''The Clang of the Pick'' (Swedish: ''Hård klang'') is a 1952 Swedish

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Arne Mattsson Arne Mattsson (2 December 1919 – 28 June 1995) was a Swedish film director. Biography Born in Uppsala, the early films of Mattsson were mostly comedies. His biggest success was '' Hon dansade en sommar'' (1951, aka. ''One Summer of Happine ...

and starring

Victor Sjöström Victor David Sjöström (; 20 September 1879 – 3 January 1960), also known in the United States as Victor Seastrom, was a pioneering Swedish film director, screenwriter, and actor. He began his career in Sweden, before moving to Hollywood in ...

Edvin Adolphson Gustav Edvin Adolphson (25 February 1893 – 31 October 1979) was a Swedish film actor and director who appeared in over 500 roles. He made his debut in 1912. He appeared with Ingrid Bergman in ''Only One Night'' (1939), and is noted for his ...

and

Margit Carlqvist Margit Carlqvist (born 11 February 1932 in Stockholm) is a Swedish actress. In Sweden she starred in many movies during the 1950s. Internationally, she may be best known for her role in Ingmar Bergman's film, ''Smiles of a Summer Night''. Sele ...

.Sundholm p.294 It was shot at the Kungsholmen Studios of Nordisk Tonefilm in Stockholm. The film's sets were designed by the art director

Bibi Lindström Bibi Lindström (1904–1984) was a Swedish art director.Vermilye p.122 She designed the sets for more than a hundred film productions. Selected filmography * ''Jolly Musicians'' (1932) * '' The Dangerous Game'' (1933) * '' Saturday Nights'' (1 ...

Synopsis

The village of Brovik on the coast of Småland in southern Sweden is transformed from a small agricultural settlement into a booming

port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as H ...

due to the development of a

granite Granite () is a coarse-grained ( phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies under ...

quarrying A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their envir ...

by a German industrialist Klaus Willenhart in the late

nineteenth century The 19th (nineteenth) century began on 1 January 1801 ( MDCCCI), and ended on 31 December 1900 ( MCM). The 19th century was the ninth century of the 2nd millennium. The 19th century was characterized by vast social upheaval. Slavery was abolish ...

. By the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

his son Frans has taken over the business and identifies strongly with the local community in neutral Sweden. By contrast his father, wife Vera and brother Gert are strongly committed to the German Empire and the cause of victory. Vera leaves Frans and goes with her brother-in-law, an on officer in the Kaiser's army, to work as a

nurse Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health c ...

. Frans bonds with Minka, the niece of a local stonemason who bitterly resents the wealthy German family, and they ultimately become lovers. When a

naval mine A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, any ...

drifts towards the village, Frans detonates it with a rifle and is fatally wounded by

shrapnel Shrapnel may refer to: Military * Shrapnel shell, explosive artillery munitions, generally for anti-personnel use * Shrapnel (fragment), a hard loose material Popular culture * ''Shrapnel'' (Radical Comics) * ''Shrapnel'', a game by Adam C ...

Cast

as Klaus Willenhart *

as Frans Willenhart *

John Elfström Per Johan "John" Hilding Elfström (20 April 1902 – 27 March 1981) was a Swedish film actor who appeared in more than 120 films. He was born in Ovansjö, Sweden and died in Täby, Sweden. He starred in the Åsa-Nisse series of films. Sel ...

as Olof Rydberg *

as Minka *

Nils Hallberg Nils Hallberg (18 September 1921 – 8 October 2010) was a Swedish actor. He appeared in 90 films between 1934 and 1974. Selected filmography * '' Andersson's Kalle'' (1934) * ''The Boys of Number Fifty Seven'' (1935) * ''The Lady Becomes ...

as Teofil *

Rolf von Nauckhoff Rolf von Nauckhoff (1909–1968) was a Swedish film actor who worked mainly in Germany.World Filmography: 1967 p.152 Selected filmography * '' Johan Ulfstjerna'' (1936) - Student reading a poem (uncredited) * ''Shipwrecked Max'' (1936) - Waiter ...

as Gert Willenhart *

Naima Wifstrand Naima Wifstrand (; 4 September 1890 – 23 October 1968) was a Swedish film actress, operetta singer, troubadour, director and composer. In her later years, she was cast in several supporting roles in Ingmar Bergman films. Biography Born Siri ...

as Narrator / Clothes Saleswoman *

Eva Bergh Eva Bergh (25 February 1926 – 19 February 2013) was a Norwegian actress. Eva Bergh was born Eva Johansen at Kolbotn in Oppegård, Norway. She was married to the composer Sverre Arvid Bergh (1915–1980) and was the sister-in-law of his brot ...

as Vera *

Erik Hell Erik Hell (11 August 1911 – 11 March 1973) was a Swedish actor. Hell was born in Kalliokoski, Finland, to a Norwegian father and a Finnish mother. He moved to Sweden with his family in 1918 during the Finnish Civil War. He married the actre ...

as Johan *

Magnus Kesster Magnus Kesster (29 July 1901 – 15 April 1975) was a Swedish film actor. He appeared in 80 films between 1937 and 1957. Selected filmography * ''The Pale Count'' (1937) * ''Happy Vestköping'' (1937) * ''A Cruise in the Albertina'' (1938 ...

as Verk-Masse * Dagmar Ebbesen as Hanna * Axel Högel as Svenske Fredrik *

Wiktor Andersson Wiktor Herman "Kulörten" Andersson (19 June 1887 – 13 September 1966) was a Swedish film actor. He appeared in more than 160 films between 1923 and 1958. Selected filmography * '' Boman at the Exhibition'' (1923) * '' A Stolen Waltz'' ( ...

as Karlsson *

Sten Mattsson The STEN (or Sten gun) is a family of British submachine guns chambered in 9×19mm which were used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces throughout World War II and the Korean War. They had a simple design and very low production cos ...

as Börje *

Gösta Gustafson Gösta Gustafson (15 November 1886 – 19 January 1963) was a Swedish stage and film actor. Steene p.287 He acted prolifically in the theatre and on screen for several decades. Selected filmography * '' The People of Simlang Valley'' (1924) * ' ...

as Hornvall * Svea Holst as Mrs. Karlsson * Hedvig Lindby as Old Villager *

John Norrman John Anders Norrman (19 July 1884 – 11 November 1966), was a Swedish actor. Norrman appeared in over 70 roles in films between 1921 and 1964. Selected filmography * '' Norrtullsligan'' (1923) * ''The Marriage Game'' (1935) * ''Shipwrecked Max' ...

as Secretary *

Birger Åsander Birger Åsander (13 July 1909 – 17 January 1984) was a Swedish actor. He appeared in more than 90 films and television shows between 1938 and 1980. Selected filmography * ''Career'' (1938) * '' Imprisoned Women'' (1943) * '' The Brothers ...

as Arvid * Gunnar Öhlund as Stone Mason *

Ingemar Holde Ingemar is a given name. People with the name include: *Ingemar Backman (born 1976), Swedish professional snowboarder * Ingemar Burgström (1926–1951), Swedish flyweight boxer * Olai Ingemar Eikeland (1915–2003), Norwegian politician for the Ce ...

as Fiddle player *

Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt (24 February 1921 – 16 January 1992) was a Swedish comedian and actor. History He grew up in Kungsholmen in Stockholm, where there now is a street named after him. His father was a Social Democratic politician and ...

as Fiddle player *

John Melin John Melin (18 May 1895 – 6 April 1966) was a Swedish film actor. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1919 and 1964. Selected filmography * ''The Ghost Baron'' (1927) * '' The Queen of Pellagonia'' (1927) * '' Sealed Lips'' (1927) ...

as Guest at the party

References

Bibliography

* Sundholm, John. ''Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian Cinema''. Scarecrow Press, 2012.

External links

* 1952 films 1952 drama films 1950s Swedish-language films Films directed by Arne Mattsson Films based on Swedish novels Films set in the 19th century Films set in the 1910s Films set in Sweden Swedish historical drama films 1950s historical drama films 1950s Swedish films {{1950s-Sweden-film-stub