Alice O'Fredericks

Grave robbing, torture, possessed nuns, and a satanic Sabbath: Benjamin Christensen's legendary film uses a series of dramatic vignettes to explore the scientific hypothesis that the witches of the Middle Ages suffered the same hysteria as turn-of-the-century psychiatric patients. But the film itself is far from serious-- instead it's a witches' brew of the scary, gross, and darkly humorous.

Landowner Martin Kaas lives with his grandson Martin at Næsbygård. Martin is an avid horseman. One day, his horse loses a shoe, so Martin goes to see the village blacksmith Mortensen, where he meets the blacksmith's foster daughter Elise. The blacksmith is known to be an honest and religious man, but no one but Elise knows how brutal and cruel he really is. Elise discovers that her foster father, together with the estate's manager Hermansen, is involved in many shady deals that are not in the best interests of the estate. Martin, who often feels lonely, forms a warm friendship with Elise. One day, Martin disappears, and a letter left on his bed reveals that he has been kidnapped and that only a large ransom can bring the boy back.

Ranged across several generations, the story begins with a wealthy merchant, Lind, and his wife travelling in the coldest depths of winter to christen their baby daughter. Attacked by wolves, they lose the baby, which is found by the Lapp Jaampa (a dominating performance by Tryggve Larssen) and subsequently raised by a rich reindeer herder,

Anno 1826. Grethi Birger is 17 years old and is now all alone in the world. Her mother is dead, and she has never known her father. Grethi are now looking for the mother's only sister, aunt Birger who has a laundry in a remote provincial town. Aunt is of strictly religious disposition, receiving sister daughter with cool goodness. When the young county clerk Peer discovers that Grethi is heir to a large fortune from his father, he plans to marry her without telling anything about the legacy.

A bunch of wagons are crossing the border. It's the Karla Circus, which, after a rough season in Germany, is gonna try its luck in Denmark. Mrs. Karla, the beloved and respected circus director, goes through passports and papers with the customs officers... everything's fine, so the circus caravan can keep going to the next town. One of the circus employees is caught harboring a vagrant in his wagon. But when it turns out that the vagrant is an excellent flute player, he becomes an asset to Circus Karla.

The popular Danish family are vacationing on the island of Bornholm. Unfortunately, they have not been able to get hotel rooms, but Tiny Per, always resourceful, have come up with the idea that they must sleep in a tent. Father and Uncle Anders are not quite enthusiastic about the idea, but there is nothing else to do.

The priest in Solby borrows 2,000 kroons from the parish council treasury to pay for one of his parishioners' hospital stays in Germany. Marianne, the rich man's daughter, is to be a bridesmaid in Aalborg and is leaving Copenhagen for Jutland. In Solby, she drives too fast through the town, which is why she has a car accident and ends up in the priest's garden! She immediately starts to lead everyone around the rectory, which Aunt Marie is definitely not happy about. The priest, on the other hand, is attracted to the girl. They swim in the lake and go to a ball together, which leads to Mrs. Larsen coming in to talk to the bishop. After Marianne has returned to Copenhagen, the bishop announces his arrival at the rectory. Where will the priest now find the 2,000 kroons? The priest has a number of friends who are trying to help him, but he also receives unexpected help from the bishop.

Søren Holm becomes a pastor in the small town of Harslev. The parish council chairwoman, Mrs. Andersen, interferes in the pastor's family's private life, and when Søren plays in a soccer game to get to know the town's young men, Mrs. Andersen becomes furious. Half of the parish turns its back on Søren. But Søren does good work for the young people, and gradually, with the help of the parish clerk, he is accepted by both the parish council and the town's youth.

A young, famous crime writer writes under the name Jess Clarck but is actually called Sven Hansen. He is married to a lovely woman who, in her warm, luxurious life, does not understand that her husband draws inspiration for his exciting books by diving in and mingling with the dregs of society. Jess Clarck and his wife have returned home to Denmark, and Clarck wants to write a crime novel for the first time, set in Copenhagen, but how will he find an environment in peaceful Denmark?

Lilleper is starting school, and on the last day of summer vacation, his father invites the whole family to a party at Tivoli. But then everything goes wrong. Per doesn't like school. Søs falls out with Peter, Mie is accused of theft, and his father is fired from his job and talks about selling the house. Everyone is looking forward to a sad Christmas, but maybe Lilleper will still go to the "Christmas Ball in Nisseland."

Its summer and everyone are going on holiday to a small fisher town in Jutland.

In a large fish export company, the general manager's talented son Hugo holds a trusted position. When one day 500 kroner is missing from the cash register, speculation begins about who the culprit might be. Greengrocer Olsen is a happy man, completely satisfied with the lot he has been allotted in life. When he is drawn as a juror in the case against the general manager of the fish export company, he is beside himself: he has no idea. But who is the culprit anyway?

An everyday story about a single father with four children, whose eldest daughter, Søs, runs the household. Søs occasionally goes into town with Peter. In connection with Ole's schooling, she comes into contact with his teacher, Jørgen Stæhr. Gradually, love develops between them, especially after Søs and Jørgen participate together in Children's Aid Day. Uncle Anders is a frequent guest in the house, and the neighbor, Mrs. Sejersen, often visits under various pretexts.

Torsten and Sven are in love with Inger, who prefers Sven. Due to jealousy, Torsten destroys the radio system aboard the fishing boat as Sven will release the following morning. During the fishing season it blows up, but as the radio is not working, the crew does not know anything about the danger.

Eight old school friends meet at Tove's to discuss what has happened in the last 10 years. Some have made careers, others have become homemakers, some are married and others alone. The community is intact, but what no one knows is that Tove is hiding a big, unhappy secret.

At home in the small family is nothing new. Tiny Per is the school's mischief maker, Sister has heartaches, Mie and Ole has to be in the school play, etc. But suddenly something happens. Good old Uncle Anders has a twin brother in the United States. He called Sofus, and now he comes home to celebrate 70th birthday. He was a troublemaker when he left and now he has become even worse

Tiny Per has come of school age, and he has certainly not become any duller. He has joined a soccer team and they must play against the Swedes.

It's not always easy being a father – archivist Jørgensen knows this all too well. His only son, Bent, is more interested in the band he and his friends have formed than in his studies. One evening, as the house shakes with syncopated rhythms, the archivist loses his hard-won patience and gives his son the choice between giving up his music or moving out of the house. The next day, Bent seeks out his two friends to complain about his plight, but his friends have more than enough of their own worries, which can be summed up in one word: money.

After World War II, Europe lies in ruins and help is desperately needed everywhere. One person trying to make a difference is Dr. Jørgen Vedel, who travels with the Red Cross to Vienna to vaccinate children. There he meets Leni, a girl who has been to Auschwitz, where she lost her mother. Jørgen arranges for Leni to come to Denmark, where she can start a whole new life.

Uncle Anders and tiny Per has won a caravan in a contest. It's summer vacation, and the family takes in high spirits off to Jutland with their new home towed behind the car. One morning they discover that the Benneweis circus is setting up tents near the campsite