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Olsen Gang

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Scene from the fourteenth and last Olsen Gang film (1998). From left to right: Egon, Kjeld, and Benny.
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Scene from the fourteenth and last Olsen Gang film (1998). From left to right: Egon, Kjeld, and Benny.

The Olsen Gang (Danish: Olsen-banden, Norwegian: Olsenbanden, Swedish: Jönssonligan, German: Die Olsenbande) is a fictional Danish criminal gang in the movies of the same name. The gang's leader is the criminal genius and habitual offender Egon Olsen. The other members of the gang are Benny and Kjeld. The gang members are harmless and never use violence.

Most of the movies start with Egon coming out of jail and the three guys getting a beer, while planning how to become millionaires. This could be planning to elude an alarm system to get some crown jewels that happen to be in town on display for the moment. Egon often spends time with lawyers or engineers, who provide him with the information he needs - for example, duty rosters for the national public record office. In the early episodes, harsh language and soft-erotica (temptingly dressed women) were more freely used than in later versions which were censored to suit youngsters.

Contents

International versions

The Olsen Gang have been made in Norwegian and Swedish (Jönssonligan) versions too. The original movies were popular in the former GDR and Eastern Europe. The movies often take place in the international crime milieu of Western Europe, which is here often very close to the political elite. For example, in one episode some people with very good connections to politics and the economy (director of bank, etc.) try to make money out of the so-called "butter-mountain". This is highly-subsidized butter unused by the EU, which Egon Olsen gets notice of in prison by a lawyer, who is also detained there and worked for the bank long ago. But as always, Egon - after he succeeds with a genius plan - loses, because he underestimates the power and unscrupulousness of these people.

Almost every time Egon is arrested in the end, because the police cannot get to the "big fish", so they have to find a scapegoat. Superintendent Jensen tells his younger colleague, inspector Holm: "The only thing the police can do, when the real big criminals come by, is offer them protection!". It is sidekicks like this which show the basic satirical view on society and social life, giving those slapstick comedies a special appeal.

The Norwegian versions of the movies also have another character, 'Dynamite Harry', as the little brother of Benny Frandsen -- he's the demolition expert (although his nerves are very easily shaken due to years of having dealt with explosives and alcohol). Harry made an appearance in six Norwegian films, played by Harald Heide-Steen jr. He also appeared in two early Danish Olsen Gang movies, then played by Preben Kaas. In the Swedish Jönssonligan movies Harry showed up in the second movie, and became a regular member of the gang from the next installment on, since the actor who played the original member, a Finn named Rocky, had deceased.

Special mention should be made, perhaps, of the show-down scene of Olsen-Banden ser rødt where Egon and his friends break through the walls of a theatre, using hammers, percussion drills and dynamite in accord with the festival overture playing in the orchestra.

Danish Movies

The first 13 movies were directed by Erik Balling, while Tom Hedegaard and Morten Arnfred directed the fourteenth and final Olsen Gang movie. The scripts were written by Henning Bahs, who also worked as a production designer, and Erik Balling.

Danish Cast

Norwegian Movies

Norwegian DVDs

DVD Cover of the first Norwegian Olsenbanden: from left to right: Benny, Egon, Kjeld.
Enlarge
DVD Cover of the first Norwegian Olsenbanden: from left to right: Benny, Egon, Kjeld.

Norwegian Cast

Unofficial English translation of Danish titles

Original title Translated directly Translated contextually
Olsen Banden The Olsen Gang The Olsen Gang
Olsen Banden på spanden The Olsen Gang on the bucket The Olsen Gang in trouble
Olsen Banden i Jylland The Olsen Gang in Jutland The Olsen Gang in Jutland
Olsen Bandens store kup The Olsen Gang's big coup The Olsen Gangs grand burglary
Olsen Banden går amok The Olsen Gang goes amuck The Olsen Gang goes crazy
Olsen Bandens sidste bedrifter The Olsen Gang's last accomplishments The Olsen Gang's last accomplishments
Olsen Banden på sporet The Olsen Gang on the track The Olsen Gang on the (rail)track
Olsen Banden ser rødt The Olsen Gang sees red The Olsen Gang snaps
Olsen Banden deruda' The Olsen Gang towards that way The Olsen Gang full speed ahead
Olsen Banden går i krig The Olsen Gang goes to war The Olsen Gang goes to war
Olsen Banden overgiver sig aldrig The Olsen Gang never surrenders The Olsen Gang never surrenders
Olsen Bandens flugt over plankeværet The Olsen Gang's escape over the fence The Olsen Gang's escape over the fence
Olsen Banden over alle bjerge The Olsen Gang over all mountains The Olsen Gang long gone
Olsen Bandens sidste stik The Olsen Gang's last match The Olsen Gang's last trick (as in cards) or last sting

External links

 

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