Bodil Ipsen

Bodil Ipsen (30 August 1889 – 26 November 1964) was a Danish actress and film director, and is considered one of the great stars of Danish cinematic history.[1] Her acting career, which began in theater and silent films, was marked by leading roles in large folk comedies and melodramas. However, it was as a director that she was most influential: directing the first Danish film noir[2] and making several dark psychological thrillers during the 1940s and 1950s. Ipsen's name along with that of Bodil Kjer is given to Denmark's most celebrated film prize, the Bodil Award.

Bodil Ipsen
Bodil Ipsen
Born
Bodil Louise Jensen Ipsen

(1889-08-30)30 August 1889
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died26 November 1964(1964-11-26) (aged 75)
Copenhagen, Denmark
OccupationActor, Director
Years active1909–1960
AwardsCannes Grand Prize
1946 De Røde Enge

Bodil Award
1951 Cafe Paradis

Bodil Award
1953 De Sande Ansigt

Bodil Best Actress
1960 Tro, Håb og Trolddom

Career

Bodil Louise Jensen Ipsen was born on 30 August 1889 in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1908, after obtaining her high school diploma, Ipsen began studying at Det Kongelige Teater (Royal Danish Theatre) and made her stage debut there one year later. Her work on stage quickly received attention. Especially noted were her performances with Danish actor Poul Reumert.[3][4] Throughout her career, Ipsen performed at the Royal Danish Theatre as well as the Dagmar Theater, The Folketeatret, and The Betty Nansen Theater. She also performed on stage in Sweden and Norway. Ipsen played almost 200 roles in the theater, the majority as lead actress, as well as 150 radio theater roles and four television parts.[4]

In 1920, Ipsen made her film debut as a leading actress in Lavinen, directed by her third husband, Emanuel Gregers. She made films with Gregers in 1922 and 1923. Off and on, she acted in 12 films during her career. Her most noteworthy early performances were in big blustering comedies, such as the shrewish spinster Bollette in Bollettes Brudefærd or the Countess Danner in Gregers' Sørensen og Rasmussen.

Ipsen became a director in 1942 and directed 10 films in 10 years. Although Ipsen's acting talent was showcased in big romantic comedies, her seat in the director's chair marked the development of classic Danish dark dramas and mysteries.[5] Her debut film, which she co-directed with Lau Lauritzen Jr. was the 1942 dark psychological thriller Afsporet (Derailed), the first true Danish film noir.[6] Two years later, Ipsen directed another two even more extreme noirs, Mordets Melodi (Melody of Murder), about a singer accused of serial murders, and Besættelse (Possession), a taut thriller about a man's erotic obsession with a young woman.

After Afsporet Ipsen collaborated with Lau Lauritzen Jr. on four more films. Their second film, De røde enge (The Red Meadows), about the Nazi occupation of Denmark during World War II, received the 1946 Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1950, Ipsen and Lauritzen again won acclaim for their film Café Paradis (Paradise Cafe). The harsh story about alcoholism is considered a masterpiece of Danish cinema, and for which Ipsen won her namesake award, the Bodil, named after her and fellow actress, Bodil Kjer. Two years later, Ipsen and Lauritzen again won the Bodil Award for Best Danish Film for Det Sande Ansigt (The True Face).[7]

In 1960, at age 71, Ipsen was awarded the Bodil again, this time as Leading Actress of the Year for the film Tro, håb og trolddom. Ipsen retired afterwards. She died on 26 November 1964 in Copenhagen. The movie Bodil Ipsen og Filmen (Bodil Ipsen and the Film), released in 2006, is a portrait of her life and career.

Personal life

Ipsen's steady career on stage was offset by a volatile personal life. She was married four times. Ipsen was married the first time in 1910 with the actor Jacob Texière, but the marriage was dissolved within the same year. Then, in 1914, she married civil engineer H.H.O. Moltke, and they divorced after three years. Her marriage in 1919 with film director Emanuel Gregers lasted four years. Ipsen was married for a fourth time in 1932 to the journalist Ejnar Black. They remained together for 17 years until Black's death in 1949. After Black's death, Ipsen isolated herself outside of work, preferring the company of her assistant and housekeeper, Stella Jensen.[8]

I discovered living together with (Bodil Ipsen) the last ten years of her life a person of infinite talents. A generosity that really knew no limits as well as a noticeable and strange distrust of people, who otherwise she would have been close to.

— Stella Jensen, describing Bodil Ipsen after her death in 1964 [8]

Filmography

Actress
YearOriginal TitleEnglish TitleRoleNotes
1913Scenens børnStage Children
1920LavinenMaria MagdaleneMaria, Poul's Wifedirected by Emanuel Gregers
1922Frie FugleArt and the WomanNaomi, the Captain's wifedirected by Emanuel Gregers
1923MadsaluneLove in ExileEmpress Catherine IIdirected by Emanuel Gregers
1932Paustians UhrPaustian's WatchBig Marie
1935Det gyldne smilThe Golden SmileElsa Bruun
1938Bolettes brudefærdBolette's Bridal ShowerBolette Jensendirected by Emanuel Gregers
1940Sørensen og RasmussenSorensen and RasmussenCountess Dannerdirected by Emanuel Gregers
1941Gå med mig hjemCome Home With MeAttorney Helen Hansoedirected by Benjamin Christensen
1942ForellenThe TroutClara Mullerdirected by Emanuel Gregers
1957Ingen tid til kærtegnBe Dear to MeWoman in wheelchair
1960Tro, håb og trolddomFaith Hope and WitchcraftGrandma Gunhildwon Bodil Award for Best Actress

Director
YearOriginal TitleEnglish TitleNotes
1942AfsporetDerailedco-directed with Lau Lauritzen Jr.
1942En Herre i kjole og hvidtA Gentleman in Top Hat and Tails
1943Drama på slottetDrama at the Castle
1944Mordets MelodiMelody of Murder
1944BesættelsePossession
1945De røde engeThe Red Meadowsco-directed with Lau Lauritzen Jr.
won Palme D'Or
1947BröllopsnattenWedding Nightproduced in Sweden
1948Støt står den danske sømandThe Viking Watch of the Danish Seamanco-directed with Lau Lauritzen Jr.
won Bodil Award for Best Danish Film
1950Café ParadisCafe Paradiseco-directed with Lau Lauritzen Jr.
won Bodil Award for Best Danish Film
1951Det Sande AnsigtThe Face of Truthco-directed with Lau Lauritzen Jr.
won Bodil Award for Best Danish Film

References
  1. Piil, Morten, Danske Filmskuespillere, Gyldendal (2001), 558p, pg. 197
  2. Jørholt, Eva, 100 Års Dansk Film, Rosinante, (2001) 445p, pg.130
  3. "Bodil Ipsen". Grave Site. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  4. (Piil 2001, p. 198)
  5. (Jørholt 2001, p. 130)
  6. (Jørholt 2001, p. 131)
  7. "Bodil Ipsen". IMDb. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  8. (Piil 2001, p. 199)
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