Erik ''Stellan'' Claësson was a

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

film producer A film producer is a person who oversees film production. Either employed by a production company or working independently, producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production, such as selecting the script, coordinating writing, di ...

. He was married to actress Karin Swanstrom and ran

SF Studios SF Studios is a Swedish film and television production and distribution company (both Swedish and international) with headquarters in Stockholm and local offices in Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki and London. The studio is owned by Nordic media congl ...

for over a decade. He was responsible for first sighting

Ingrid Bergman Ingrid Bergman (29 August 191529 August 1982) was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films, television movies, and plays.Obituary ''Variety'', 1 September 1982. With a career spanning five decades, she is often ...

and introducing her to

cinema Cinema may refer to: Film * Cinematography, the art of motion-picture photography * Film or movie, a series of still images that create the illusion of a moving image ** Film industry, the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking ...

Biography

Claësson was the son of

city physician City physician (German: ; , , from Latin ) was a historical title in the Late Middle Ages for a physician appointed by the city council. The city physician was responsible for the health of the population, particularly the poor, and the sanitary ...

Jonas Leonhard Claësson and Aurora Adelaide Hillman. He came to

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

where he first worked in the police force but then went into acting. Claësson was appointed studio manager for

in Råsunda,

Solna Solna Municipality ( sv, Solna kommun or , ) is a municipality in Stockholm County in Sweden, located just north of Stockholm City Centre. Its seat is located in the town of Solna, which is a part of the Stockholm urban area. Solna is one of t ...

, in 1932. In his book ''Scandinavian Film'', Forsyth Hardy writes of this period of the studio's history that "Svensk Filmindustri, through its producers Karin Swanstrom and Stellan Claesson, was content to produce modestly conceived films for the home market. They were for the most part comedies with a strong theatrical flavour or farces, some of them originating strangely in the novels of

P. G. Wodehouse Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, ( ; 15 October 188114 February 1975) was an English author and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. His creations include the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Jeeve ...

." During his time there, Claësson was nicknamed by some colleagues "Råsunda's dictator" for his autocratic manner. He was the production manager for 110 films between 1923 and 1948. Stellan Claësson was first married to the actress

Karin Swanström Karin Swanström (June 13, 1873 – July 5, 1942) was a Swedish actress, producer and director. Early life Swanström was born in St. Olai congregation in Norrköping. Little is known of her life before she was accepted for the Royal Dram ...

(1873-1942), from 1915 until her death; they managed SF Studios together and were sometimes called the "King and Queen in

Filmstaden Filmstaden was a film studio situated in Råsunda, Solna Municipality in Stockholm, Sweden. History Filmstaden was once one of the most modern film studios in Europe. It was built in 1919–1920 on the basis of designs by Swedish archit ...

". In 1949, after her death, he married Signe Maria Elisabet Liberg (1896-1969). Claësson is buried at the northern cemetery in Stockholm together with his wife.

Selected filmography

Producer

* ''

House Slaves A house slave was a slave who worked, and often lived, in the house of the slave-owner, performing domestic labor. House slaves performed largely the same duties as all domestic workers throughout history, such as cooking, cleaning, serving meals, ...

'' (1923) * ''The Nurtull Gang'' (1923) * ''

Anna-Clara and Her Brothers ''Anna-Clara and Her Brothers'' (Swedish: ''Anna-Clara och hennes bröder'') is a 1923 Swedish silent drama film directed by Per Lindberg and starring Ann Britt Ohlson, Carl Browallius, Hilda Borgström and Linnéa Hillberg.Qvist & Von Bagh p.57 ...

'' (1923) * ''

Kalle Utter ''Kalle Utter'' is a 1925 Swedish silent historical drama film directed by Karin Swanström and starring Anders de Wahl, Georg Blomstedt and John Ekman.Qvist & Von Bagh p.142 Cast * Anders de Wahl as Kalle Utter * Georg Blomstedt as Kalle's Fa ...

'' (1925) * ''

The False Millionaire ''The False Millionaire'' (Swedish: ''Falska millionären'') is a 1931 French-Swedish comedy film directed by Paul Merzbach and starring Fridolf Rhudin, Zarah Leander and Annalisa Ericson.Wallengren p.53 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Sto ...

'' (1931) * ''

Skipper's Love ''Skipper's Love'' (Swedish: ''Skepparkärlek'') is a 1931 Swedish comedy film directed by Ivar Johansson and starring Weyler Hildebrand, Einar Fagstad and Aino Taube.Qvist & Von Bagh p.92 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm. The f ...

'' (1931) * '' Ship Ahoy!'' (1931) * ''

The Storholmen Brothers ''The Storholmen Brothers'' ( sv, Pojkarna på Storholmen) is a 1932 Swedish black-and-white comedy film. It was directed by and starred Sigurd Wallén and Fridolf Rhudin, two of the big names of Swedish film in the early 20th century. ''Pojkarn ...

'' (1932) * ''

International Match ''International Match'' (Swedish: ''Landskamp'') is a 1932 Swedish drama film directed by Gunnar Skoglund and starring Georg Blomstedt, Fritiof Billquist and Olof Sandborg. It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm and on location in the ...

'' (1932) * ''

Dear Relatives ''Dear Relatives'' (Swedish: ''Kära släkten'') is a 1933 Swedish comedy film directed by Gustaf Molander and starring Gösta Ekman, Tutta Rolf and Carl Barcklind. It was a hit at the box office.Wright p.32 It was made at the Råsunda Studios in ...

'' (1933) * ''

Boman's Boy ''Boman's Boy'' (Swedish: ''Bomans pojke'') is a 1933 Swedish comedy film directed by Ivar Johansson and starring Bengt Djurberg, Birgit Tengroth and Sigurd Wallén.Qvist & Von Bagh p.92 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm. The fi ...

'' (1933) * ''

Augusta's Little Misstep ''Augusta's Little Misstep'' (Swedish: ''Augustas lilla felsteg'') is a 1933 Swedish comedy film directed by Thor Modéen and starring Edvard Persson, Dagmar Ebbesen and Aino Taube.Qvist & Von Bagh p.124 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in S ...

'' (1933) * ''

Two Men and a Widow ''Two Men and a Widow'' (Swedish: ''Två man om en änka'') is a 1933 Swedish comedy film directed by John Lindlöf and starring Gösta Ekman, Gull-Maj Norin and Tollie Zellman.Freiburg p.20 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm. The ...

'' (1933) * ''

What Do Men Know? ''What Do Men Know?'' (Swedish: ''Vad veta väl männen'') is a 1933 Swedish drama film directed by Edvin Adolphson and starring Anders de Wahl, Birgit Tengroth and Håkan Westergren.Qvist & Von Bagh p.57 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in ...

'' (1933) * ''

Marriageable Daughters ''Marriageable Daughters'' (Swedish: ''Giftasvuxna döttrar'') is a 1933 Swedish comedy film directed by Sigurd Wallén and starring Karin Swanström, Birgit Tengroth, Maritta Marke and Karin Ekelund.Qvist & Von Bagh p.151 It was shot at the Rå ...

'' (1933) * ''

The Song to Her ''The Song to Her'' (Swedish: ''Sången till henne'') is a 1934 Swedish comedy film directed by Ivar Johansson and starring Martin Öhman, Sickan Carlsson and Åke Jensen.Qvist & Von Bagh p.92 It marked the film debut of Kristina Söderbaum, w ...

'' (1934) * '' Andersson's Kalle'' (1934) * ''

Simon of Backabo ''Simon of Backabo'' (Swedish: ''Simon i Backabo'') is a 1934 Swedish comedy film directed by Gustaf Edgren and starring Fridolf Rhudin, Hilda Borgström and Sickan Carlsson.Larsson & Marklund p.125 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm ...

'' (1934) * ''

Swedenhielms ''Swedenhielms'' is a 1935 Swedish comedy-drama film directed by Gustaf Molander. The film is based on the play by Hjalmar Bergman from 1923 and starrs Gösta Ekman, Karin Swanström, and Tutta Rolf. Plot The Swedenhielm family is an old proud ...

'' (1935) * ''

Walpurgis Night Walpurgis Night (), an abbreviation of Saint Walpurgis Night (from the German ), also known as Saint Walpurga's Eve (alternatively spelled Saint Walburga's Eve), is the eve of the Christian feast day of Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century abbess in ...

'' (1935) * '' It Pays to Advertise'' (1936) * ''

Conscientious Objector Adolf ''Conscientious Objector Adolf'' (Swedish: ''Samvetsömma Adolf'') is a 1936 Swedish comedy film directed by Sigurd Wallén and starring Adolf Jahr, Karin Albihn and Weyler Hildebrand.Krawc p.368 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockholm ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Wedding Trip ''The Wedding Trip'' (german: Die Hochzeitsreise) is a 1969 German-Italian comedy film directed by Ralf Gregan and starring Liselotte Pulver, Dieter Hallervorden and Ewa Strömberg.Bock & Bergfelder p.379 Synopsis After seven years of marriage ...

'' (1936) * ''

Johan Ulfstjerna Johan Ulfstjerna may refer to: * ''Johan Ulfstjerna'', a 1907 play by Tor Hedberg * ''Johan Ulfstjerna'' (1923 film), a silent Swedish film adaptation directed by John W. Brunius * ''Johan Ulfstjerna'' (1936 film), a Swedish film adaptation ...

'' (1936) * ''

Sara Learns Manners ''Sara Learns Manners'' (Swedish: ''Sara lär sig folkvett'') is a 1937 Swedish comedy film directed by Gustaf Molander and starring Tutta Rolf, Emma Meissner and Aino Taube.Qvist & Von Bagh p.128 It was shot at the Råsunda Studios in Stockhol ...

'' (1937) * ''

John Ericsson, Victor of Hampton Roads ''John Ericsson, Victor of Hampton Roads'' (Swedish: ''John Ericsson - segraren vid Hampton Roads'') is a 1937 Swedish historical drama film directed by Gustaf Edgren and starring Victor Sjöström, Märta Ekström and Anders Henrikson.Wallengre ...

'' (1937) * ''

Conflict Conflict may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Conflict'' (1921 film), an American silent film directed by Stuart Paton * ''Conflict'' (1936 film), an American boxing film starring John Wayne * ''Conflict'' (1937 film) ...

'' (1937) * ''

Art for Art's Sake Art for art's sake—the usual English rendering of ''l'art pour l'art'' (), a French slogan from the latter part of the 19th century—is a phrase that expresses the philosophy that the intrinsic value of art, and the only 'true' art, is divorce ...

'' (1938) * '' Good Friends and Faithful Neighbours'' (1938) * '' Whalers'' (1939) * '' Oh, What a Boy!'' (1939) * ''

Only one night ''Only One Night'' (german: Nur eine Nacht) is a 1950 West German drama film directed by Fritz Kirchhoff and starring Marianne Hoppe, Hans Söhnker and Willy Maertens.Bock & Bergfelder p. 52 It was shot at the Tempelhof Studios in West Berlin. Th ...

'' (1939) * ''

If I Could Marry the Minister ''If I Could Marry the Minister'' (Swedish: ''Tänk, om jag gifter mig med prästen'') is a 1941 Swedish romantic drama film directed by Ivar Johansson and starring Viveca Lindfors, Georg Rydeberg, Arnold Sjöstrand. with screenplay by Ester Lin ...

'' (1941) * ''

Tomorrow's Melody ''Tomorrow's Melody'' (Swedish: ''Morgondagens melodi'') is a 1942 Swedish drama film directed by Ragnar Frisk and starring Viveca Lindfors, Nils Lundell and Björn Berglund.Qvist & von Bagh p.105 The film's sets were designed by the art director ...

'' (1942) * ''

Doctor Glas ''Doctor Glas'', an epistolary novel by Hjalmar Söderberg, tells the story of a physician in 19th-century Sweden who deals with moral and love issues. Synopsis The novel is about Dr. Tyko Gabriel Glas who is a respected physician in Stockhol ...

'' (1942) * '' The Serious Game'' (1945) * ''

The Sixth Commandment ''The Sixth Commandment'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring William Faversham. Plot John Brant, a devoted minister, is in love with Marian Calhoun, but must keep it a secret because she is engaged to ...

'' (1947) * ''

Loffe the Tramp ''Loffe the Tramp'' (Swedish: ''Loffe på luffen'') is a 1948 Swedish comedy film directed by Gösta Werner and starring Elof Ahrle, Wiktor Andersson and Agneta Prytz.Scandinavian Cinema p.282 It was shot at the Centrumateljéerna Studios in Stoc ...

'' (1948)

Actor

* 1925 - '' First Mate Karlsson's Sweethearts'' (in the role of Benley)

References

External links

*
'Den svenska filmens glada 30-tal: En överlevandes minnen', Gösta Rodin
{{DEFAULTSORT:Claësson, Stellan 1886 births 1970 deaths Swedish film producers People from Söderhamn