Osvald Helmuth
Encyclopedia
Osvald Helmuth was a Danish
stage and film actor
and revue singer.
in 1913, and he later appeared in the Nørrebro Teater in Copenhagen
. In 1929 he got his big break with the revue song Ølhunden glammer by Poul Henningsen
.
In 1936 he appeared in his first film, Cirkusrevyen, a musical comedy in which he displayed his singing talents, directred by acclaimed directors Lau Lauritzen, Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks
. This paved the way for a successful film career in the 1930s and 1940s, successively appeareing in leading roles in musical comedies directed by these people such as Der var engang en vicevært
(1937), En fuldendt gentleman
(1937) but also thrillers such as Blaavand melder storm
(1938). After the family film Familien Olsen
in 1940, Helmuth ended his duel partnership with Lauritzen Jr. and Fredericks and in 1941 played the leading role in Emanuel Gregers
's En mand af betydning
in which he starred alongside Inger Stender
and Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen
. Helmuth did however reconcile with Fredericks in 1947 in the comedy Stjerneskud
, co-directed with Jon Iversen
.
In 1960 he performed as a narrator in the short documentary film
directed by Jørgen Roos, A City Called Copenhagen
. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short
.
Of his more serious roles are in Jeppe in Jeppe på bjerget
, performed at the Det kongelige Teater in 1954, and Doolittle in My Fair Lady
in 1960. On 21 March 1954 Osvald Helmuth appeared on Broadway
in New York City
with Victor Borge
. Together with Poul Reumert
he also sang a selection of "Gluntarne" duets.
Notable songs sung by Helmuth include Dit hjerte er i fare Andresen, Herlig en sommernat, 100 mand og en bajer and Bar' engang imellem.
He was award a Knight of the Dannebrog in 1953 and during his 50-year anniversary in 1963, he was elevated to Knight of the 1st Degree.
In 1961 he starred as an authority figure in the film, The Boy Who Loved Horses.
Helmuth's last film appearance was shortly before his death in Henning Carlsen
's Hunger
, based upon the novel Hunger
by Norwegian
Nobel Prize-winning author Knut Hamsun
. The film was nominated for the Palme D'Or
and won the Bodil Award for Best Danish Film
in 1967 and other awards for the cast after his death.
.
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...
stage and film 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...
and revue singer.
Biography
HIs career began in RandersRanders
Randers is a city in Randers municipality on the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark. It is Denmark's sixth-largest city, with a population of 60,656 . Randers city is the main town of the municipality and the site of its municipal council.-Overview:Randers municipality has 94,750 inhabitants...
in 1913, and he later appeared in the Nørrebro Teater in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. In 1929 he got his big break with the revue song Ølhunden glammer by Poul Henningsen
Poul Henningsen
Poul Henningsen , Danish author, architect and critic, was one of the leading figures of the cultural life of Denmark between the World Wars. In Denmark, he is often referred to as PH.-Early life and education:...
.
In 1936 he appeared in his first film, Cirkusrevyen, a musical comedy in which he displayed his singing talents, directred by acclaimed directors Lau Lauritzen, Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks
Alice O'Fredericks
Alice O'Fredericks was a Danish actress, screen writer, and film director. She is best known for directing the series of Far til Fire comedies and the series of family dramas based on Morten Korch novels. Having written 38 produced screenplays and directed 72 feature films, O'Fredericks was one...
. This paved the way for a successful film career in the 1930s and 1940s, successively appeareing in leading roles in musical comedies directed by these people such as Der var engang en vicevært
Der var engang en vicevært
Der var engang en vicevært is a 1937 Danish family film directed by Lau Lauritzen Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks and written by Børge Müller. The film stars Osvald Helmuth and Connie Meiling .-Cast:* Osvald Helmuth ... Vicevært Christensen...
(1937), En fuldendt gentleman
En fuldendt gentleman
En fuldendt gentleman is a 1937 Danish family film directed by Lau Lauritzen, Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Osvald Helmuth - Mortensen* Lau Lauritzen, Jr...
(1937) but also thrillers such as Blaavand melder storm
Blaavand melder storm
Blaavand melder storm is a 1938 Danish thriller film directed by Lau Lauritzen, Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Osvald Helmuth as Fiskeskipper Jens Olesen* Frits Helmuth as Jens Olesen som barn* Betty Söderberg as Anna Olesen...
(1938). After the family film Familien Olsen
Familien Olsen
Familien Olsen is a 1940 Danish family film directed by Lau Lauritzen, Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Osvald Helmuth - Grønthandler Alfred Olsen* Maria Garland - Christine Olsen* Berthe Qvistgaard - Karen Olsen...
in 1940, Helmuth ended his duel partnership with Lauritzen Jr. and Fredericks and in 1941 played the leading role in Emanuel Gregers
Emanuel Gregers
Emanuel Gregers was a Danish actor, screenwriter and film director. Gregers made 36 films during a career which extended during four decades from the Danish golden age of silent film until 1949. Critics often dismissed his work as dependable yet uninspired, however many of his light-hearted...
's En mand af betydning
En mand af betydning
En mand af betydning is a 1941 Danish family film directed by Emanuel Gregers and starring Osvald Helmuth.-Cast:* Osvald Helmuth - Baldur Justesen* Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen - Fru Sonja Jensen* Inger Stender - Anita Justesen...
in which he starred alongside Inger Stender
Inger Stender
Inger Stender was a Danish actress of stage, film and television whose sophisticated elegance and classic beauty earned her the description of Denmark's version of Marlene Dietrich.-Biography:...
and Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen
Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen
Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen was a Danish stage and film actress. She was married to Danish actor and comedian Dirch Passer.- Filmography :*Sol over Danmark - 1936*Bolettes brudefærd - 1938...
. Helmuth did however reconcile with Fredericks in 1947 in the comedy Stjerneskud
Stjerneskud
Stjerneskud is a 1947 Danish comedy film directed by Jon Iversen and Alice O'Fredericks. The film marked the debut of Dirch Passer.Stjerneskud is the Danish word for Meteor.-Cast:*Osvald Helmuth*Einar Sissener*Betty Helsengreen*Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen...
, co-directed with Jon Iversen
Jon Iversen
Jon Iversen was a Danish stage and film actor and film director.- Filmography :*Hotel Paradis - 1931*Paustians Uhr - 1932*København, Kalundborg og - ? - 1934*Barken Margrethe af Danmark - 1934...
.
In 1960 he performed as a narrator in the short documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed by Jørgen Roos, A City Called Copenhagen
A City Called Copenhagen
A City Called Copenhagen is a 1960 Danish short documentary film directed by Jørgen Roos. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short....
. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short
Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject
This is a list of films by year that have received an Oscar together with the other nominations for best documentary short subject. Following the Academy's practice, the year listed for each film is the year of release: the awards are announced and presented early in the following year.-1940s:*1941...
.
Of his more serious roles are in Jeppe in Jeppe på bjerget
Jeppe på bjerget
Jeppe på bjerget is a 1981 Danish film directed by Kaspar Rostrup and based on a play by Ludvig Holberg. It won three Bodil Awards : Best Film, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor .- Cast :*Buster Larsen as Jeppe...
, performed at the Det kongelige Teater in 1954, and Doolittle in My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
in 1960. On 21 March 1954 Osvald Helmuth appeared on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with Victor Borge
Victor Borge
Victor Borge ,born Børge Rosenbaum, was a Danish comedian, conductor and pianist, affectionately known as The Clown Prince of Denmark,The Unmelancholy Dane,and The Great Dane.-Early life and career:...
. Together with Poul Reumert
Poul Reumert
Poul Reumert was a Danish stage and film actor.-Filmography:* Afgrunden * Frøken Kirkemus * Søren Søndervold * Afsporet * Det brændende spørgsmål...
he also sang a selection of "Gluntarne" duets.
Notable songs sung by Helmuth include Dit hjerte er i fare Andresen, Herlig en sommernat, 100 mand og en bajer and Bar' engang imellem.
He was award a Knight of the Dannebrog in 1953 and during his 50-year anniversary in 1963, he was elevated to Knight of the 1st Degree.
In 1961 he starred as an authority figure in the film, The Boy Who Loved Horses.
Helmuth's last film appearance was shortly before his death in Henning Carlsen
Henning Carlsen
Henning Carlsen is a Danish film director, screenwriter, and producer most noted for his documentaries and his contributions to the style of Cinéma vérité. Carlsen's 1966 social-realistic drama Hunger was nominated for the Palme D'Or and won the Bodil Award for Best Danish Film...
's Hunger
Hunger (1966 film)
Hunger , is a 1966 black-and-white drama film directed by Denmark's Henning Carlsen, starring Swedish actor Per Oscarsson, and based upon the novel Hunger by Norwegian Nobel Prize-winning author Knut Hamsun...
, based upon the novel Hunger
Hunger (novel)
Hunger is a novel by the Norwegian author Knut Hamsun and was published in its final form in 1890. Parts of it had been published anonymously in the Danish magazine Ny Jord in 1888. The novel has been hailed as the literary opening of the 20th century and an outstanding example of modern,...
by Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Nobel Prize-winning author Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun was a Norwegian author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. He was praised by King Haakon VII of Norway as Norway's soul....
. The film was nominated for the Palme D'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
and won the Bodil Award for Best Danish Film
Bodil Award for Best Danish Film
The Bodil Award for Best Danish Film is one of the categories for the Bodil Awards presented annually by the Danish Union of Film Critics . It was created in 1948 and is one of the oldest film prizes in Europe. The judging committee can decide not to give out the award if no deserving films are...
in 1967 and other awards for the cast after his death.
Death
He died on 18 March 1966 at the age of 71 following a nearly 60 year-long career. He was buried at Ordrup Cemetery. Osvald Helmuth was the father of actor Frits HelmuthFrits Helmuth
Frits Helmuth was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1938 and 2004.He was born and died in Copenhagen, Denmark and was the son of Osvald Helmuth.-Selected filmography:...
.
Filmography
- Cirkusrevyen 1936Cirkusrevyen 1936Cirkusrevyen 1936 is a 1936 Danish comedy film directed by Lau Lauritzen, Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Ingeborg Bruhn Bertelsen - Herself / Various roles* Ludvig Brandstrup - Himself / Various Roles* Emil Hass Christensen - Himself / Various Roles...
- 1936 - Der var engang en viceværtDer var engang en viceværtDer var engang en vicevært is a 1937 Danish family film directed by Lau Lauritzen Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks and written by Børge Müller. The film stars Osvald Helmuth and Connie Meiling .-Cast:* Osvald Helmuth ... Vicevært Christensen...
- 1937 - En fuldendt gentlemanEn fuldendt gentlemanEn fuldendt gentleman is a 1937 Danish family film directed by Lau Lauritzen, Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Osvald Helmuth - Mortensen* Lau Lauritzen, Jr...
- 1937 - Cocktail - 1937
- Den mandlige husassistent - 1938
- Blaavand melder stormBlaavand melder stormBlaavand melder storm is a 1938 Danish thriller film directed by Lau Lauritzen, Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Osvald Helmuth as Fiskeskipper Jens Olesen* Frits Helmuth as Jens Olesen som barn* Betty Söderberg as Anna Olesen...
- 1938 - Familien OlsenFamilien OlsenFamilien Olsen is a 1940 Danish family film directed by Lau Lauritzen, Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks.-Cast:* Osvald Helmuth - Grønthandler Alfred Olsen* Maria Garland - Christine Olsen* Berthe Qvistgaard - Karen Olsen...
- 1940 - En mand af betydningEn mand af betydningEn mand af betydning is a 1941 Danish family film directed by Emanuel Gregers and starring Osvald Helmuth.-Cast:* Osvald Helmuth - Baldur Justesen* Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen - Fru Sonja Jensen* Inger Stender - Anita Justesen...
- 1941 - Ebberød Bank - 1943
- Op med humøret - 1943
- StjerneskudStjerneskudStjerneskud is a 1947 Danish comedy film directed by Jon Iversen and Alice O'Fredericks. The film marked the debut of Dirch Passer.Stjerneskud is the Danish word for Meteor.-Cast:*Osvald Helmuth*Einar Sissener*Betty Helsengreen*Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen...
- 1947 - Berlingske Tidende (film) - 1949
- Som sendt fra himlenSom sendt fra himlenSom sendt fra himlen is a 1951 Danish comedy film directed by Johan Jacobsen.-Cast:* Mogens Wieth - Allan / Alfred Kragh* Birgitte Reimer - Laura Heiberg* Kjeld Petersen - Torsten Vinge* Erik Mørk - Herbert Thorsen* Johannes Meyer - Kommandanten...
- 1951 - Vores fjerde far - 1951
- Den kloge mand (1956) - 1956
- Pigen i søgelyset - 1959
- En by ved navn KøbenhavnA City Called CopenhagenA City Called Copenhagen is a 1960 Danish short documentary film directed by Jørgen Roos. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short....
- 1960 - Den hvide hingst - 1961
- Harry og kammertjeneren - 1961
- Jensen længe leve - 1965
- HungerHunger (1966 film)Hunger , is a 1966 black-and-white drama film directed by Denmark's Henning Carlsen, starring Swedish actor Per Oscarsson, and based upon the novel Hunger by Norwegian Nobel Prize-winning author Knut Hamsun...
- 1966
Literature
- John Lindskog, Faders vilje - Osvald, Søster og Frits Helmut - dramaet bag scenen, Aschehoug, 2006. ISBN 87-11-30017-5.
- Sven Borre, Bogen om Osvald, Stig Vendelkjærs Forlag, 1967.
- Osvald Helmuth, Lev stærkt - dø gammel, Stig Vendelkær, 1963. (Erindringer)