The cartoon "FYRTØJET”
and ABROAD
It was with good reason that the Danish side feared having to compete for the cinema audience's favor with American feature films, and in the case of "Fyrtøjet" especially with American cartoons, mainly Walt Disney's short and long cartoons.
It must therefore also have aroused some nervousness among "Fyrtøjet"'s producers, Dansk Farve- og Tegnefilm A/S and Palladium A/S, when in Berlingske Tidende for April 15, 1946 - a month before "Fyrtøjet" got premiere - could read the following:
Walt Disney Production planned
far ahead in time
Roy Disney on a visit to Copenhagen
Walt Disney has not been to Copenhagen yet, but yesterday came his brother, Roy Disney, who sits on the board of directors of Disney Companies and is the business leader of the company, which has a turnover of many millions annually.
- My brother Walt has no shadow of a concept of money, and he has never had it. We have been working together from the very beginning. During the last war, Walt was 16 years old - he is now 45 - a driver in the Army in Europe. When he came home, he became an Advertising Designer and drew, among other things. Commercials. It was in Kansas City. At his own primitive laboratory he made a cartoon about current events in the city, had it sold to the city's largest cinema theater, and since then he has worked for himself and I with him. It's been developed a lot in the years, Disney's Enterprise. In normal times we performed approx. 18 short films about the year, and in the last little half a dozen years we have still had all-night films at work. They take one to two years to manufacture, and Walt's production is planned well in advance.
- What about the H.C. Andersen film that has been talked about so often?
Yes, it has not been forgotten, on the contrary, plans are being worked on, but it is probably still a few years ahead of schedule. There was originally talk of a combined feature and cartoon film in which Gary Cooper was proposed as Andersen. Of that, however, nothing comes of it. I think Walt chooses some of the fairy tales and perhaps then tries to combine them with features of Andersen's own life.
- What Adventures?
- I know there has been talk of "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Ida's Flowers", "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Fir Tree".
- What else can we expect from Disney's Hand?
- Yes, there is a whole series of all-night movies that Denmark has not yet seen. I would think that Mr. Bremerholm will first broadcast "Tempi" in Denmark. It has very little dialogue - not over 1000 Words. Then comes "Pinocchio" and "Fantasia". During the war we shot a couple of films specially tuned for South America, "Tree Caballeros" and "Saludos Amigos", in which new and old characters were launched, and for the time being we are in the process of "Make My Music", in which for the first time People and Fantasy Figures are together. Then there are plans for "Peter Pan" and "Alice in Wonderland", so there is plenty of work on the stack, enough to do the first few years. During the war, production was put down very far, we worked mostly with films for propaganda use, so now the large scale is being tackled again.
- Does your brother draw all the figures himself?
- No. He gives Sketches, but we have far better Illustrators than him. They perform them more closely. We have a number of specialists in Mickey and Anders And - by the way most to Anders, therefore most Movies come with him. Mickey is far harder to draw. But fear not that he will be dropped, for that he is still too popular. (signed Jack.) (Note 1)
Even before "Fyrtøjet" had its world premiere, a unfortunately unnamed and undated newspaper clipping, but probably from a Copenhagen newspaper, could tell its readers the following:
French filmmakers impressed by the cartoon "Fyrtøjet"
The copies are now ready in Paris
PARIS, SATURDAY
The Danish cartoon and color film, free after H.C.Andersen's "Fyrtøjet", which some energetic young Danes have made in Copenhagen in the last three years during the Occupation, has been rumored in Paris, and when throughout Europe it is at most present one all-night cartoon finished a year, there is already a strong demand for it, especially since it is carried by H.C.Andersen's world-famous name.
The technical work should have been done in Agfa's studio in Berlin, as Denmark does not have the necessary apparatus for developing color films, but after the destruction of Berlin this work could not be done here, and the pictures have therefore been developed in Paris.
The copies are now complete. Among the filmmakers who have had the opportunity to see them, it has aroused great interest that a small country like Denmark has been bold enough and skilled enough to make such a film. There is not a single French All-Night Cartoon at all.
The film will be shown in French cinemas and all over the world, but it will have its world premiere in Copenhagen. Great Dane.
Already a short time after "Fyrtøjet" premiered, B.T. on June 8, 1946 bring the following essay:
The English want to see "Fyrtøjet"
Two English filmmakers have come here to negotiate the sale
of the first Danish feature film.
It seems that the Danish cartoon "Fyrtøjet" will be an excellent export item. Yesterday, two English filmmakers - independently of each other - came to Copenhagen to watch the film and negotiate the purchase of it and rights for England.
They were extremely pleased with the Danish Product, and they thought that the film would have a significant chance with an English Audience, not least with the Children, because it is more naive and less sophisticated than Walt Disney's Products. The film is intended to be provided with English Speech and English lyrics. Since there is neither much speech nor much singing in the film, it will not be insurmountable.
Incidentally, the film has become a very great success in Denmark, and it turns out that it is a wise policy to produce a film which is especially aimed at children of all ages, but which can also be seen with pleasure by adults. Palladium has had a very big success on the film, and it is expected that it will be able to go through the summer. So there is no talk of Palladium closing - similar to the Palace Theater, where the season ends on the second day of Pentecost. Maurice.
A few days later, on June 12, 1946, the newspaper Vestjyden was able to inform its readers of the following 'news':
Danish Cartoon sold Abroad.
The first Danish all-night cartoon "Fyrtøjet" has become a tributary of rank, and what's more, there is hope that it will also have success outside the country's borders, as the film has already been sold to France, Sweden and Norway. In Sweden, it is Swedish Speech Film that has bought the rights, and at the same time Jules Sylvain has secured the melodies. Negotiations are currently underway on the film's origins in England, and there may be talk of dubbing it so that it is equipped with English speech.
The melodies of the film have also made me happy. During this month, according to "B.T." no less than 16 Gramophone recordings of the Melodies are expected, and the march "En rask Soldat" has many chances to become the Summer Melody. A French music publisher has bought the Melodies, and the world-famous English music publisher Peter Maurice has telegraphically ordered them for publication in England and the Empire yesterday.
If the Success lasts, it is not impossible that a Danish Production of All-Night Cartoons will be started.
Also in the second round, it will be H.C. Andersen who will deliver the ideas. One thinks of using four of the fairy tales as a basis for the next film, and it will again be Sv. Methling, who will "set the scene".
On June 26, 1946, the National Gazette was able to print the following note:
Yesterday, Palladium premiered an interesting extra film for the Danish cartoon success's "Fyrtøjet". It was the Eagle Lion's colorful footage from the Victory Parade in London that - superbly photographed - gives a convincing impression of the magnificent military scene. With these two color films, "Palladium" can run for many more weeks.
During the approximately three-year-long production of "Fyrtøjet", it had of course always been in mind that the film should also be versioned in other languages and tried to be sold abroad. After the film's Danish premiere, Dansk Farve- og Tegnefilm A/S and Palladium A/S started launching the first version, namely in Swedish, and it was shown in Swedish cinemas from March 1947. The film, whose Swedish title is “Elddonet”, Received largely excellent publicity in the Swedish press, albeit with a few critical voices in between. (Note 2)
A unfortunately unnamed and undated newspaper clipping, but probably from a Copenhagen newspaper, could tell its readers the following positive news:
"Fyrtøjet" gets good reviews in Stockholm
The Danish all-night cartoon has premiered in Stockholm and received good reviews in all the magazines, which sacrifice quite a lot of space. Of course, objections are made, but generally it is praise that is given.
"Expressen" writes, among other things, that they went with evil suspicions to "Fyrtøjet" - with Walt Disney fresh in memory - but that they were pleasantly surprised. The jovial Danish mind is praised - and H.C. Andersen should of course not be forgotten. And "Expressen" highlights i.a. the evocative Landscape Scenes and the Cityscapes that Disney has barely made its equal.
"Dagens Nyheter" is actually happy that the Danes - and not the Americans - have made this H.C. Andersen film. And further it is stated that "Elddonet", as the film is called in Swedish, is a charming and in its humor genuine Danish product.
"Stockholms-Tidningen" is not quite so enthusiastic, but likes it so much that one thinks that the Danes - when they have learned a little more from Disney - can make a real hit in the field of color fantasy.
Of a unfortunately also unnamed and undated clip from a Swedish newspaper, a Swedish review of "Fyrtøjet" can be quoted here:
THE FYRTØJET on Anglaise
Where did we stand, if he had not been tilted, the cartoonist of the Danish fairy tale film could say about Disney, but on the other hand, cartoons were made in Denmark before Disney scribbled in primary school.
And Denmark has the first right to Hans Christian Andersen, whose tales, however, are not always as appealing to children as we adults think. However, "Elddonet" is one of those that amuse the kids, at least as this one is presented with a part that is reminiscent of Disney but which is genuinely Danish.
It is not just the fabled Copenhagen environment with Rundetaarn and Dyrehavsbakken in delicious colors and pleasant drawings that is seen with the joy of recognition. The delightful tone of the story of the brave Country Soldier who wins his princess and half the kingdom, as it is written in the stars, rejoices this year. Unfortunately, you can say that the tempo in the film is a bit too Danish if you are spoiled by Disney's speed. But that may be just a plus for children, who do not always have it easy to keep up.
The complainant's daughter, seven years old on the eighth, at least reported her great pleasure with the film, which she even thought was more fun than Kall Anka. And she likes cold Duck. In fact, the cinema laughed heartily at times, and it was terribly exciting before the soldier was hoisted out of the abyss of the hollow tree. The Swedish speech was in the tame team. Filmson. (Note 3)
It was production assistant at Dansk Farve- og Tegnefilm A/S, Henning Ørnbak, who had been given the task of overseeing the versions of “Fyrtøjet”. It happened in the way that he traveled to the capitals of the countries in question, where the film industry, and including the film laboratories, usually had their home. Here, Henning Ørnbak collaborated with local producers, actors and film technicians, and monitored that the result was as good as possible under the given conditions and conditions.
"Fyrtøjet" was then versioned in Dutch, and here the film, entitled "De Tondeldoos", premiered in June 1948. It was also well received by the Dutch press and the Dutch audience. (Note 4)
The Dutch version was followed by the French version, and "Fyrtøjet" was also well received by the French press and audience. Now followed versioning to English, so that the film could be shown partly in England and partly in the Colonies. (Note 5)
The English version was made in May-June 1948. It was Advance Films in London that had bought the rights to "The Tinderbox", as the film came to be called in English. Producer was Arthur Dent, and Molly Stevens was in charge of synchronizing the dialogue, while the synchronization otherwise took place under the supervision of Major De Lane Lea, Inter-State Films. Songwriter Michael Carr rewrote the film's theme song "I feel like the Bird in the Cage", which in English was entitled "I Listened to My Heart". The music for the film was published by Keith Prowse, and excerpts from it were recorded by Colombia Records on gramophone records. Albert Sandler and the Palm Court Orchestra were responsible for these recordings. Even before the English premiere of "Fyrtøjet", the catchy and popular music for the film was often played on the radio.
The soldier's English voice was voiced by actor and singer Neville Williams, while the princess' voice was handed over to the young Danish but English married singer Charlotte Dittmer. (Note 6)
"The Tinderbox", distributed by Adelphi Films, Ltd., had its official English premiere on August 6, 1949 at the Cameo Cinema in London, but was less well received by the English press film critics. The Danish newspapers were immediately ready to pass on this bad news to their readers.
It was reported that English reviewers did not like the fairy tale "The Tinderbox", which was found "uncomfortable", and the cartoon seemed to be imaginative, old-fashioned and technically deficient. In general, the English reviewers thought that the film was nothing special and that all the efforts to make it had been worth a better deal.
On August 9, 1949, Berlingske Aftenavis was able to report the following to its readers:
The "Tinderbox” was heavily disabled
The Danish H.C. Andersen cartoon "Fyrtøjet" premiered the other day at the Cameo Cinema in London after first being provided with English texts. Judging by the reviews, the film does not fall into the taste of the English. A magazine wrote, among other things: “History has always seemed to me to be one of Andersen's least pleasant, and nothing in this cartoon's immature comics has made me change my mind. And in another it was said: "We hear that the film is composed of ½ Million Drawings, that it has taken years to complete it due to all sorts of difficulties, and that it took a year after the Position of the Negatives before" Fyrtøjet ”Customer distributed. Since it is nothing special (contains little of merit), it hurts us for the great efforts.” (Note 7)
As a small 'consolation' in the hard ride, "Fyrtøjet" mostly got in the English press, Aalborg Stiftstidende had on April 16, i.e a few months before the film's English premiere, brought the following article, which otherwise excels in using modern Danish orthography, which, however, did not yet contain the letter å for aa:
The "Tinderbox" was a guinea pig
Columbus' egg method in the narration of English texts for the Danish color cartoon (From our London editorial staff) When the Danish color cartoon "Fyrtøjet" comes up in London with sung and spoken English texts, London's cinema-goers will see the successful result of a completely new method of "translating" films. The actors and singers who were to add the English voices read their English text on a strip that was run along with the film on an apparatus under the canvas. Within three days it was all over for them, while the technicians, both before and after, worked long hours.
Among the cast is the young Danish but English married singer Charlotte Dittmer, who came over here a couple of years ago. She sings the sweet princess' party in the cartoon film adaptation of H.C. Andersen's popular fairy tale. Her English is perfect and her voice excellent. In her time when the film was shot, it was a gifted Copenhagen schoolgirl who starred as the princess.
Danish is a strange language
The 24-year-old London singer Neville Williams, who already has a well-known name in radio and variety, has the role of soldier. He has told me a little about the new system and worked on the organization of "Fyrtøjet" in English.
- We were very happy with the new system, which is almost revolutionary, he says. It was the first time - in June last year - it was taken into use, and it was considerably easier than having to partially learn the text first. The narration took place on stage, and it was all over so quickly that I have already forgotten the songs. But then I knew them, and after learning the melodies, we were ready to go. The strip of words was run once or twice so we could prepare, and then we talked or sang loose. In between readings, we squinted up at the canvas, seeking to collaborate on movement and sound. The mouth movements were a bit tricky. Danish must be a strange language.
The accompaniment and the film's music were later played along with record reproductions of words and song, whereupon another recorder swallowed it all. It was a slightly unsatisfactory system, but hopefully the audience can not feel it.
Especially continental charm
It was interesting to work with this Danish film, says Mr. Williams. I think it's good. It has a special continental vibe and charm that appeals to the English and that the Disney movies do not own. Its colors are more natural than theirs, but the technique itself is not, of course, as dazzling as that of the amazingly capable Americans.
"Fyrtøjet", which in English is called "The Tinderbox" and has playing time like a normal film, was shown to more than 500 filmmakers in London the other day. There was generally great satisfaction with it. Whether, when it will probably not be shown in public until August, it can assert itself among the hundreds of films shown in London every day is another matter. But it is worth the effort and all the credit for it to be built.
However, Adelphi Films Ltd., which is producing it in England, strongly emphasizes in the pre-commercial that it is a film based on one of H.C. Andersen's world-famous adventures. And he has always been the top scorer in England. MAC. (Note 8)
But as mentioned earlier, not all English film critics shared Neville Williams' positive view of "The Tinderbox". Opinions, however, were divided after all, so there was room for both rice and praise. Some reviewers could e.g. did not like Andersen's fairy tale itself, which one found was “horror-mongering in the nursery. When the gigantic beasts and birds appeared at the preview of THE TINDERBOX one child buried his face in the parental bosom, let out a howl of terror and woke one critic up.”
(Daily Telegraph. August 8, 1949).
The Manchester Guardian (August 6, 1949) shared in principle the view quoted above:
"The Tinderbox" (at the Cameo, Charing Cross Road) is a Danish attempt to turn Hans Andersen's story into an effective cartoon. It is such a good fairy story that it has not to be defeated altogether by inadequate film-technique or by the imposition of a number of quite extraneous modern songs. Yet it is a pity that, if this worthwhile attempt were to be made, the story could not have been left unadorned; the technical limitations are forgiveable, the songs are not.
However, the reviewer of the newspaper STAR (August 5, 1949) had a different and almost opposite view of the film "Fyrtøjet":
Made in Denmark under considerable difficulties - three of the negatives were destroyed during air raids - The Tinderbox (Cameo, Monday) is Europe’s first full-length feature cartoon in color.
Hans Andersen’s story of the adventurous soldier who, with the help of a witch (whom he callously beheads) wins fortune and a princess is capital material for the cartoon.
“The Tinderbox,” which is over an hour long and has English dialogue, will delight children.
The adventures are miraculous, the color is gay, and the music pleasantly tuneful. (Note 9)
The Danish newspapers, which for the most part understandably wanted to bring positive news about "Fyrtøjet" could already in June 1948 report that an American film company was also interested in buying "Fyrtøjet" for viewing in the states. An unnamed American filmmaker negotiated with Dansk Farve- og Tegnefilm A/S for the purchase of the film with exclusive rights for the USA. (Note 10)
From a unfortunately undated newspaper clipping from B.T., but probably from 1948, the following appears:
The "Lighthouse" at 300 English Cinemas
The Hollywood film company Cavalcade is exploring the possibilities of promoting the film in the U.S.A.
The first Danish Full-Evening-Color-Draw-Tone film "Fyrtøjet" was unexpectedly a fantastic success on "Palladium", where it had its world premiere - and there are indications that it will now continue its success in the world.
One of the Film's Composers, Eric Christiansen, will soon travel to England, where he will take part in the film's Post - Sync. Well-known English actors and singers must record the lyrics and sing the songs in English. The film company British National Film, which has bought Filmen for England, controls 300 Cinema Theaters throughout the Kingdom, and it is intended that the Danish Cartoon will be played everywhere. The title will be "The Tinder Box"
In Sweden, the film comes up in a Swedish Version, and the Swedish title will be "Elddonet". Also U.S.A. is interested in the film, as the film company "Cavalcade Film" in Hollywood has secured an option for the film and is investigating the possibilities of getting it in the states. One now only awaits the Premiere in England.
50,000 gramophone records
The film's Melodies have become a very big audience success in Denmark. They are currently being sold in greater numbers than ever. No fewer than 50,000 of Gramophone records have been sold, and 100,000 could have been sold if it had been possible to obtain materials. Whether another Danish all-night cartoon will be shot is currently unlikely. It went well with "Fyrtøjet", but the risk is considered to be too great today. Maurice
On March 15, 1948, Kolding Folkeblad was able to bring this optimistic note:
"The Tinderbox" as a Radio Play in B.B.C.
The first Danish All-Evening Color Cartoon "The Tinderbox" - built on H.C. Andersen's Adventures - which became such a great success here in Denmark and later in Sweden, will now premiere in a couple of weeks in Paris and Oslo.
The Danish producers have now been notified that the British Broadcasting Corporation has bought the rights to broadcast the radio, and the fairy tale and the film are now being rewritten into a one-time radio play entitled "The Tinderbox". The lyrics, which are by Victor Skaarup, will be translated directly and will, like the melodies written by Vilfred Kjær and Eric Christiansen, be included in the Radio Play - in the same way as it happened when "Snow White" was made into an Radio Play. Incidentally, the catchy melodies have been played and sung in many countries to which the film has not yet been sold. If Color Film can be obtained for further Copies, "Fyrtøjet" will shine further out into the World.
On November 15, 1948, B.T. tell a little more about the American interest in "Fyrtøjet":
A Council we hasten to follow
The American cartoonist Otto Englander gives foreign film companies good advice if they want to compete with Hollywood in the American market. It sounds short and sweet: Make Cartoons!
England, who as Walt Disney's close associate has been involved in making successes such as "Snow White", "Dumbo" and "Fantasia", is of the opinion that any country can build up a cartoon industry if it is ready to set the required number of people on the task and have sufficient capital.
While ordinary films from small countries usually have no interest - "Day of Wrath", the Dreyer film, here is an excellent example, it has been going on and on for a long time in New York - because the Americans will not be referred to the explanatory Replica texts, then all replicas usually appear immediately from the action in a cartoon, and therefore the Americans should be just as well able to have fun with a Danish cartoon as with one made in Hollywood.
We can tell you that there is a very big chance that the Americans will soon really get to see a Danish cartoon! It is "Fyrtøjet", made by Dansk Tegne- og Farvefilm. At home it had a colossal success, and since then it has pursued this among others in Norway, France and the Netherlands. It is currently being synchronized in an English studio, and when the work is completed shortly, the "Tinderbox" will be shown in England. At the same time, negotiations are taking place with an American film company, and there is reason to believe that the film will also cross the Atlantic. It will be exciting to hear what Otto Englander and the other Americans in Animated Cartoons Stronghold say to it!
However, the newspapers did not report on what occasion they had talked to Otto Englander, who had apparently been or was visiting Denmark. (Note 11)
Disney and his closest staff of story-men were always on the lookout for new topics that, in their view, would lend themselves to cartoons. As early as around 1930-31, one of H.C.Andersen's most famous fairy tales, "The Ugly Duckling" ("Den grimme Ælling"), had been spotted, and this was freely retold in the form of a short cartoon that actually did not have much other than the title has in common with the fairy tale. In 1938, a modified and both artistically and technically better re-make of the film from 1931 was made, and it won an Oscar for best short cartoon in 1939.
At one point in the late 1940s - early 1950s, some of the Disney studio storytellers and cartoonists worked to turn H.C. Andersen's "My Life’s Adventure" into a feature film. On that occasion, in the spring of 1949, one of Disney's prominent cartoonists and animators, Marc Davis, had been sent to Andersen's hometown, Odense, allegedly to make studies for use in the planned H.C. Andersen cartoon. (Note 12)
It was indeed Næstved Tidende that - with reference to the Family Journal - on April 27, 1949 brought the news to market. The newspaper's journalist, Joe, praised Disney and his cartoons, but was worried about whether the Americans would now also really understand how to transform the specialness of Andersen's personality and poetry into cartoon form.
At the same time, however, the journalist believed that we here in Denmark had no reason to get on the high horse, since the experiment with "Fyrtøjet" did not turn out better than was the case in his opinion. No, so after all, rather leave the task to Disney and his people, hoping that at least a technically good movie could come out of it. By "technically good", journalists and non-professionals at the time primarily understood a cartoon in which the animation was fluid and full of character, and not, as was sometimes the case with the animation in, for example, "Fyrtøjet", - and by the way also often in Max Fleischer's cartoons, except for “Mr. Bug goes to Town” (1941;“ Mr. Hoppe kommer til byen”) - choppy, arrhythmic and partly characterless.
The well-meaning Næstved journalist's concern was understandable and well-founded, especially considering the technically perfect, both touching and funny, but somewhat sweet-laden short Disney cartoon "The Ugly Duckling" (1939; "Den grimme Ælling"). This film had little to do with either plot or finale, much to do with Andersen's fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling", except that the mother duck and her ducklings repel the ugly 'duckling', who is eventually recognized by her equal, the swan cubs , and then accepted by the swan mother as the swan cub, the 'duckling' really is.
However, journalist Joe and others could have spared themselves their concern, because even though the Disney people worked on the H.C. Andersen film for several years, one could probably not really get hold of the story, and therefore the film never came to anything. Instead, sequences and scenes from this project were included in a cartoon entitled "From Aesop to Hans Christian Andersen" ("From Aesop til H. C. Andersen"). The film was part of the TV series Disneyland and was shown in 1954-55 on the American TV channel ABC-TV. The program was also shown on DR TV in the late 1950s - early 1960s, and the scenes shown with the boy H.C.Andersen, from his departure from Odense to his arrival in Copenhagen, were masterfully drawn and animated and could decipher on that cartoon fans and H.C.Andersen fans had missed something that might have become an interesting and exciting feature film about the famous poet.
Under the subtitle "Walt Disney draws and tells", "From Aesop to H. C. Andersen" had its Danish premiere on October 20, 1959 at the Park Theater in Copenhagen. It was a feature film program in the form of a review of the world history of the fairy tale. In addition to "From Aesop to H. C. Andersen", the program also included the cartoons The Lion and the Mouse, The Hares and the Turtle (both of Aesop), The City Mouse and the Land Mouse (by La Fontaine), The Brave Tailor (Grimm), The Ugly Duckling (H.C. Andersen). And in addition, the documentaries Disneyland and Niok were included in the film screening. (Note 13)
To my knowledge, there is no information in print about the extent to which it was the English version of "Fyrtøjet" that was possibly shown in America, but the probability does not suggest that this should have been the case. If the film has been sold and shown in the States, it must have been released in American. A note in B.T., June 7, 1948, could indicate this, stating the following:
Finally, it can be noted that the Americans are also interested in the great Danish cartoon. H.C. Andersen's name is so popular in the States that the film in advance will be sure of considerable interest. According to our experience, Negotiations have begun with "Danish Color & Cartoon" on the Sale of the Film to the U.S.A. There is hope that the matter will be settled in a short time. Maurice. ”
In an unspecified or dated newspaper clipping, which is assumed to originate from either Berlingske Tidende or Berlingske Aftenavis, one could read the following in June 1948:
"Fyrtøjet" on World Tour
Henning Ørnbak goes to London to synchronize
The creator of the first Danish feature cartoon: "Fyrtøjet", Director Allan Johnsen, Klampenborg, now seems, like the Soldier in the Fairy Tale, to have reached the "Gold Ducats".
In the domestic market, in fact, it was only the "copper shillings" that were caught, and then the state even stroked the majority in the form of taxes and duties, instead of having to reward the great work and boldness required, to invest a small million Danish kroner in an attempt to compete with the cartoon technique of other places abroad.
But the boldness was rewarded in other ways, and "Dansk Farve- og Tegnefilm’s Company” reached out to the dog with the "silver coins" when the film gained a foothold in the other Scandinavian countries.
To Paris and London
But now it seems as if the enterprising cartoon pioneers are reaching the dog with the "golden ducats". The Danish cartoon success - whose synopsis was written in Skovshoved Roklub, where Allan Johnsen was chairman at the time - is about to start on a world tour: The other day, "Fyrtøjet" premiered in Holland, where the film was well received, and already for several months since then, the Danish Cartoon Society's musical handyman, the composer Henning Ørnbak, Gentofte, has been in Paris, where the film has been dubbed with French Speech and Song. "Fyrtøjet” will premiere at one of the major theaters in Paris around mid-September, when the autumn season begins. - In addition, the film has been sold to England and the English Colonies. In the coming Week, Henning Ørnbak will travel to London to repeat the "Magic Number" from Paris and find the right Artists to participate in the English Synchronization.
Even America is interested
And to make the success complete, it now turns out that the Americans are also interested. It must be said to be a rather unique triumph if the Danish cartoon gains a foothold in Walt Disney's homeland itself. But thanks to the manuscript's real 'father', our famous fairy tale writer H.C. Andersen, the film is sure of considerable interest in the States in advance. An American filmmaker has these days begun negotiations with "Danish Color and Cartoon" on the purchase of the film with exclusive rights for the United States.
Hopefully, the matter will be put in order in the very near future, so that Allan Johnsen and his staff can get the necessary capital and encouragement to take on Opus 2.
A company that demonstrably produces successful films for the world market and thereby provides us with precious foreign currency should, however, gradually be exempted to some extent from the persecution of the tax authorities. B.
Probably in an attempt to find out about the possibilities of the "Fyrtøjet” or rather “The Tinderbox”-film in America, Allan Johnsen wrote a letter on December 16, 1947 to the famous Danish-born American actor and president of the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences" and president of " Motion Picture Relief Fund”, Jean Hersholt (1888-1956), resident of Beverly Hills, California. Johnsen received the following friendly handwritten, but not very uplifting response from Hersholt, dated January 8, 1948:
Dear Allan Johnsen
Christmas and New Year are over and my wife and I are in Palm Springs for a week of vacation and rest. So it is from Palm Springs I will send you these lines. Thank you for the Letter of December 16th.
It hurt both of us to hear that it was not possible to obtain pardon for Tage Nielsen. We have heard from Ellen a couple of times and hopefully it is not too bad. Now the time must also soon be up.
I read the other day in Politiken about the new Taxes that have suddenly rained down on you at home, yes, it does not look funny.
The news regarding "Fyrtøjet" is not too good either.
Regarding the film situation here in Hollywood - or rather in America - it is not so good either. First, the American film theater business is over 30% last year at the same time. Then there is the 75% tax in the English market, this with much else such as the communist accusations and so on, - has put a very big damper on the whole film production.
But under all these unfortunate circumstances, we are still far better off than we are in most of the rest of the world.
As soon as I am back in Hollywood in a couple of days, preparations will begin for the Academy's annual "Oscar" award ceremony, which this year will take place on March 20.
My wife and the rest of my family, who are all doing well, ask me to greet you and your wife many times. To these greetings I add mine.
Your devoted
Jean Hersholt
Comments on the letter: Tage Nielsen, director of the film production company Palladium. What it was he was to be 'pardoned' for is unclear. - Ellen is his wife, who the following year became director of the film rental company Palladium. It was Tage Nielsen and his brother Svend Nielsen who in 1945 stepped in as financial 'rescuers' for the feature film "Fyrtøjet", partly by shooting money in the company and partly by distributing the film.
It does not appear from Allan Johnsen's scrapbook whether "Fyrtøjet" has been versioned in German and shown in Germany. Normally, the Germans would not have been content with a Danish version with German subtitles, so if otherwise the circumstances so shortly after the war have been for it, there must have been a versioning to German. On the other hand, in the Swiss newspaper Die Tat, Zurich, for September 22, 1945, one could read an extremely positive mention of "Fyrtøjet" or, as it was called in German Das Feuerzeug.
It should be added here that "Fyrtøjet" in 1948-49 was shown in its Danish version in Norwegian cinemas, but with Norwegian subtitles. The reviews of the film, which in Norwegian was called "Fyrtøyet", were mostly positive, in some cases almost enthusiastic. But, of course, there were also critical voices, who, however, stood up to the film as a debut work with the flaws and shortcomings that almost inevitably followed from it. The children's audience, however, seemed to have rejoiced and amused themselves - quite uncritically - over the film. (Note 14)
In November 1948, "Fyrtøjet" was shown in Finland, where it had been given the title "Tulukset". (Note 15)
On February 19, 1949, the Copenhagen Aftenbladet was able to inform readers that Allan Johnsen had sold "Fyrtøjet" to five other countries during a stay in Paris. Namely Poland, Greece, Canada, Syria and Lebanon.
However, it was only in Poland that they wanted a dubbing, while in the other countries they thought they could do with either the French or English version of the film.
It is to be regretted once again that this account of the feature-length film "Fyrtøjet" is also not complete in terms of the foreign versions of the film. Here again, it must be up to younger forces to carry out the necessary and not always easy research and registration of the historical material that is available, among other things in the form of Allan Johnsen's unfortunately incomplete scrapbook. However, there is a possibility that other sources, such as Palladium A/S, has material regarding the film, which, however, has not been investigated.
Finally, here is a curious example of the media's attempts to connect H.C. Andersen's fairy tale “Fyrtøjet” to the at least equally famous name Charlie Chaplin. The story appeared in Danish newspapers in December 1949 and was published in the form of largely identical articles:
Chaplin-Film built on "Fyrtøjet"
After Chaplin's break with Hollywood and his decision not to film in America anymore, because he has been accused of un-American business, international film circles have excitedly discussed what Chaplin would do in the future. Would he film more - or how?
The magazine KØBENHAVN brings a sensational news that is currently a topic of conversation in English film. Chaplin has decided to move his film company to England, which is also his country of birth. It is possible that he will start working with the two big companies, Korda’s and Rank’s, and it is also possible that he will work all alone. But in any case, he will continue his film production on English soil and with English actors as actors.
It is Chaplin's idea to use H.C.Andersen's fairy tale "The Tinderbox" as the basis for a modern film in which the Chaplin character, the old man with the hat and cane, replaces the soldier and comes across the soldier's experiences with the witch, the three dogs with the giant eyes and the princess and the half kingdom. Like all Chaplin’s, the film must be a modern social satire in the form of the old fairy tale. The satire must show that "the little man", the common man, has the power and ability to change the world and make it happy, as long as he becomes aware of his abilities to do so. The little man just has to discover that he actually owns the lighter and the dogs and can conquer the princess if he wants to. (Note 16)
It is interesting in this connection that the 'story' of Chaplin and the "Tinderbox" could of course be denied by people who knew the proper context of the case. Fyns Tidende already knew this on May 30, 1949. However, it was not until quite a few years later that the ‘story’ became known to a larger public, namely with the publication of Uno Asplund: CHAPLIN OG HANS 81 FILM. Danish adaptation by I.C.Lauritzen. Samlerens Forlag København 1973. From this excellent book I must allow myself to quote the following sections from pages 42-43:
[Quote] Chaplin himself has - apart from a few hours stay at Kastrup Airport in 1964 - never visited Denmark, and Denmark in general and Odense in particular have had a hard time coming to terms with it. H.C. Andersen's homeland, what a treat! And the movie's swan-ugly duckling, not true! They should, of course, find each other. Over the years, the Danish press has taken every anemic approach to a rumor that Chaplin should be interested in Denmark, and immediately made it a three-column fact (the newspaper columns were wider at the time!).
"Chaplin wants to make a film about the Fyrtøjet," it is stated on December 19, 1949 in the daily newspaper KØBENHAVN, and its employee "also knows what his plans are," namely to appear in his classic vagabond costume as the soldier in Fyrtøjet, shaped as "a modern Social satire in the form of the old fairy tale. The satire must show that "the little man", the common man, has the power and ability to change the world and make it happy, as long as he himself becomes aware of his abilities to do so…" It is also known that Chaplin thinks of the adorable Evelyn Keyes as the princess, and the magazine's Odense correspondent concludes: "It sounds very interesting, and it will be exciting to see the result of this collaboration between the film's greatest artist and the fairy tale's great poet, the Dane H.C.Andersen." [Quote end]
"And it came in the newspaper, and it was printed, and it is true: a little feather can probably turn into five hens."
It turned out that Chaplin, as little as Andersen, knew something about the collaboration. But he has obviously not completely failed Odense. Four years later – May 28, 1953 - Fyns Venstre Blad can at least announce that "Charlie Chaplin is expected to come to Odense next month" and that he has plans to "record a number of H.C.Andersen films and will therefore personally get to know the fairytale poet’s fatherland… Chaplin himself has declared that his first destination after Copenhagen will be the Odense river.” (!)
This time, Chaplin's brilliant idea is to "interpret the adventures of the children precisely for the children… by letting the film adaptation be based on all the roles being played by children." Samuel Goldwyn, who produced Danny Kayes Andersen Film the year before, will also finance this and is expected to arrive in Odense around mid-August. Odense's tourism director is already in action. “A special event must be arranged for such a unique visit. It will once again get Odense and H.C. Andersen's house in the spotlight of the world public, ”he says.
The next day, the magazine colleague Fyns Tidende can confirm the news, which has only one flaw: that it was freely invented. "These messages are completely wrong," Chaplin's secretary told United Press' correspondent in Lausanne on May 30. "At the moment, Mr. Chaplin has no fixed plans at all. ”
But even sensible people, such as the film historian Arnold Hending: "The Film and H.C. Andersen", 1955, page 40, jumped on the bandwagon and furthered the baseless rumor in these admittedly few lines:
Up until the big Poetry Day, filmmakers from other countries have sought to harvest material from the fairy tale treasure. May we, with a sigh, disregard Charlie Chaplin's plan to make adventure films on Danish soil - that was otherwise his life's dream - […]
If it had really been Chaplin's life dream to make H.C.Andersen adventure films, even in Denmark, one would think that he would have mentioned it in his autobiography My Autobiography, 1964, in Danish "Mit Liv", Gyldendal 1964. But neither Andersen nor his adventures are mentioned herein. Nor does Chaplin's close associate Jerry Epstein mention anything about the adventure movie plans in the book Remembering Charlie. A Pictorial Biography. 1989.
So I wonder if we can herewith allow ourselves to say: Snip, snap, snout, now that story is out! And that is the experimental historical account of the feature film "Fyrtøjet". After this, it must be up to other and more knowledgeable people to supplement and expand - and possibly correct - my account of the adventurous daring that characterized the producers and creators of the first Danish feature cartoon film.
In the following sections, we will take a closer look at the situation of Danish cartoons and Danish cartoonists in the years after "Fyrtøjet". These sections will appear successively here on the website during the current years.
© 2006 Harry Rasmussen
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