''The Red Horses'', (), is a 1950 Danish romantic 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'Fredericks was the first female director of sound films in Denmark. Having written 38 ...

and

Jon Iversen Jon Iversen (, 1 December 1889 – 17 August 1964) was a Denmark, Danish stage and film actor and film director. Selected filmography *''Blind Justice (1916 film), Blind Justice'' – 1916 *''Hotel Paradis'' – 1931 *''Week-end (1935 film) ...

, based on the popular novel by Morten Korch. The film stars

Poul Reichhardt Poul David Reichhardt (2 February 1913 – 31 October 1985) was a Danish actor, well known for his roles in Danish 1940s/1950s comedies. Later on, he also played more serious and varied roles; he has also starred in '' Huset på Christians ...

and

Tove Maës Tove Maës (30 April 1921 – 31 December 2010) was a Danish actress of stage, television and film best known for her starring roles in the series of " Morten Korch" films, in particular '' The Red Horses''. Maës was a three-time recipient of ...

as young newlyweds who try to save an old family farm by winning a horse race. ''The Red Horses'' is the most watched Danish film of all time.

Plot

Ole Offor (Poul Reichhardt) a young graduate from agricultural college, returns home to discover that rumors about his fiancé (Lily Broberg) cheating on him are true. Ole rejects her thin denials and decides to move to Canada to start a new life. In the meantime, Ole's father, Hans (Johannes Meyer), meets with an old childhood friend, Munk (Ejner Federspiel), who is seriously ill. Munk owns a beautiful old stud farm called Enekaer, but he has left it nearly bankrupt. Hans promises Munk that he will help. Hans asks Ole to become the manager of Enekaer and see if it can be saved. Munk purchased some fine ponies of a red breed which he had hoped could be trained as winning trotters and save the farm. However, his bad heart left him bed-ridden. Munk's second wife, Zita (Else Jarlbak) has been having an affair with the vicious horse trainer, Willers (Jørn Jeppesen). When Munk discovers this, he sues for divorce, but Willers now owns outstanding notes on the farm. Ole arrives and meets Munk's daughter, Bente (Tove Maës). The daughter from Munk's first marriage, Bente is sweet woman with a slightly crippled leg from a horse riding accident. Ole quickly becomes taken with Bente. Willers is paid off by Ole and his father and told to disappear. Munk, on his death bed, tells Ole and Bente that his last wish is for them to marry. Enekaer has one fine stallion named Junker that Munk hoped could win the 15,000 Kroner prize at the trotting derby. But Willers had ruined Junker's nerves. Ole and Bente care for Junker and he regains strength and speed. Ole falls in love with Bente and proposes. They marry but the marriage is uneasy because Bente feels that Ole married her out of charity. One day Zita Munk returns but Ole and Bente refuse her admittance to Enekaer. They are called into court because Zita possesses Munk life insurance which gives her financial control of Enekaer. The court gives Ole and Bente a brief time to raise the money or give up the farm. They are despondent, but after all they have been through, Bente finally has realized that Ole truly loves her. On Derby day, Ole decides to race Junker himself. Everyone at Enekaer bets all of their money on Ole and Junker. Ole races to victory and in happiness, Ole and Bente return to Enekaer.

Cast

* Johannes Meyer as Hans Offor *

as Ole Offor * Pia Ahnfelt-Rønne as Sara Offor *

Peter Malberg Peter Malberg (21 September 1887 – 23 June 1965) was a Danish actor best known for his role as Onkel Anders in the '' Far Til Fire'' movies. Peter was originally educated as a painter, but his job at Aarhus Theatre as a scenic painter alo ...

as Mikkel Pind *

Lily Broberg Lily Broberg (19 September 1923 – 30 July 1989) was a Danish stage and film actress. Born in Skørring, Jutland, Denmark, she died in Frederiksberg and was buried at the Frederiksberg Ældre Kirkegård Frederiksberg Ældre Kirkegård ...

as Henriette *

Ejner Federspiel Ejner Federspiel (12 August 1896 – 21 November 1981) was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 58 films between 1934 and 1981. He was married to Gunver Fønss and his daughter was actress Birgitte Federspiel. Partial filmography * ''Hr. T ...

as Anders Munk *

as Bente Munk *

Maria Garland Maria Garland (16 May 1889 – 26 October 1967) was a Danish stage and film actress. Selected filmography *'' Verdensgiften'' – 1914 *'' Professor Petersens Plejebørn'' – 1924 *'' En kæreste for meget'' – 1924 *'' Kraft og skøn ...

as Konstance Munk *

Else Jarlbak Else Jarlbak (8 August 1911 – 16 February 1963) was a Danish film actress. She appeared in 35 films between 1934 and 1961. She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark. Filmography * '' Lynet'' (1934) * '' De bør forelske dem ...

as Zita Munk *

Jørn Jeppesen Jørn Jeppesen (21 April 1919 – 18 January 1964) was a Danish stage and film actor. Filmography *'' Genboerne'' - 1939 *'' Når bønder elsker'' - 1942 *'' Natekspressen (P. 903)'' - 1942 *'' Møllen'' - 1943 *'' Guds mærkelige veje'' - ...

as Stefan Willers * Kai Lind as Jørgen Senille * Mette Bjerre as Dorthe Senille * Ib Conradi as Peter Snille *

Christen Møller Christen Møller (17 March 1884 – 12 February 1981) was a Danish sports shooter. He competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics and the 1936 Summer Olympics The 1936 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XI Olympiad () and officia ...

as Dr. Sørenen *

Knud Hallest Knud Hallest (12 May 1909 – 4 September 1991) was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 38 films between 1935 and 1974. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark. Filmography * '' Pigen og drømmeslottet'' (1974) * '' Skygger ...

as Sagfører Nielsen

Reaction

Although his novels were popular in the 1930s, Morten Korch had been unsuccessful in having his depictions of rural life filmed at

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 ...

, the largest film studio in Denmark. Still available in the period after World War II, Korch's stories became a gold mine for the smaller ASA Film Company. ''The Red Horses'' was seen by more than 2.3 million people and is considered the most popular Danish film ever. It was quickly followed by 16 more films of Korch stories, all filmed at ASA and directed by O'Fredericks.

Remakes

The film was made in Swedish in 1954 '' The Red Horses'' (''De Röda hästarna''). In 1968, it was remade in Denmark by ASA Film, directed by

Annelise Meineche Anneliese (, ) is a female given name of either German language, German, Dutch language, Dutch or Nordic countries, Nordic origin. It is a compound form of "Anna (given name), Anna" and "Liese", a short form of "Elizabeth (given name), Elisabeth". ...

, and again starred

, but in the role of the father, Hans Offor. The movie was spoofed with the 1987 comedy ''Kampen om den røde ko'' (''Fight Over the Red Cow'').

References

External links