Palladium Film

he laws governing old age pensions in Denmark have recently been consolidated, and the rates of pensions improved. The film opens with visits to typical old age pensioners living independently. We pay a visit to a typical block of low-rent flats, built specially for old people who can care for themselves. Special places are provided for those who can no longer live alone without attention. We see the famous De Gamles By, which has been criticised on a number of counts, yet which has certain amenities provided by few other such places. We then visit a number of old people's homes, including a small one in a village, one of the most modern homes in Denmark in the prosperous Copenhagen suburb of Gentofte, and a typical average home.

This one has three segments. In the first, they are ice sailing and fall into the water, where they float for a while, being tormented by seals and swordfish. Then they are rescued by a tramp steamer, where they are befriended by the cook and beaten up by the first officer. They hit port in Bilbao, where they rescue the captain's pretty niece, who seems to have been sold into the degrading life of a taxi dancer. On the way back, Madsen winds up boxing some big guy for a lot of money, with the usual amount of cheating and confusion

There are many ways to travel! Rich Director Brown's two young daughters prefer a first-class coupe in a high-speed train. While the train whizzes along the rails on its way to the big city, the young ladies in a strange way meet two strange guys, one long and thin, the other small and thick ... Fy and Bi! Fy and Bi are on their way to the capital to look for a place, they have an introductory letter with them, and it turns out that it is for the young ladies' father. The two young ladies promise to put a good word in for them, but director Brown receives Fy and Bi with much distrust, and he throws them out. Through many trials and a breathtaking ride in a motorboat, however, Fy and Bi manage to make a good impression on the director.

The merchant Blomberg is out in the countryside with his daughters and housekeeper when the idyll is suddenly shattered. The daughters head off to have fun with two young guys from Copenhagen who are on a road trip, and the vagabonds Pat and Patachon seize the chance to interfere for their own gain. The preserved material is the original Swedish version titled 'Landsvägsriddare', translated to 'Tyvepak' in Danish. The film was a huge economic success to the then Swedish owned production company Palladium. It is the first film, in which Pat and Patachon appear as a team, although not in their final constellation: As always, Pat is played by Carl Schenstrøm, whereas Patachon is embodied by Aage Bendixen instead of Harald Madsen. There is another 'Tyvepak' from 1915, which is directed by Lau Lauritzen Sr. as well. This film is a heavily revised version of the 1915-film. (stumfilm.dk)