The Man on the Roof
Encyclopedia
The Man on the Roof is a 1976 Swedish
film directed by Bo Widerberg, based on the 1971 novel The Abominable Man
by Sjöwall and Wahlöö
. The film is a crime thriller about the police officer
Martin Beck
trying to catch a killer, and it reaches its climax when the killer barricades himself on a roof top in central Stockholm
with an automatic rifle. A memorable scene is where a Bell 206
crashes in Odenplan
. Widerberg was inspired by the 1971 film The French Connection
.
The film won two Guldbagge Award
s in 1977, for Best Film and Best Actor (Håkan Serner).
. The investigation that follows is led by Martin Beck and Einar Rönn. It turns out that the murdered man had sadistic tendencies and was known among his colleagues for abusing his police privileges and brutalizing civilians. Although his colleagues had been aware of his behaviour, the police force's esprit de corps had suppressed complaints about him and prevented any reprisals.
The investigation proceeds, and finally Beck and his team find a trail that leads to the murderer, who turns out to be an ex-policeman named Eriksson. Eriksson's wife Marja had diabetes, and one day, in need of insulin, she had fallen into a coma. She was mistaken by the police as a drunk and put in a jail cell, under the orders of Nyman, where she died. Eriksson blamed the police force for the death of his wife. Now, some years later, he has become a social misfit and the authorities are in the process of removing his daughter Malin from his custody.
As Beck and his team close in on Eriksson he climbs up on the roof of the apartment building where he lives in central Stockholm, bringing with him both an automatic rifle and a sharpshooter's rifle. He starts to fire at any policeman and police vehicle he can spot, picking off several policemen. When the police commissioner decides to bring in the anti-terrorist units, including two police helicopters, Eriksson shoots up one of the helicopters such that it crashes on a crowded plaza near the building where he resides. Beck tries an individual initiative, climbing to the roof on a flimsy external ladder, but is shot in the chest, although he survives. Finally, two other members of Beck's team, along with another policeman and a civilian resident in the building, use explosives to gain access to the roof, and Eriksson is shot in the shoulder and arrested.
was picked for the part as the policeman Beck after Wideberg had seen him with a serious face in a talk show not knowing he was on air. Earlier Lindstedt was mostly known for roles in comedy films.
Filming took place between 11 December 1975 and 30 April 1976, using a budget of 3.9 million SEK
. Bo Widerberg didn't like the fake theater blood so pigs blood was used.
was released in 1982.
Cinema of Sweden
Swedish cinema is known as producing many critically acclaimed movies, and during the 20th century was the most prominent of Scandinavia. This is largely due to the popularity and prominence of the directors Ingmar Bergman, Victor Sjöström, and more recently Lasse Hallström and Lukas...
film directed by Bo Widerberg, based on the 1971 novel The Abominable Man
The Abominable Man
The Abominable Man is a Swedish crime novel by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö from 1971 in the series revolving around police detective Martin Beck. One of Donald Knuth's favourite novels, "one of Sjöwall and Wahlöö's brilliantly Swedish detective novels"...
by Sjöwall and Wahlöö
Sjöwall and Wahlöö
Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, a common-law wife and husband team of detective writers from Sweden. Together they conceived and wrote a series of ten novels about the exploits of detectives from the special homicide commission of the national police in which the character of Martin Beck was the...
. The film is a crime thriller about the police officer
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
Martin Beck
Martin Beck
Martin Beck is a fictional Swedish police detective who is the main character in a series of ten novels by Sjöwall and Wahlöö, collectively titled The Story of a Crime...
trying to catch a killer, and it reaches its climax when the killer barricades himself on a roof top in central Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
with an automatic rifle. A memorable scene is where a Bell 206
Bell 206
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
crashes in Odenplan
Odenplan
Odenplan is a plaza located in the district Vasastaden in central Stockholm, Sweden, named after the old Norse god Oden. The Odenplan metro station, opened in 1952, is located here...
. Widerberg was inspired by the 1971 film The French Connection
The French Connection (film)
This article is about the 1971 film. For the British fashion label, see French Connection .The French Connection is a 1971 American crime film directed by William Friedkin. The film was adapted and fictionalized by Ernest Tidyman from the non-fiction book by Robin Moore...
.
The film won two Guldbagge Award
Guldbagge Award
The Guldbagge Award is an official Swedish film award awarded annually since 1964 by the Swedish Film Institute.-Etymology:Guldbagge is the Swedish name for Cetonia aurata, a beetle also known as rose chafer. The name of the award could also be interpreted as a play on the Swedish word skalbagge,...
s in 1977, for Best Film and Best Actor (Håkan Serner).
Plot
A policeman (Nyman) who is a patient at a hospital in Stockholm is brutally murdered, stabbed repeatedly with a bayonetBayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
. The investigation that follows is led by Martin Beck and Einar Rönn. It turns out that the murdered man had sadistic tendencies and was known among his colleagues for abusing his police privileges and brutalizing civilians. Although his colleagues had been aware of his behaviour, the police force's esprit de corps had suppressed complaints about him and prevented any reprisals.
The investigation proceeds, and finally Beck and his team find a trail that leads to the murderer, who turns out to be an ex-policeman named Eriksson. Eriksson's wife Marja had diabetes, and one day, in need of insulin, she had fallen into a coma. She was mistaken by the police as a drunk and put in a jail cell, under the orders of Nyman, where she died. Eriksson blamed the police force for the death of his wife. Now, some years later, he has become a social misfit and the authorities are in the process of removing his daughter Malin from his custody.
As Beck and his team close in on Eriksson he climbs up on the roof of the apartment building where he lives in central Stockholm, bringing with him both an automatic rifle and a sharpshooter's rifle. He starts to fire at any policeman and police vehicle he can spot, picking off several policemen. When the police commissioner decides to bring in the anti-terrorist units, including two police helicopters, Eriksson shoots up one of the helicopters such that it crashes on a crowded plaza near the building where he resides. Beck tries an individual initiative, climbing to the roof on a flimsy external ladder, but is shot in the chest, although he survives. Finally, two other members of Beck's team, along with another policeman and a civilian resident in the building, use explosives to gain access to the roof, and Eriksson is shot in the shoulder and arrested.
Cast
- Carl-Gustaf LindstedtCarl-Gustaf LindstedtCarl-Gustaf Lindstedt was a Swedish actor. He grew up in Kungsholmen in Stockholm, where there now is a street named after him....
as Martin Beck - Sven WollterSven WollterSven Wollter is a Swedish actor. He was born and grew up in Gothenburg.Sven Wollter is an actor in Sweden and has starred in many films such as, The Man on the Roof, The Man from Majorca, Änglagård and Jerusalem, based on the novel by Selma Lagerlöf...
as Lennart Kollberg - Thomas HellbergThomas Hellberg-Selected filmography:* The Man on the Roof * The Assignment * Raskenstam * Mannen från Mallorca * Zingo * Break Even -External links:...
as Gunvald Larsson - Håkan Serner as Einar Rönn
- Ingvar HirdwallIngvar HirdwallLars Ingvar Hirdwall , is a Swedish actor. He was educated at Gothenburg City Theatre stage school 1957-1960. Since the early 1960s he has been active as an actor in many films, TV series and on theatrical stages, mainly Stockholms stadsteater...
as Åke Eriksson - Birgitta ValbergBirgitta ValbergBirgitta Valberg is a Swedish actress who attended the Dramatens elevskola.- Filmography :*1992 - Söndagsbarn*1989 - Peter och Petra*1980 - Flygnivå 450*1977 - Paradistorg...
as Mrs. Nyman - Carl-Axel Heiknert as Palmon Harald Hult
- Torgny Anderberg as Malm
- Bellan Roos as Mrs. Eriksson
- Gus DahlströmGus DahlströmGus Dahlström was a Swedish film actor. He appeared in 47 films between 1942 and 1984.-Selected filmography:* Crisis * Emil i Lönneberga * The Man on the Roof -External links:...
as Mr. Eriksson - Folke Hjort as Melander
- Eva RemaeusEva RemaeusEva Remaeus was a Swedish actress.Remaeus starred in the Swedish film Sven Klangs kvintett, the thriller, The Man on the Roof as well as the child television series Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter.She also appeared in Xerxes , Det är långt till New York and...
as Mrs. Kollberg - Gunnel Wadner as Mrs. Beck
Production
The actor Carl-Gustaf LindstedtCarl-Gustaf Lindstedt
Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt was a Swedish actor. He grew up in Kungsholmen in Stockholm, where there now is a street named after him....
was picked for the part as the policeman Beck after Wideberg had seen him with a serious face in a talk show not knowing he was on air. Earlier Lindstedt was mostly known for roles in comedy films.
Filming took place between 11 December 1975 and 30 April 1976, using a budget of 3.9 million SEK
Swedish krona
The krona has been the currency of Sweden since 1873. Both the ISO code "SEK" and currency sign "kr" are in common use; the former precedes or follows the value, the latter usually follows it, but especially in the past, it sometimes preceded the value...
. Bo Widerberg didn't like the fake theater blood so pigs blood was used.
Reception
The critics were very positive and especially praised the dialogues. Around 750,000 people attended the film in Sweden, making it the most successful film produced by the Swedish Film Institute until Fanny and AlexanderFanny and Alexander
Fanny and Alexander is a 1982 Swedish fantasy drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. It was originally conceived as a four-part TV movie and cut in that version, spanning 312 minutes. A 188-minute version was created later for cinematic release, although this version was in fact the...
was released in 1982.