Carl Schenstrøm facts for kids

Fy og Bi in the magazine Se, 1947

Carl Schenstrøm (born November 13, 1881 – died April 10, 1942) was a famous Danish actor. He starred in many plays and silent films in Denmark. He worked with well-known directors like August Blom and Lau Lauritzen Sr..

Carl Schenstrøm is best known for being one half of a super popular Danish comedy duo. He teamed up with Harald Madsen to form Fyrtårnet og Bivognen. This translates to "The Lighthouse and The Sidecar." In England, they were known as "Long & Short," and in the U.S., they were called "Ole & Axel."

Who Was Carl Schenstrøm?

Carl Schenstrøm was born in Denmark in 1881. He started his career acting on stage. Later, he moved into the exciting new world of silent films. Silent films were movies without spoken dialogue. Actors had to use their expressions and body language to tell the story.

Schenstrøm became very good at this. He could make people laugh or feel sad just with his actions. He appeared in many films before he became famous as part of a duo.

The Famous Comedy Duo: Fy og Bi

The biggest part of Carl Schenstrøm's career was his partnership with Harald Madsen. Together, they created the characters "Fy og Bi." Carl Schenstrøm played "Fyrtårnet" (The Lighthouse), who was tall and skinny. Harald Madsen played "Bivognen" (The Sidecar), who was short and round.

Their funny looks and different personalities made them a perfect comedy team. They were like the original "odd couple." Their humor was simple and often involved silly situations. They made audiences all over the world laugh.

Why Were They So Popular?

Fy og Bi became incredibly popular not just in Denmark, but across Europe and even in America. They made over 50 films together! Their humor was easy to understand, no matter what language you spoke. This was especially true for silent films, where actions spoke louder than words.

They traveled a lot and performed for many people. Their movies were shown in different countries. This helped them become international stars. They showed that comedy could cross borders.

Selected Films of Carl Schenstrøm

Carl Schenstrøm acted in many films throughout his career. Here are a few examples of his early work:

• Den hvide Slavehandels sidste Offer (1911)
• Mormonens offer (1911)
• Atlantis (1913)
• Herberg for Hjemløse (1914)
• Familien Pille som Spejdere (1915)
• Kong Bukseløs (1915)
• Towards the Light (1919)

Ole & Axel Films

Carl Schenstrøm made many films as "Fyrtårnet" with Harald Madsen as "Bivognen." Here are some of their popular movies together:

• Film, flirt og forlovelse (1921)
• Han, hun og Hamlet (1922)
• Kan Kærlighed kureres? (1923)
• Professor Petersens Plejebørn (1924)
• The Last Laugh (1924)
• Sons in Law (1926)
• Don Quixote (1926)
• Cocktails (1928)
• Alf's Carpet (1929)
• Højt paa en kvist (1929)
• I kantonnement (1931)
• Circus Saran (1935)
• The Pale Count (1937)
• I de gode, gamle dage (1940) - This was his last film role.

Carl Schenstrøm passed away in 1942. He left behind a legacy of laughter and entertainment. His work with Harald Madsen as Fy og Bi continues to be remembered as a classic part of Danish film history.