm. However, his bad heart left him bed-ridden. Munk's second wife, Zita (Else Jarlbak) has been having an affair with the vicious horse trainer, Willers (Jørn Jeppesen). When Munk discovers this, he sues for divorce, but Willers now owns outstanding notes on the farm. Ole arrives and meets Munk's daughter, Bente (Tove Maës). The daughter from Munk's first marriage, Bente is sweet woman with a slightly crippled leg from a horse riding accident. Ole quickly becomes taken with Bente. Willers is paid off by Ole and his father and told to disappear. Munk, on his death bed, tells Ole and Bente that his last wish is for them to marry.
Enekaer has one fine stallion named Junker that Munk hoped could win the 15,000 Kroner prize at the trotting derby. But Willers had ruined Junker's nerves. Ole and Bente care for Junker and he regains strength and speed. Ole falls in love with Bente and proposes. They marry but the marriage is uneasy because Bente feels that Ole married her out of charity. One day Zita Munk returns but Ole and Bente refuse her admittance to Enekaer. They are called into court because Zita possesses Munk life insurance which gives her financial control of Enekaer. The court gives Ole and Bente a brief time to raise the money or give up the farm.
They are despondent, but after all they have been through, Bente finally has realized that Ole truly loves her. On Derby day, Ole decides to race Junker himself. Everyone at Enekaer bets all of their money on Ole and Junker. Ole races to victory and in happiness, Ole and Bente return to Enekaer.
had been unsuccessful in having his depictions of rural life filmed at Nordisk Film
, the largest film studio in Denmark. Still available in the period after World War II, Korch's stories became a gold mine for the smaller ASA Film Company. The Red Horses was seen by more than 2.3 million people and is considered the most popular Danish film ever. It was quickly followed by 16 more films of Korch stories, all filmed at ASA and directed by O'Fredericks.
, but in the role of the father, Hans Offor. The movie was spoofed with the 1987 comedy Kampen om den røde ko (Fight Over the Red Cow).
Alice O'Fredericks
Alice O'Fredericks was a Danish actress, screen writer, and film director. She is best known for directing the series of Far til Fire comedies and the series of family dramas based on Morten Korch novels. Having written 38 produced screenplays and directed 72 feature films, O'Fredericks was one...
and Jon Iversen
Jon Iversen
Jon Iversen was a Danish stage and film actor and film director.- Filmography :*Hotel Paradis - 1931*Paustians Uhr - 1932*København, Kalundborg og - ? - 1934*Barken Margrethe af Danmark - 1934...
, based on the popular novel by Morten Korch
Morten Korch
Morten Korch was a Danish writer who wrote populist stories and romances about rural Denmark. During his lifetime, he was the most widely read author in Denmark. Korch wrote 123 novels, several of which were made into popular films. In 1937, Korch was awarded a Danish knighthood in the Order of...
. The film stars Poul Reichhardt
Poul Reichhardt
Poul David Reichhardt was a Danish actor, well known for his roles in Danish 1940s/50s comedies. Later on, he also played more serious and varied roles; he has also starred in Huset på Christianshavn, Matador and as various minor characters in the Olsen Gang films.For almost thirty years...
and Tove Maës
Tove Maës
Tove Maës was a Danish actress of stage, television and film best known for her starring roles in the series of "Morten Korch" films, in particular The Red Horses. Maës was a three-time recipient of the Bodil Award for Best Actress, winning in 1954, 1971, and 1983.-Career:Maës was born in...
as young newlyweds who try to save an old family farm by winning a horse race. The Red Horses is the most watched Danish film of all time.
Plot
Ole Offor (Poul Reichhardt) a young graduate from agricultural college, returns home to discover that rumors about his fiance (Lily Broberg) are true—she has been cheating on him. Ole rejects her thin denials and decides to move to Canada to start a new life. In the meantime, Ole's father, Hans (Johannes Meyer), meets with an old childhood friend, Munk (Ejner Federspiel), who is seriously ill. Munk owns a beautiful old stud farm called Enekaer, but he has left it nearly bankrupt. Hans promises Munk that he will help. Hans asks Ole to become the manager of Enekaer and see if it can be saved.Munk purchased some fine ponies of a red breed which he had hoped could be trained as winning trotters and save the farm. However, his bad heart left him bed-ridden. Munk's second wife, Zita (Else Jarlbak) has been having an affair with the vicious horse trainer, Willers (Jørn Jeppesen). When Munk discovers this, he sues for divorce, but Willers now owns outstanding notes on the farm. Ole arrives and meets Munk's daughter, Bente (Tove Maës). The daughter from Munk's first marriage, Bente is sweet woman with a slightly crippled leg from a horse riding accident. Ole quickly becomes taken with Bente. Willers is paid off by Ole and his father and told to disappear. Munk, on his death bed, tells Ole and Bente that his last wish is for them to marry.
Enekaer has one fine stallion named Junker that Munk hoped could win the 15,000 Kroner prize at the trotting derby. But Willers had ruined Junker's nerves. Ole and Bente care for Junker and he regains strength and speed. Ole falls in love with Bente and proposes. They marry but the marriage is uneasy because Bente feels that Ole married her out of charity. One day Zita Munk returns but Ole and Bente refuse her admittance to Enekaer. They are called into court because Zita possesses Munk life insurance which gives her financial control of Enekaer. The court gives Ole and Bente a brief time to raise the money or give up the farm.
They are despondent, but after all they have been through, Bente finally has realized that Ole truly loves her. On Derby day, Ole decides to race Junker himself. Everyone at Enekaer bets all of their money on Ole and Junker. Ole races to victory and in happiness, Ole and Bente return to Enekaer.
Cast
- Johannes MeyerJohannes MeyerJohannes Meyer , was a Danish film actor.He debuted in the theater in 1905.-Filmography:*De blaa drenge - 1933*Så til søs - 1933*Flugten fra millionerne - 1934*Lynet - 1934*Nøddebo Præstegård - 1934...
as Hans Offor - Poul ReichhardtPoul ReichhardtPoul David Reichhardt was a Danish actor, well known for his roles in Danish 1940s/50s comedies. Later on, he also played more serious and varied roles; he has also starred in Huset på Christianshavn, Matador and as various minor characters in the Olsen Gang films.For almost thirty years...
as Ole Offor - Pia Ahnfelt-Rønne as Sara Offor
- Peter MalbergPeter MalbergPeter Malberg was a Danish actor best known for his role as Onkel Anders in the Far Til Fire movies. Peter was originally educated as a painter, but his job at Århus Theatre as a scenic painter along with the fact that his older brother Henrik was an actor, eventually led to him being in theater-...
as Mikkel Pind - Lily BrobergLily BrobergLily Broberg was a Danish stage and film actress.- Filmography :*Lev livet let - 1944*Bedstemor går amok - 1945*En ny dag gryer - 1945*Panik i familien - 1945*Diskret ophold - 1946...
as Henriette - Ejner FederspielEjner FederspielEjner Federspiel was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 58 films between 1934 and 1981.He was born and died in Denmark.-Selected filmography:* Familien Olsen * The Red Horses...
as Anders Munk - Tove MaësTove MaësTove Maës was a Danish actress of stage, television and film best known for her starring roles in the series of "Morten Korch" films, in particular The Red Horses. Maës was a three-time recipient of the Bodil Award for Best Actress, winning in 1954, 1971, and 1983.-Career:Maës was born in...
as Bente Munk - Maria GarlandMaria GarlandMaria Garland was a Danish stage and film actress.- Filmography :*Nyhavn 17 - 1933*Lynet - 1934*Flugten fra millionerne - 1934*Nøddebo Præstegård - 1934*Barken Margrethe af Danmark - 1934...
as Konstance Munk - Else JarlbakElse JarlbakElse Jarlbak was a Danish film actress. She appeared in 35 films between 1934 and 1961.She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark.-Filmography:* Lynet * De bør forelske dem...
as Zita Munk - Jørn JeppesenJørn JeppesenJørn Jeppesen was a Danish stage and film actor.-Filmography:*Genboerne - 1939*Når bønder elsker - 1942*Natekspressen Jørn Jeppesen (21 April 1919 - 18 January 1964) was a Danish stage and film actor.-Filmography:*Genboerne - 1939*Når bønder elsker - 1942*Natekspressen Jørn Jeppesen (21...
as Stefan Willers - Kai Lind as Jørgen Senille
- Mette Bjerre as Dorthe Senille
- Ib Conradi as Peter Snille
- Christen Møller as Dr. Sørenen
- Knud HallestKnud HallestKnud Hallest was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 38 films between 1935 and 1974.He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark.-Filmography:* Pigen og drømmeslottet * Skygger...
as Sagfører Nielsen
Reaction
Although his novels were popular in the 1930s, Morten KorchMorten Korch
Morten Korch was a Danish writer who wrote populist stories and romances about rural Denmark. During his lifetime, he was the most widely read author in Denmark. Korch wrote 123 novels, several of which were made into popular films. In 1937, Korch was awarded a Danish knighthood in the Order of...
had been unsuccessful in having his depictions of rural life filmed at Nordisk Film
Nordisk Film
Nordisk Film , established in Denmark in 1906 by Danish filmmaker Ole Olsen, is the oldest continuously operating film studio in the world. Olsen started his company in the Copenhagen suburb of Valby under the name "Ole Olsen's Film Factory" but soon changed it to the Nordisk Film Kompagni...
, the largest film studio in Denmark. Still available in the period after World War II, Korch's stories became a gold mine for the smaller ASA Film Company. The Red Horses was seen by more than 2.3 million people and is considered the most popular Danish film ever. It was quickly followed by 16 more films of Korch stories, all filmed at ASA and directed by O'Fredericks.
Remakes
The film was made in Swedish in 1954 (De Röda hästarna). In 1968, it was remade in Denmark by ASA Film, directed by Annelise Meineche, and again starred Poul ReichhardtPoul Reichhardt
Poul David Reichhardt was a Danish actor, well known for his roles in Danish 1940s/50s comedies. Later on, he also played more serious and varied roles; he has also starred in Huset på Christianshavn, Matador and as various minor characters in the Olsen Gang films.For almost thirty years...
, but in the role of the father, Hans Offor. The movie was spoofed with the 1987 comedy Kampen om den røde ko (Fight Over the Red Cow).
External links
- IMDb
- De Røde Heste, Den Danske Film Database (In Danish)
- De Røde Heste Det Danske Filminstitut (In Danish)