Alice O'Fredericks
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Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Danish actress, screenwriter, and film director. O'Fredericks was the first female director of sound films in Denmark. Having written 38 produced screenplays and directed 72 feature films, O'Fredericks was one of the most prolific directors in Danish cinema. O'Fredericks also directed the first Danish films which highlighted women's rights. She is best known for directing the series of ''
Far til Fire ''Father of Four'' () is a 1953 Danish family comedy directed by Alice O'Fredericks and starring Ib Schønberg and Birgitte Bruun. The film is based on the comic strip by Kaj Engholm and Olav Hast. It was the inaugural film in a series of eight ...
'' (''Father of Four'') comedies and the series of family dramas based on Morten Korch novels. The Alice Award, presented annually to the Best Female Director at the
Copenhagen International Film Festival Copenhagen International Film Festival (CIFF) was a film festival held annually in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 2003 to 2008. The main prize, the Golden Swan, was awarded for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Script and Best C ...
, is named in her honor.


Early life

Alice O'Fredericks was born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen on 8 September 1899 in Gothenburg, Sweden, the daughter of telegraph operator Otto Ditlev Frederiksen and Marie Jensine Elvstrøm. Her parents divorced when she was a young girl, after which she moved with her mother to
Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
. She was educated at a secretarial school then landed a job in 1918 as a script girl for Danish director,
Benjamin Christensen Benjamin Christensen (28 September 1879 – 2 April 1959) was a Danish film director, screenwriter and an actor, both in film and on the stage. As a director, he was best known for his 1922 film '' Häxan'' (aka ''Witchcraft Through the Ages'') ...
. At this time she adopted the stage name of Alice O'Fredericks.


Career


Acting career

In 1920, O'Fredericks stepped in front of the camera, making her film debut as a nun in Christensen's controversial silent film ''
Häxan ''Häxan'' (, ''The Witch''; ''Heksen'' , ''The Witch''; English: ''The Witches''; released in the US in 1968 as ''Witchcraft Through the Ages'') is a 1922 Swedish-Danish silent horror essay film written and directed by Benjamin Christense ...
'' (''The Witches''). Through the 1920s, she performed in several films including Gudmundur Kamban's drama ''Hadda Padda'', and the comedy ''Pas Paa Pigerne'' for the popular Danish duo of
Ole & Axel Ole & Axel (American) or Long & Short (British) were a pair of comics from Denmark, known in Danish as ''Fyrtårnet og Bivognen'' (Lighthouse and Sidecar), often called ''Fy og Bi'' for short. The pair were played by Carl Schenstrøm (1881–19 ...
(Carl Schenstrøm and Harold Madsen). She created the Tumling Film production company with actor Johannes Meyer, played the starring role in two movies for
Nordisk Film Nordisk Film A/S () is a Danish entertainment company involved in film production and distribution and a subsidiary of Egmont Group. The multimedia entertainment company is also involved in television production, cinemas, computer games and ...
, and finished her acting career in
George Schnéevoigt George Schnéevoigt (born Fritz Ernst Georg Fischer; 23 December 1893 – 6 February 1961) was a Denmark, Danish film director, cinematographer, and actor of the 1910s to early 1940s. Schnéevoigt was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 23 Decem ...
's 1929 Norwegian production of ''Laila''.


Screenwriting and direction career

O'Fredericks debuted as a screenwriter in 1928 after winning a contest sponsored by the B.T. newspaper. Her manuscript became the Ole & Axel film ''Filmens Helte'' (''The Heroes of the Movies''). Thereafter she was employed with Palladium Film as a screenwriter and became a director's assistant to
Lau Lauritzen Sr. Lau Lauritzen Sr., born Lauritz Lauritzen (13 March 1878, in Silkeborg – 2 July 1938) was an early Danish film director, screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the cra ...
Through Lauritzen's mentoring, O'Fredericks learned the craft of filmmaking which laid the groundwork for her long and successful career as a director. She began directing films in 1934 in partnership with Lauritzen's son, Lau Lauritzen Jr. Their first effort was the farce ''
Ud i den kolde sne ''Ud i den kolde sne'' is a 1934 Danish comedy film directed by Lau Lauritzen Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks. It was Fredericks debut film as a director. The title means "Out in the cold snow" in English. Cast * Mathilde Nielsen as Baronesse Carol ...
'' (''Out in the Cold Snow''). The O'Fredericks-Lauritzen partnership flourished and they made 27 films together during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1950, she took a solo turn in the director's chair at ASA Film with the filmatization of the Morten Korch novel '' De røde heste'' (''
The Red Horse ''The Red Horse'' (, 1983) is an epic novel written by Eugenio Corti that follows an industrial family, the Rivas, in Nomana starting from the end of May 1940 through World War II and the new democratic Italy. The book is divided in three parts: ...
''). Korch's novels about rural life were very popular in Denmark but until then had never been transferred to the screen. ''The Red Horses'' was a huge success, and with 2.3 million viewers, became the most watched film in Danish history. O'Fredericks went on to film six more Korch novels. She also made several films in partnership with Jon Iversen and Robert Saaskin. During the same period, O'Fredericks created her popular series of ''
Far til Fire ''Father of Four'' () is a 1953 Danish family comedy directed by Alice O'Fredericks and starring Ib Schønberg and Birgitte Bruun. The film is based on the comic strip by Kaj Engholm and Olav Hast. It was the inaugural film in a series of eight ...
'' (''Father to Four'') family comedies. Between 1953 and 1961, she wrote and directed eight of them. During her later years O'Fredericks suffered from rheumatism that confined her to a wheelchair. Nonetheless, she continued to write and direct, and she often employed two men to carry her around the set. In the mid-1960s she wrote and directed a series of three rural dramas, the ''Næsbygaard'' films. These became her final films. O'Fredericks died of rheumatism on 18 February 1968 in Hellerup, Denmark. With a total of 72 films directed and 38 produced screenplays, O'Fredericks is one of Denmark's most productive filmmakers ever. Although film critics of her day gave her folk comedies only faint praise, her films were some of the most popular in Danish cinema. O'Fredericks is noted as a pioneer for women filmmakers. She wrote and directed some of the first Danish films which focused on women and women's rights. These include her 1946 drama ''
Så mødes vi hos Tove ''We Meet at Tove's'' () is a 1946 Danish drama directed by Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, Danish actress, screenwriter, and film director. O'Fr ...
'' (''
We Meet at Tove's ''We Meet at Tove's'' () is a 1946 Danish drama directed by Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, Danish actress, screenwriter, and film director. O'Fr ...
'') about eight women who meet ten years after their graduation to discuss their lives; and 1943's ''
Det Brændende spørgsmål ''The Burning Question'' () is a 1943 Danish drama film directed by Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, Danish actress, screenwriter, and film direc ...
'' (''
The Burning Question ''The Burning Question'' () is a 1943 Danish drama film directed by Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, Danish actress, screenwriter, and film direc ...
'') about abortion and its consequences. In 2003, the
Copenhagen International Film Festival Copenhagen International Film Festival (CIFF) was a film festival held annually in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 2003 to 2008. The main prize, the Golden Swan, was awarded for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Script and Best C ...
created the Alice Award, named in her honor, to be given annually to the Best Female Director.


Personal life

O'Fredericks was married to Danish businessman and wholesaler Oskar Klintholm from 1927 until his death in 1959.


Filmography


Director

*''
Brødrene på Uglegaarden ''Brødrene på Uglegaarden'' is a 1967 Danish comedy film directed by Ib Mossin and Alice O'Fredericks. It was O'Fredericks final film as a director. Cast * Astrid Villaume - Dora * Kjeld Jacobsen - Anders, the Innkeeper * Bertel Lauring - ...
'' (1967) *''
Krybskytterne på Næsbygård ''Krybskytterne på Næsbygård'' is a 1966 Danish family film directed by Ib Mossin and Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, Danish actress, screenwr ...
'' (1966) *'' Næsbygårds arving'' (1965) ... a.k.a. ''
The Heir to Næsbygaard ''The Heir to Næsbygaard'' () is a 1965 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, Danish actress, screenwriter, and film di ...
'' *''
Kampen om Næsbygård ''Kampen om Næsbygård'' is a 1964 Danish family film directed by Ib Mossin and Alice O'Fredericks. Cast * Asbjørn Andersen as Godsejer Martin * Karen Berg as Helene * Ole Wisborg as Torben * Poul Reichhardt as Præsten Prip * Inger Ste ...
'' (1964) *''
Sikke'n familie ''Sikke'n familie'' is a 1963 Danish family film based upon the play by Ian Hay and directed by Jon Iversen and Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, ...
'' (1963) *'' Der brænder en ild'' (1962) *''
Far til fire med fuld musik ''Far til fire med fuld musik'' is a 1961 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks and Robert Saaskin. Cast * Karl Stegger as Far * Peter Malberg as Onkel Anders * Agnes Rehni as Fru Sejrsen * Hanne Borchsenius as Søs * Ib Mossin as ...
'' (1961) *''
Det skete på Møllegården ''Det skete på Møllegården'' is a 1960 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks and Robert Saaskin. Cast * Poul Reichhardt - Martin Poulsen * Christian Arhoff - Mikkel Vind * Ib Mossin - Anders * Astrid Villaume - Anna Kjeldsen * Li ...
'' (1960) *'' Far til fire på Bornholm'' (1959) *'' Vagabonderne på Bakkegården'' (1958) *'' Far til fire og ulveungerne'' (1958) *'' Verdens rigeste pige'' (1958) ... a.k.a. '' The Richest Girl in the World'' *''
Far til fire og onkel Sofus ''Father of Four and Uncle Sofus'' () is a 1957 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks and Robert Saaskin. Cast *Karl Stegger as father * Birgitte Bruun as Søs * Otto Møller Jensen as Ole * Rudi Hansen as Mie *Ole Neumann as Lill ...
'' (1957) *''
Flintesønnerne ''Flintesønnerne'' is a 1956 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks. Cast * Poul Reichhardt as Jesper Poulsen * Peter Malberg as Mikkel * Ib Mossin as Viggo *Ebbe Langberg as Martin *Hanne Winther-Jørgensen - Karen *Astrid Villaume ...
'' (1956) *'' Far til fire i byen'' (1956) *''
Far til fire på landet ''Father of Four in the Country'' () is a 1955 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks. It was produced under the ASA Film studio banner. Cast *Karl Stegger as Far * Birgitte Bruun as Søs * Otto Møller Jensen as Ole * Rudi Ha ...
'' (1955) *''
Min datter Nelly ''Min datter Nelly'' is a 1955 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks. Cast * Maria Garland - Fru Ingeborg Olsen * Poul Reichhardt - Dyrlæge Kaare * Lillian Tillegren - Nelly * Randi Michelsen - Tante Jessie * Erni Arneson - Kitty ...
'' (1955) *'' Arvingen'' (1954) *''
Far til fire i sneen ''Father of Four in the Snow'' () is a 1954 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks and starring Ib Schønberg. It was produced under the ASA Film banner. Cast * Ib Schønberg as Far * Birgitte Bruun as Søs * Otto Møller Jensen as ...
'' (1954) *''
Fløjtespilleren ''Fløjtespilleren'' is a 1953 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks. Cast * Helga Frier - Cirkusdirektør Karla * Peter Malberg - Laurits 'Laust' Jeppesen * Poul Reichhardt - Kurt / Martin Vest * Grethe Holmer - Bodil Nielsen * Ib ...
'' (1953) *''Far til fire'' (1953) *''Det Store løb'' (1952) *''Husmandstøsen'' (1952) *''Det Gamle guld'' (1951) *''Frihed forpligter'' (1951) *''Fodboldpræsten'' (1951) *''Mosekongen'' (1950) *''I gabestokken'' (1950) *''Den Opvakte jomfru'' (1950) *'' De røde heste'' (1950) .. a.k.a. ''The Red Horses (1950 film), The Red Horses'' *''Vi vil ha' et barn'' (1949) ... a.k.a. ''We Want a Child!'' *''Det Gælder os alle'' (1949) ... a.k.a. ''It Concerns Us All'' *''Hr. Petit'' (1948) *''Stjerneskud'' (1947) *''Lise kommer til Byen'' (1947) *''Når katten er ude'' (1947) *''Jeg elsker en anden'' (1946) .. a.k.a. ''I Love Another'' *''
Så mødes vi hos Tove ''We Meet at Tove's'' () is a 1946 Danish drama directed by Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, Danish actress, screenwriter, and film director. O'Fr ...
'' (1946) ... a.k.a. ''
We Meet at Tove's ''We Meet at Tove's'' () is a 1946 Danish drama directed by Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, Danish actress, screenwriter, and film director. O'Fr ...
'' *''Onsdagsväninnan''(1946) *''De kloge og vi gale'' (1945) *''Klingende toner'' (1945) *''Panik i familien'' (1945) *''Affæren Birte'' (1945) *''Bedstemor går amok'' (1944) *''Elly Petersen'' (1944) *''Teatertosset'' (1944) *''Hans Onsdagsveninde'' (1943) *''
Det Brændende spørgsmål ''The Burning Question'' () is a 1943 Danish drama film directed by Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, Danish actress, screenwriter, and film direc ...
'' (1943) ... a.k.a. ''
The Burning Question ''The Burning Question'' () is a 1943 Danish drama film directed by Alice O'Fredericks Alice O'Fredericks (born Mitzi Otha Alice Frederiksen; 8 September 1899 – 18 February 1968) was a Denmark, Danish actress, screenwriter, and film direc ...
'' *''Tyrannens Fald'' (1942) *''Frk. Vildkat'' (1942) *''Frøken Kirkemus''(1941) *''Tag til Rønneby Kro'' (1941) *''Tror du jeg er født i Gaar!'' (1941) *''En ganske almindelig pige'' (1940) *''Pas på Svinget i Solby'' (1940) *''Västkustens hjältar'' (1940) *''Familien Olsen'' (1940) *''I dag begynder livet'' (1939) *''De tre måske fire'' (1939) *''Blaavand melder Storm'' (1938) *''Livet paa Hegnsgaard'' (1938) ... a.k.a. ''Life on the Hegn Farm'' *''Julia jubilerar'' (1938) *''Alarm (1938 film), Alarm'' (1938) *''Der var engang en Vicevært'' (1937) *''Frk. Møllers jubilæum'' (1937) *''En Fuldendt gentleman'' (1937) *''Cirkusrevyen 1936'' (1936) *''Panserbasse'' (1936) *''Snushanerne'' (1936) *''Week-end (1935 film), Week-end'' (1935) *''Kidnapped (1935 film), Kidnapped'' (1935) *''
Ud i den kolde sne ''Ud i den kolde sne'' is a 1934 Danish comedy film directed by Lau Lauritzen Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks. It was Fredericks debut film as a director. The title means "Out in the cold snow" in English. Cast * Mathilde Nielsen as Baronesse Carol ...
'' (1934) *''Hotel Paradis'' (1931)


Writer

*''Brødrene på Uglegaarden'' (1967) ... a.k.a. ''The Owlfarm Brothers'' *''Krybskytterne på Næsbygård'' (1966) *'' Næsbygårds arving'' (1965) ... a.k.a. ''The Heir to Næsby Farm'' *''
Kampen om Næsbygård ''Kampen om Næsbygård'' is a 1964 Danish family film directed by Ib Mossin and Alice O'Fredericks. Cast * Asbjørn Andersen as Godsejer Martin * Karen Berg as Helene * Ole Wisborg as Torben * Poul Reichhardt as Præsten Prip * Inger Ste ...
'' (1964) *''Sikke'n familie'' (1963) *'' Der brænder en ild'' (1962) *''
Far til fire med fuld musik ''Far til fire med fuld musik'' is a 1961 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks and Robert Saaskin. Cast * Karl Stegger as Far * Peter Malberg as Onkel Anders * Agnes Rehni as Fru Sejrsen * Hanne Borchsenius as Søs * Ib Mossin as ...
'' (1961) *''
Det skete på Møllegården ''Det skete på Møllegården'' is a 1960 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks and Robert Saaskin. Cast * Poul Reichhardt - Martin Poulsen * Christian Arhoff - Mikkel Vind * Ib Mossin - Anders * Astrid Villaume - Anna Kjeldsen * Li ...
'' (1960) *'' Far til fire på Bornholm'' (1959) *''Vagabonderne på Bakkegården'' (1958) *'' Far til fire og ulveungerne'' (1958) *''
Far til fire og onkel Sofus ''Father of Four and Uncle Sofus'' () is a 1957 Danish family film directed by Alice O'Fredericks and Robert Saaskin. Cast *Karl Stegger as father * Birgitte Bruun as Søs * Otto Møller Jensen as Ole * Rudi Hansen as Mie *Ole Neumann as Lill ...
'' (1957) *''Det Gamle guld'' (1951) *''Hr. Petit'' (1948) *''Klingende toner'' (1945) *''Bedstemor går amok'' (1944) *''Tror du jeg er født i Gaar!'' (1941) *''Västkustens hjältar'' (1940) *''De tre måske fire' (1939) *''Blaavand melder Storm'' (1938) *''Julia jubilerar'' (1938) *''Alarm'' (1938) *''Der var engang en Vicevært'' (1937) *''Frk. Møllers jubilæum'' (1937) *''Panserbasse'' (1936) *''Snushanerne'' (1936) *''Week-end'' (1935) *''Kidnapped'' (1935) *''Barken Margrethe'' (1934) *''
Ud i den kolde sne ''Ud i den kolde sne'' is a 1934 Danish comedy film directed by Lau Lauritzen Jr. and Alice O'Fredericks. It was Fredericks debut film as a director. The title means "Out in the cold snow" in English. Cast * Mathilde Nielsen as Baronesse Carol ...
'' (1934) *''Københavnere'' (1933) *''Med fuld musik'' (1933) *''Han, hun og Hamlet'' (1932) *''I kantonnement'' (1932) *''Krudt med knald'' (1931) *''Pas paa pigerne'' (1930) *''Filmens helte'' (1928) *''Kraft og skønhed'' (1928)


Actress

*''Laila (1929 film), Laila'' (1929) .... Inger *''Flickorna på Solvik'' (1926) .... Young Girl *''Det Store hjerte'' (1925) *''Solskinsdalen'' (1925) .... Kari *''Hadda Padda'' (1924) .... Kristrun *''Smil og Tåre'' (1923) .... Bess *''Blandt byens børn'' (1923) ... a.k.a. ''The Lodgers of the seventh heaven'' *''
Häxan ''Häxan'' (, ''The Witch''; ''Heksen'' , ''The Witch''; English: ''The Witches''; released in the US in 1968 as ''Witchcraft Through the Ages'') is a 1922 Swedish-Danish silent horror essay film written and directed by Benjamin Christense ...
'' (1922) .... Nun ... a.k.a. ''Witchcraft Through the Ages'' or ''The Witches'' *''Han, hun og Hamlet'' (1922) *''Film, flirt og forlovelse'' (1921)


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ofredericks, Alice 1899 births 1968 deaths Danish silent film actresses 20th-century Danish actresses Danish film actresses Danish women film directors Danish comedy film directors Danish women screenwriters 20th-century Danish screenwriters Burials at Hellerup Cemetery