Alfred Lind Danish silent classics

The film company Det skandinavisk-russiske Handelshus (Scandinavian-Russian Trading) produced 25 feature films in the period 1911-13. The company changed name to Filmfabriken Danmark in 1913 and produced another 71 feature films until 1919, after which only educational and documentary films were produced up until the company's liquidation in 1923. The two films on this DVD are presumed to be the only surviving from Det skandinavisk-russiske Handelshus. The company specialized in sensational topics, and the success of The Flying Circus was soon followed by its sequel, The Bear Tamer, in which Alfred Lind played the title role, wrote the script, directed and shot the film.

THE FLYING CIRCUS
Directed by/ Alfred Lind
Author/ Carl Otto Dumreicher
Manuscript/ Alfred Lind
Cinematography/ Alfred Lind
Set-design/ L.A. Hjarne
Cast/ Rasmus Ottesen, Emilie Otterdahl, Richard Jensen, Lilli Beck, Kirstine Friis-Hjort, Charles Løwaas, Stella Lind.
Premiere/ Victoriateatret 20.03.1912
46 min./ Denmark/ Danish intertitles/ English and Dutch subtitles.
The early Danish film" Den Flyvende Cirkus", directed by Herr Alfred Lind, has all those circus characteristics ( it must be noted that this film was produced by the Danish Scandinavian-Russian Trading Company that often had a circus background in their movies ). It tells the story of a high-wire artist who is in love with the mayor's daughter; Thanks to his talents, he saves the life of his beloved in a fire but when he wants to marry her, the mayor firmly rejects such a foolish idea. A poor acrobat as a son-in law? Never! Now if the artist were to be a wealthy man, that would show he's a man of principles, ja wöhl!. But those lovers will have another obstacle to their impossible love: Damen Ula, the circus snake charmer who opposes the relationship because she herself loves passionately the high-wire artist.


THE BEAR TAMER
Directed by/ Alfred Lind
Author/ Alfred Lind
Manuscript/ Alfred Lind
Cinematography/ Alfred Lind
Cast/ Lilli Beck, Alfred Lind, Peter Fjeldstrup, Richard Jensen, Holger-Madsen.
Premiere/ Victoriateatret 08.05.1912
40 min./ Denmark/ Dutch intertitles/ English and Danish subtitles.
Extra: DAREDEVIL OF THE MOVIES (1923) with Emilie Sannom.
MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT/ NEIL BRAND
Due to the big success of "Den Flyvende Cirkus"(The Flying Circus), Herr Alfred Lind decided to direct a sequel, "Bjornetaemmeren" (The Bear Tamer). This time Herr Alfred also wrote the script, photographed the film and played the principal character of the film… that it to say, the bear tamer.

The circus troupe is bigger than in the last adventure. But don't worry; Damen Ula, the circus snake charmer is here for good, tough and untamed as always. She quickly forgot her affair with the high-wire artist and thanks to her charms, makes a bear tamer that walked into the circus feel randy.

The two circus lovers decide after a few weeks to marry each other and include the bear and the snake in their happy and savage life. But to be a circus snake charmer is not enough for Damen Ula. So thanks to a ballet master with a peculiar sense of discovering new dancing talent, she decides to become a ballerina and performs the bizarre Indian snake dance at the theater.

In the variety show she flirts with a moor actor or …even better... with a wealthy man. The fact that she is a married woman doesn't bother her. However, her husband does not share this opinion. He decides to put an end to this, the irresolute and liberated life of her wife. Thanks to his skill at taming bears, the bear tamer finally will accomplish the difficult task of taming his wife.

"Bjornetaemmeren" is a very interesting sequel that put together melodrama and comedy in good proportions; the circus background of the film is now united with the variety show (a speciality of the Danish Scandinavian-Russian Trading Company).

Extra  FILMENS VOVEHALS/DAREDEVIL OF THE MOVIES (1923)