Lau Lauritzen Jr.

Infobox actor
name = Lau Lauritzen, Jr.


imagesize = 200px
caption = Promotional Photo of Lau Lauritzen
for the 1935 film "Weekenden"
birthname =
birthdate = birth date|1910|6|26|mf=y
birthplace = Vejle, Denmark
deathdate = Death date and age|1977|5|12|1910|6|26
deathplace = Copenhagen, Denmark
othername =
occupation = Actor, Director, Studio Head
yearsactive = 1931–1965
spouse = Lisbeth Movin
domesticpartner =
website =
academyawards =
awards = awd|Bodil Award|1949|"Støt står den danske sømand"
awd|Bodil Award|1951|"Café Paradis"
awd|Bodil Award|1952|Det Sande Ansigt
awd|Bodil Award|1954|Farlig Ungdom
awd|Palme D'or|1946|"De Røde Enge"

Lau Lauritzen, Jr., (1910–1977), was a Danish actor, screenwriter, and film director. As a director, he was a 4-time recipient of the Bodil Award for Best Danish Film. Lauritzen co-founded the Danish film studio ASA Film and served as the studio's artistic director (1937–1945) and administrative director (1945–1964).

Career

Lau Lauritzen, Jr. was born June 26, 1910 in Vejle, Denmark, the son of silent film actor and director Lau Lauritzen Sr.. He pursued an education in the film industry by working at film studios in England, Germany, France, and Belgium. After returning to Denmark, he worked for his father at Palladium Film productions in multiple positions including screenwriter, cameraman, soundman, and director's assistant. In 1934, Lauritzen made his acting debut in the comedy "Barken Margrethe". Earlier that same year, before he was 24-years-old, Lauritzen made his directorial debut with the 1934 farcical comedy, "Ud I den kold sne" ("Out in the Cold Snow"). Lauritzen co-directed the film with Alice O'Fredericks who had also been working as a director's assistant for Lauritzen's father at Palladium. The Lauritzen-O'Fredericks partnership flourished and they eventually made 27 films together during the 1930's and 1940's.

In 1937, Lauritzen, along with director John Olsen and Henning Karmark, established the ASA Film studio, where Lauritzen worked as the company's artistic director. At ASA, he often co-directed films, notably with the leading women directors Alice O'Fredericks and Bodil Ipsen. During the years of German occupation in World War II, Lauritzen directed 22 films through ASA Film. In 1946, Lauritzen shared with Ipsen the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for their film "The Red Meadows" ("De røde enge") which told about Danish resistance fighters during the German occupation. The film starred Lauritzen's new wife, [Lisbeth Movin] , whom he had married the previous year.

Lauritzen shared with Ipsen the Bodil Award for Best Danish Film three times: In 1949, for "Støt står den danske sømand" ("The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman") which also starred both Lauritzen and Movin; in 1951, for "Café Paradis" ("Paradise Cafe"), which has received praise as a Danish "masterpiece"; and in 1952, for "Det Sande Ansigt" ("The True Face"), a taut psychological thriller which starred Lauritzen as an architect wrongly accused of rape and murder. In 1954, Lauritzen was again awarded the Bodil Award, this time as the sole director for his crime drama "Farlig Ungdom" ("Dangerous Youth").

From 1945 until 1965, Lauritzen was the administrative director of ASA Film. He directed and produced his final film, "Me and My Kid Brother and Doggie" in 1969. During his career, Lauritzen directed 64 films, acted in 27 movies, and wrote 25 produced screenplays. Lauritzen died on May 12, 1977 and is buried in Hørsholm church cemetery.

Personal Life

Lauritzen was married for the first time to Nina Borthern, the daughter of a Norwegian shipping magnate. He married the second time on January 30, 1945 to the Danish actress Lisbeth Movin. Lauritzen is the father of the actress Lone Lau.

Filmography

Director

Actor

*"Sømand i knibe" (1960) .... Admiral
*"Taxa K 1640 efterlyses" (1956) .... Jacob Svendsen
*"En Sømand går i land" (1954) .... Frederik Larsen
*"Det Sande Ansigt" (1951) .... Architect Troels Rolff
*"Café Paradis" (1950) .... Psychologist Ivers ... aka Cafe Paradise
*"Støt står den danske sømand" (1948) .... Sailor Kaj Frische ... aka The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman
*"Værelse søges" (1948) .... Narrator
*"Jag älskar dig, Karlsson! (1947) .... Karlsson Jr. ... aka I Love You Karlsson
*"Lise kommer til Byen" (1947) .... Film Director Hans Berg
*"De røde enge" (1945) .... Toto ... aka The Red Meadows (USA)
*"Den Usynlige Hær" (1945) .... German Defender ... aka The Invisible Army (USA)
*"Afsporet" (1942)
*"Tag til Rønneby Kro" (1941) .... Attorney
*"En Ganske almindelig pige" (1940) .... Filmmaker Poul Hansen
*"Nordhavets mænd" (1939) .... Sigurd Jernø
*"Tre måske fire, De" (1939) .... Officed Worker
*"Blaavand melder Storm" (1938) .... Svend Larsen
*"Julia jubilerar" (1938) .... Erik Kruse
*"Alarm" (1938) .... Jess Clark
*"Der var engang en vicevært" (1937)
*"Frk. Møllers jubilæum" (1937) .... Engineer Peter Juhl
*"Fuldendt gentleman, En" (1937) .... Baron Henrik Falkenstjerne
*"Panserbasse" (1936)
*"Snushanerne" (1936)
*"Week-end" (1935) .... Poul
*"Barken Margrethe" (1934) .... First Mate Poul Hansen
*"Ud i den kolde sne" (1934)

Writer

*"Danmarks konge" (1957)
*"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/I)
*"Barken Margrethe" (1934)
*"Ud i den kolde sne" (1934)
*"Københavnere" (1933)
*"Med fuld musik" (1933)
*"Han, hun og Hamlet" (1932)
*"I kantonnement" (1932)
*"Krudt med knald" (1931)
*"Pas paa pigerne" (1930)
*"Hr. Tell og søn" (1930)
*"Højt paa en kvist" (1929)

References

* [http://www.danskefilm.dk/skuespiller/609.html Den Danske Film Database]
*Pils, Morten [http://dnfx.dfi.dk/pls/dnf/pwt.page_setup?p_pagename=dnfnavn&p_parmlist=navneid=127420 ‘’Danske Skuespillere’’] , Gyldendal, 2003

External Links

* [http://www.danskefilm.dk/skuespiller/609.html Lau Lauritzen, Jr. at Den Danske Film Database]
* [http://dnfx.dfi.dk/pls/dnf/pwt.page_setup?p_pagename=dnfnavn&p_parmlist=navneid=127420 Det Danske Filminstitut]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0491504/ Lau Lauritzen II at IMDb]
* [http://www.gravsted.dk/person.php?navn=laulauritzen Gravesite]

Persondata
NAME= Lauritzen, Lau, Jr.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actor, Director, Studio Head
DATE OF BIRTH= 1910-6-26
PLACE OF BIRTH= Vejle, Denmark
DATE OF DEATH= 1977-5-12
PLACE OF DEATH= Copenhagen, Denmark