Henrik Malberg
Encyclopedia
Henrik Malberg was a Danish
actor
of theater and Danish cinema who played his most noted role at the age of 80—the stoic authoritative farm owner in the Carl Th. Dreyer classic film Ordet
.
Denmark
on 4 December 1873. Originally trained as a mechanic, Malberg made his stage debut at the Århus Teater in 1896. Malberg worked with a touring company for several years but between 1902 and 1905 he was based with the Aarhus Theater. While playing the role of Arv in Masquerade, Malberg was noticed by the Danish actor Olaf Poulsen
who brought him to Copenhagen. For the next five years, Malberg was the principal actor at the Dagmar Theater in Copenhagen. In 1910, he became director for a Danish touring company, then once again returned to the Dagmar (1912–1914) and afterwards, the Alexander Theater (1914–1917). In his later years, Malberg was employed at the Royal Danish Theatre
in Copenhagen.
Malberg made his screen debut in the 1910 silent film, The Picture of Dorian Gray
. He appeared in several more films during the silent era for the major Danish directors of the period: George Schnéevoigt
, Emanuel Gregers, Holger-Madsen and Lau Lauritzen, Sr. He also performed in three Fy & Bi comedies. Then in 1930, Malberg performed the lead role in the first purely Danish sound film as the priest in the crime mystery Præsten i Vejlby. A man of large stature and booming voice, Malberg was primarily a stage performer, and his film performances are described as imposing and theatrical. It was not until he was 80 years old that Malberg played his most memorable role—as the farm owner Morten Borgen in the classic Carl Th. Dreyer film Ordet
(The Word). Malberg credited Dreyer with teaching him the art of film acting.
Afterward Malberg travelled around Denmark to teach and to perform for school children. At the age of 84, he toured 55 Copenhagen area schools and a dozen in Jutland, giving a two-hour performance at each.
Malberg died two months before his 85th birthday after falling from a ladder. During his long career, Malberg appeared in 21 films. Malberg also cowrote two stage plays: Bolettes Brudefærd (with Orla Bock) and Gamle Postgaard (with Axel Frische
). Malberg performed in the 1938 movie version of Bolettes Brudefærd with his brother Peter Malberg
and Bodil Ipsen
. Malberg was an honorary member of the Danish Actor's Union for which he sat on the board for 36 years.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
of theater and Danish cinema who played his most noted role at the age of 80—the stoic authoritative farm owner in the Carl Th. Dreyer classic film Ordet
Ordet
Ordet is a 1955 Danish drama film, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer. It is based on a play by Kaj Munk, a Danish pastor, first performed in 1932...
.
Career
Henrik Martin Marinus Malberg was born in AarhusAarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
on 4 December 1873. Originally trained as a mechanic, Malberg made his stage debut at the Århus Teater in 1896. Malberg worked with a touring company for several years but between 1902 and 1905 he was based with the Aarhus Theater. While playing the role of Arv in Masquerade, Malberg was noticed by the Danish actor Olaf Poulsen
Olaf Poulsen
Olaf Poulsen was perhaps the best-known Danish comedic stage actor of his time. He was famous for playing such roles as Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Falstaff, among others for the Royal Danish Theatre. His performance as Old Ekdal in an 1885 production of Henrik Ibsen's The Wild...
who brought him to Copenhagen. For the next five years, Malberg was the principal actor at the Dagmar Theater in Copenhagen. In 1910, he became director for a Danish touring company, then once again returned to the Dagmar (1912–1914) and afterwards, the Alexander Theater (1914–1917). In his later years, Malberg was employed at the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
in Copenhagen.
Malberg made his screen debut in the 1910 silent film, The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only published novel by Oscar Wilde, appearing as the lead story in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890, printed as the July 1890 issue of this magazine...
. He appeared in several more films during the silent era for the major Danish directors of the period: George Schnéevoigt
George Schnéevoigt
George Schnéevoigt was a Danish film director, cinematographer, and actor of the 1930s and early 1940s....
, Emanuel Gregers, Holger-Madsen and Lau Lauritzen, Sr. He also performed in three Fy & Bi comedies. Then in 1930, Malberg performed the lead role in the first purely Danish sound film as the priest in the crime mystery Præsten i Vejlby. A man of large stature and booming voice, Malberg was primarily a stage performer, and his film performances are described as imposing and theatrical. It was not until he was 80 years old that Malberg played his most memorable role—as the farm owner Morten Borgen in the classic Carl Th. Dreyer film Ordet
Ordet
Ordet is a 1955 Danish drama film, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer. It is based on a play by Kaj Munk, a Danish pastor, first performed in 1932...
(The Word). Malberg credited Dreyer with teaching him the art of film acting.
Afterward Malberg travelled around Denmark to teach and to perform for school children. At the age of 84, he toured 55 Copenhagen area schools and a dozen in Jutland, giving a two-hour performance at each.
Malberg died two months before his 85th birthday after falling from a ladder. During his long career, Malberg appeared in 21 films. Malberg also cowrote two stage plays: Bolettes Brudefærd (with Orla Bock) and Gamle Postgaard (with Axel Frische
Axel Frische
Axel Frische was a Danish screenwriter, actor and film director. He wrote for 23 films between 1914 and 1956...
). Malberg performed in the 1938 movie version of Bolettes Brudefærd with his brother Peter Malberg
Peter Malberg
Peter 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-...
and 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...
. Malberg was an honorary member of the Danish Actor's Union for which he sat on the board for 36 years.
Personal life
Malberg was the son of Peter Broch Malberg and Catrine Marie Schebye. His brother, Peter Malberg, was also an actor. Malberg married Anna Augusta Hansenmeyer on 11 May 1906. Malberg died on 28 September 1958. The address in Aarhus where Malberg was born houses a dinner theater.Filmography
| Year | Original title | English title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Ordet Ordet Ordet is a 1955 Danish drama film, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer. It is based on a play by Kaj Munk, a Danish pastor, first performed in 1932... |
The Word | Morten Borgen | directed by Carl Th. Dreyer |
| 1942 | Med forenede kræfter | Propaganda film | ||
| 1938 | Bolettes brudefærd | Carpenter Kristiansen | based on Malberg's play | |
| 1938 | Kongen bød | Jeppe | ||
| 1937 | Kloge Mand, Den | The Clever Man | Shoemaker | |
| 1936 | Sol over Danmark | Sun Over Denmark | Pastor Nicolaj Jacobsen | |
| 1933 | Kobberbryllup | Handelsgartner Johansen | ||
| 1932 | Paustians Uhr | Paustian's Clock | Mayor | |
| 1931 | Præsten i Vejlby | The Vicar of Vejlby | Præsten Søren Quist | First Danish sound film |
| 1930 | Hr. Tell og søn | William Tell and Son | Uncle Jokum | Fy & Bi Film |
| 1929 | Højt paa en Kvist Højt paa en kvist Højt paa en kvist is a 1929 Danish silent family film directed by Lau Lauritzen Sr. and written by his son Lau Lauritzen Jr..-Cast:*Carl Schenstrøm ... Fyrtårnet*Harald Madsen ... Bivognen*Victor Wulff*Gerda Kofoed*Marguerite Viby*Nina Kalckar... |
Fy & Bi Film | ||
| 1925 | Grønkøbings glade gavtyve | Pat and Patachon are Millionaires | Bank director | Fy & Bi Film |
| 1924 | Der Mann um Mitternacht | The Man at Midnight | Knut Hammerdal | |
| 1921 | Det Største i Verden | Love that Lives | Thomas Ward | directed by Holger-Madsen |
| 1920 | Gudernes yndling | The Penalty of Fame | Pommel | |
| 1919 | Krigsmillionæren | The Parvenu | Jensen | directed by Emanuel Gregers |
| 1916 | Udenfor loven | Outside the Law | Brown | |
| 1914 | Tre indvendige Jomfruer | Three Maidens | ||
| 1914 | Lejla | Lejla | Horse trainer | |
| 1913 | Lille Klaus og store Klaus | Lille Klaus | ||
| 1910 | Dorian Grays Portræt Adaptations of The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray has inspired many cinematic, literary, and artistic adaptations. -Film:Listed in chronological order of release.*Dorian Grays Portræt *:Directed by Axel Strøm... |
The Picture of Dorian Gray Adaptations of The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray has inspired many cinematic, literary, and artistic adaptations. -Film:Listed in chronological order of release.*Dorian Grays Portræt *:Directed by Axel Strøm... |
||