About
Matador is a Danish TV series produced and shown between 1978 and 1982. It is set in the fictional Danish town of Korsbæk between 1929 and 1947. It follows the lives of a range of characters from across the social spectrum, focusing specifically on the rivalry between the families of two businessmen: The banker Hans Christian Varnæs, an established local worthy, and social climber Mads Skjern, who arrives in town as the series opens. The name Matador was taken from the localised edition of the boardgame Monopoly, also the series' tentative English title. In addition, in contemporary Danish a "matador" is often used to describe a business tycoon, in the series referring to the character of Mads Skjern and his craftiness as a self-made entrepreneur. Directed by famed Danish film maker Erik Balling, Matador was the idea of author Lise Nørgaard who wrote the bulk of the episodes alongside Karen Smith, Jens Louis Petersen and Paul Hammerich. The series is one of the most well-known and popular examples of Danish television and represents the peak of longtime development of Danish TV drama by the public service channel Danmarks Radio. The series has become part of the modern self-understanding of Danes, partly because of its successful mix of melodrama and a distinct warm Danish humour in the depiction of characters, which were portrayed by a wide range of the most popular Danish actors at the time; but also not least because of its accurate portrayal of a turbulent Denmark from around the start of the Great Depression and through Nazi Germany's occupation of Denmark in World War II.
Cast
Jørgen Buckhøj
as Mads Andersen-Skjern
Ghita Nørby
as Ingeborg Skjern
Holger Juul Hansen
as Hans Christian Varnæs
Malene Schwartz
as Maude Varnæs
Jesper Langberg
as Kristen Andersen-Skjern
Helle Virkner
as Elisabeth Friis
Buster Larsen
as Grisehandler Oluf Larsen
Lily Broberg
as Katrine Larsen
Kirsten Olesen
as Agnes Jensen
Elin Reimer
as Laura Larsine Sørensen
Karin Nellemose
as Misse Møhge
Ove Sprogøe
as Dr. Louis Hansen
Bjørn Watt-Boolsen
as Oberst Ditlev Hachel
Sonja Oppenhagen
as Vicki Hachel
Else-Marie Juul Hansen
as Konsulinde Holm
Per Pallesen
as Severin Boldt
Kurt Ravn
as Lauritz 'Røde' Jensen
Benny Hansen
as Frede 'Fede' Hansen
Esper Hagen
as Arnold Vinter
Lis Løwert
as Violet Vinter
Episodes
Season 1
The traveler
Traveling clothier salesman Mads Andersen-Skjern arrives in Korsbæk with his little boy Daniel and sees opportunities when faced with the inept draper Albert Arnesen and this small sleepy town where the old families define the pace and virtue. Receiving only haughty condescension from the upper-class, Mads finds local allies in the family of pig trader Oluf Larsen and his wife Kathrine, who has more money than meets the eye.
The Neighbour
The town's bourgeoisie watch with judging and disapproving eyes as Mads Skern opens his new clothing shop, in direct competition with Arnesen's. Oluf Larsen's daughter, Ingeborg, starts as a clerk in his store, much to Mads' pleasure.
Succession
Arnesen's store is losing money hand over fist, so when he learns that his manager, Mr. Schwann, has inherited a large sum, he persuades him to become his partner; the snobby Mr. Schwann gleefully throws his entire inheritance into Damernes Magasin, prolonging the inevitable for a few months.
The Maiden Aunt
Mads' business continues to thrive and he even begins issuing loans to the locals. His younger brother Kristen, a banker, arrives in Korsbæk to assist. Kristen is quickly smitten with Maude's sister Elisabeth, who otherwise lives in the shadow of her sister. They fall in love, but their liaison is impossible due to the rivalry of their respective families.
One Man's Loss
Arnesen is in the shambles, and even Varnæs cannot aid him financially any further.
Deployment
To the horror of the bourgeoisie employees of Arnesen's clothing store, Vicki, now a young widow, sells the store to Mads Andersen-Skjern and moves to Copenhagen, against her father's will.
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