Have any of you ever heard about Olsenbanden? Are there any Scandinavians here?
Olsen Gang - Wikipedia
This unlikely trio of criminals spawned a lot of films in both Denmark and Norway, each country with their own set of actors. There was always these grand plans of the big heist. It always seem to have a Franz Jäger safe that needed to be opened. Unfortunately, the heists turned out bad every time and the gang had to make new plans. One for every film.
The gang's main location is the capital city where each of the heists involve some of the well-known streets, buildings and landmarks. But visits to the countryside have also been done.
Most of the characters in the Norwegian films (wich I'm more familiar with) were played by known comedy actors with years of experience from both stage and film.
The main characters are a part of the working class but still dress like they're rich. The film series as a whole plays out as a satiric view of capitalism and how it grew from late 60s to early 80s.
Here's the Norwegian characters (the Danish are similar) :
Egon Olsen: Gang leader. An expert safecracker and a brilliant mind who always gets amazing plans, but these have to play out in the weirdest of ways. Short-tempered and occasionally overdramatic. When things doesn't go as he predicted, he tends to call his companions all sorts of bad names.
Dresses like a 30s gangster. A vivid cigar smoker.
Benny: Get-away driver, handles practical stuff. But never seem to fill their car with enough gas. A lot younger than his companions (who actually are 50+). In the latter films he had a mustache and appeared to be much closer in age to the rest of the gang.
Kjell: Carries the tools in an old doctor's suitcase. He's humble and mild-mannered, but also always nervous. He puts family first, before the heists. Often complains and wants to go home when things become too much/too intense for him, which always happens.
Then we have the other recurring characters
Valborg: Kjell's very bossy wife, often with firm plans on how to use the millions from the various plans. Kjell is a little intimitated by her.
Basse: Kjell and Valborg's son. First a little boy, then as he grew he sometimes took part in the heists, in one way or another, but not as a full gang member.
In several of the heists, the gang gets assistance from Dynamitt-Harry. He's an explosives expert (at least in his own opinion). Likes to blow things up. Also deeply alcoholic.
And Detective Hermansen was always on the gang's tail. A veteran in his profession. But so weird and funny with his egocentric mannerisms that it's a miracle he was accepted in the police force.
I think it could work very well. Especially with a British cast set in London. It's harder to imagine it in USA. Probably Chicago could work, but not NY.
What do you think of this? Would be interestng to get replies from those who haven't heard about Olsenbanden.
Here's a pic.
From left to right: Kjell, Benny and Egon
Olsen Gang - Wikipedia
This unlikely trio of criminals spawned a lot of films in both Denmark and Norway, each country with their own set of actors. There was always these grand plans of the big heist. It always seem to have a Franz Jäger safe that needed to be opened. Unfortunately, the heists turned out bad every time and the gang had to make new plans. One for every film.
The gang's main location is the capital city where each of the heists involve some of the well-known streets, buildings and landmarks. But visits to the countryside have also been done.
Most of the characters in the Norwegian films (wich I'm more familiar with) were played by known comedy actors with years of experience from both stage and film.
The main characters are a part of the working class but still dress like they're rich. The film series as a whole plays out as a satiric view of capitalism and how it grew from late 60s to early 80s.
Here's the Norwegian characters (the Danish are similar) :
Egon Olsen: Gang leader. An expert safecracker and a brilliant mind who always gets amazing plans, but these have to play out in the weirdest of ways. Short-tempered and occasionally overdramatic. When things doesn't go as he predicted, he tends to call his companions all sorts of bad names.
Dresses like a 30s gangster. A vivid cigar smoker.
Benny: Get-away driver, handles practical stuff. But never seem to fill their car with enough gas. A lot younger than his companions (who actually are 50+). In the latter films he had a mustache and appeared to be much closer in age to the rest of the gang.
Kjell: Carries the tools in an old doctor's suitcase. He's humble and mild-mannered, but also always nervous. He puts family first, before the heists. Often complains and wants to go home when things become too much/too intense for him, which always happens.
Then we have the other recurring characters
Valborg: Kjell's very bossy wife, often with firm plans on how to use the millions from the various plans. Kjell is a little intimitated by her.
Basse: Kjell and Valborg's son. First a little boy, then as he grew he sometimes took part in the heists, in one way or another, but not as a full gang member.
In several of the heists, the gang gets assistance from Dynamitt-Harry. He's an explosives expert (at least in his own opinion). Likes to blow things up. Also deeply alcoholic.
And Detective Hermansen was always on the gang's tail. A veteran in his profession. But so weird and funny with his egocentric mannerisms that it's a miracle he was accepted in the police force.
I think it could work very well. Especially with a British cast set in London. It's harder to imagine it in USA. Probably Chicago could work, but not NY.
What do you think of this? Would be interestng to get replies from those who haven't heard about Olsenbanden.
Here's a pic.
From left to right: Kjell, Benny and Egon
Last edited:
