Name: Fram för framgång
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1938-11-27
Duration: 1 h 22 min
Rating: 5
Cast: Aino Taube, Jussi Björling, Åke Ohberg

This movie probably doesn't deserve a 7 rating per se, but taken in the context of comparable 1930s American five-and-dime movies and the almost mythic stature of the leading man, it is a jewel. Jussi Björling, if not universally recognized as the greatest operatic tenor of all time, was still the tenor who Dorothy Caruso said was entitled to wear Enrico's mantle and, in my mind 50 years after his death, bearer of the most harmonically gorgeous vice ever recorded at the operatic level.

Björling was criticized as being a "park-and-bark" singer, one who planted himself on the stage and sang without much skill in the acting department. Like many opera-goers, I don't care if the singer is fat, short, homely, or dramatically challenged, I buy the ticket to hear phenomenal vocalism. What a delightful bit of serendipity, then, to find this movie with plenty of performance from that golden voice and the legend himself having a ball, obviously in it for the fun and some first-class slapstick. In one scene aboard a boat on the ocean I kept thinking of Lou Costello. For a park-and-bark tenor Björling demonstrates first-class comic athleticism.

Thirty years after Björling's death the Swedish Royal Opera organized a tribute performance in his honor. There the great Swedish soprano Elisabeth Söderström said the outward acting may have been stilted, but when she sang with him she saw in his eyes a total emotional immersion. The film is somewhat faded, of course, but I highly recommend it to fellow lifelong fans for insight into a highly enjoyable alternative side of our idol.

Swedish cinema is renowned for psychological depth, austere beauty, and philosophical inquiry. It often focuses on existential questions and societal critique, marked by a stark visual approach. In contemporary times, it has also developed a sharp satirical edge in examining social issues.

Max von Sydow and Bengt Ekerot in The Seventh Seal (1957)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The rejected artist Tore Nilsson disrupts the radio managers broadcast and gets his singing audition live on air.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

See who dazzled on the red carpet and took home gold at the 78th Primetime Creative Emmy Awards.

Art for Art's Sake

Photos25

Top Cast32

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed