Axel Graatkjær
Encyclopedia
Axel Graatkjær was a Danish
cinematographer noted for his work on silent films during the Golden Age
of Danish cinema. Graatkjær was the favorite cinematographer of film director August Blom
as well as silent film star Asta Nielsen
and her husband, director Urban Gad
. He filmed more than 100 films during his career from 1906 to 1930.
. During his late teens, Graatkjær moved to Copenhagen for an education in music. In order to pay for his music studies, he worked as a ticket and program seller at the Biograf movie theater where he developed an interest in film making. In 1906, Graatkjær shot his first film—a short piece of news footage. That same year, Ole Olsen established the Nordisk Film
studio and hired Graatkjaer as his cameraman. His first film was Viggo Larsen's the short The Anarchist's Mother-in Law (Anarkistens Svigermoder). In 1908 they made the The Lion Hunt (Løvejagten
, 1908). The short film created a scandal in Denmark because it showed the actual shooting of two lions that Olsen had purchased for the film. Graatkjær, who also acted the part of a hunter, was jailed for one day for participating in the film because it had been forbidden by the Ministry of State. The film was smuggled out of Denmark and became an international sensation.
In 1910, he formally changed his name from Sørensen to Graatkjær. During the seven years working at the Nordisk Film company, Graatkjaer filmed more than 100 movies. He became the favorite cinematographer for the director August Blom
, with whom he made popular melodramas such as The White Slavery Trade (Den hvide slavehandel, 1910), At the Prison Gates (Ved Fængslets Port, 1911) and A Victim of the Mormons
(Mormonens offer, 1911). In 1913, after a disagreement, Graatkjær left Nordisk Film to work for Asta Nielsen
's German film company and her husband, director Urban Gad
. They made 11 films together.
Graatkjær died on November 16, 1969.
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...
cinematographer noted for his work on silent films during the Golden Age
Golden Age
The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline...
of Danish cinema. Graatkjær was the favorite cinematographer of film director August Blom
August Blom
August Blom was a Danish film director, production leader and pioneer of silent films during the "golden age" of Danish filmmaking from 1910 to 1914.-Career:...
as well as silent film star Asta Nielsen
Asta Nielsen
Asta Nielsen , was a Danish silent film actress who was one of the most popular leading ladies of the 1910s and one of the first international movie stars. Seventy of Nielsen's 74 films were made in Germany where she was known simply as Die Asta...
and her husband, director Urban Gad
Urban Gad
Peter Urban Gad was a Danish film director. He directed 40 film between 1910 and 1927. His wife Asta Nielsen starred in 30 of his films. Also in his debut the famous movie Afgrunden from 1910. They moved to Germany in 1911 where Gad worked until 1922.His uncle was Paul Gauguin...
. He filmed more than 100 films during his career from 1906 to 1930.
Career
Axel Graatkjær was born Axel Sørensen on January 19, 1885 in Århus, DenmarkDenmark
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...
. During his late teens, Graatkjær moved to Copenhagen for an education in music. In order to pay for his music studies, he worked as a ticket and program seller at the Biograf movie theater where he developed an interest in film making. In 1906, Graatkjær shot his first film—a short piece of news footage. That same year, Ole Olsen established the 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...
studio and hired Graatkjaer as his cameraman. His first film was Viggo Larsen's the short The Anarchist's Mother-in Law (Anarkistens Svigermoder). In 1908 they made the The Lion Hunt (Løvejagten
Løvejagten
Løvejagten was a controversial 1907 silent film by Danish producer Ole Olsen and director Viggo Larsen...
, 1908). The short film created a scandal in Denmark because it showed the actual shooting of two lions that Olsen had purchased for the film. Graatkjær, who also acted the part of a hunter, was jailed for one day for participating in the film because it had been forbidden by the Ministry of State. The film was smuggled out of Denmark and became an international sensation.
In 1910, he formally changed his name from Sørensen to Graatkjær. During the seven years working at the Nordisk Film company, Graatkjaer filmed more than 100 movies. He became the favorite cinematographer for the director August Blom
August Blom
August Blom was a Danish film director, production leader and pioneer of silent films during the "golden age" of Danish filmmaking from 1910 to 1914.-Career:...
, with whom he made popular melodramas such as The White Slavery Trade (Den hvide slavehandel, 1910), At the Prison Gates (Ved Fængslets Port, 1911) and A Victim of the Mormons
A Victim of the Mormons
A Victim of the Mormons is a 1911 Danish silent film directed by August Blom. The film was controversial for demonizing the Mormon religion, and its box-office success is cited for initiating a decade of anti-Mormon propaganda films in America...
(Mormonens offer, 1911). In 1913, after a disagreement, Graatkjær left Nordisk Film to work for Asta Nielsen
Asta Nielsen
Asta Nielsen , was a Danish silent film actress who was one of the most popular leading ladies of the 1910s and one of the first international movie stars. Seventy of Nielsen's 74 films were made in Germany where she was known simply as Die Asta...
's German film company and her husband, director Urban Gad
Urban Gad
Peter Urban Gad was a Danish film director. He directed 40 film between 1910 and 1927. His wife Asta Nielsen starred in 30 of his films. Also in his debut the famous movie Afgrunden from 1910. They moved to Germany in 1911 where Gad worked until 1922.His uncle was Paul Gauguin...
. They made 11 films together.
Graatkjær died on November 16, 1969.
Selected filmography
- Anarkistens Svigermoder (directed by Viggo Larsen, 1906)
- Den hvide slavinde (directed by Viggo Larsen, 1907)
- Kameliadamen (directed by Viggo Larsen, 1907)
- LøvejagtenLøvejagtenLøvejagten was a controversial 1907 silent film by Danish producer Ole Olsen and director Viggo Larsen...
(directed by Viggo Larsen, 1908) - Den hvide slavehandel (directed by August Blom, 1910
- Balletdanserinden (directed by August Blom, 1911)
- Ved Fængslets Port (directed by August Blom, 1911)
- A Victim of the MormonsA Victim of the MormonsA Victim of the Mormons is a 1911 Danish silent film directed by August Blom. The film was controversial for demonizing the Mormon religion, and its box-office success is cited for initiating a decade of anti-Mormon propaganda films in America...
(director August Blom, 1911) - Engelein (Engelein (directed by Urban Gad, 1914)
- Hamlet (Svend Gade, directed by Heinz Schall, 1921)
External links
- Axel Graatkjær at Det Danske Film institut (in Danish)
- Axel Graatkjær at IMDb