Karin Swanström facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Karin Swanström
Born	Karin Sofia Svanström (1873-06-13)June 13, 1873
Died	July 5, 1942(1942-07-05) (aged 69) Stockholm
Nationality	Swedish
Occupation	Actress, Producer, Director
Years active	1890 - 1942
Spouse(s)	Stellan Claësson (m. 1915-1942)

Karin Swanström was a talented Swedish actress, producer, and director. She was born on June 13, 1873, and passed away on July 5, 1942. Karin was known for her work in both theater and early films, especially during the silent movie era.

Early Life and Theater Career

Karin Swanström was born in Norrköping, Sweden. Not much is known about her early years. When she was 17, in 1890, she was accepted into the Royal Dramatic Theatre school. Even while she was a student, people noticed her acting skills.

In 1892, Karin finished school and joined The Royal Dramatic Theater. She worked there for five years. Later, in 1897, she moved to the Selander Company for a year. After that, in 1899, she joined the Swedish Theater Company in Helsinki.

Starting Her Own Company

When Karin returned to Sweden from Helsinki in 1904, she decided to start her own theater group. It was called the Karin Swanström Theater Company. She ran this company until the early 1920s.

Around the same time, from 1921 to 1925, she also started teaching acting in Stockholm. In 1921, she began acting in silent films. Her first silent film was De landsflyktige by Mauritz Stiller. Critics really liked the movie and Karin's performance. One critic called her "the most beautiful middle-aged lady with the greatest stage experience."

Two years later, Karin Swanström became the head of production at Bonnierfilm. In the same year, she directed her first film. This film was for AB Svensk Filmindustri, also known as SF.

Boman at the Fair

Karin's first film as a director was a comedy called Boman på utställningen, which means Boman at the Fair. It was set during a fair in Gothenburg in 1923. She shared the directing credit with the writer, Oscar Rydqvist. However, it's believed that she did most of the directing work.

The film received mixed reviews. Some said it wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. It had good parts, but also slow moments. Some critics felt the film was mostly an excuse to show scenes from the Gothenburg fair.

After Boman at the Fair, Karin acted in six more silent films. Two of these were the famous The Saga of Gosta Berling parts one and two. Even though she was head of production at Bonnierfilm, she also worked for other film studios. The year 1925 was very busy for her. She was teaching, directing two films, and had two films released at the same time.

Kalle Utter

Kalle Utter was Karin Swanström's second film as a director. For this movie, she was the only one credited as director. The film was a big success in Stockholm. A critic from the newspaper Arbetaren wrote that they had never heard such heartwarming laughter in a cinema. They also mentioned the strong and long applause at the end, calling it a rare triumph.

Another famous critic, Robin Hood, was also very excited about the film. He wrote that "Swedish film is rehabilitated!" He praised Karin Swanström's acting but didn't mention her directing skills. However, other critics did notice her directing. Jens Flik wrote that Karin was able to use her rich stage experience to meet the demands of cinema. He hoped she would direct more often, saying it would greatly benefit Swedish films.

Flying Dutchmen

Karin Swanström's film Flying Dutchmen (Flygande Holländren) was not well-received. Critics felt the story was weak and unfocused. Many said the film felt more like a play than a movie. However, one critic noted that Karin Swanström's directing showed her hard work, especially in the small details. Flying Dutchmen was Karin's first film for a new studio called Skandinavisk film. This studio had taken over Bonnierfilm's old studios. Karin was also the head of production for Skandinavisk film.

In 1926, Karin Swanström started a comedy series at Oscarsteatern (The Oscars Theater) in Stockholm. This series ran for many years, until 1931.

Girl in Tails

Girl in Tails (Flickan i frack) was Karin Swanström's last film as a director. Many consider it one of her best films. However, critics at the time had mixed feelings. Some found it a happy and light summer film. Others felt that a big scene at a ball wasn't as shocking as they expected. They also felt the film was not as strong as the book it was based on. Still, critics praised Magda Holm, who played the main character, Katja, for her excellent acting.

Sound Era and Later Career

After Girl in Tails, Karin Swanström continued to act in both theater and films. In July 1934, she joined AB Svensk Filmindustri. She quickly became a producer, then an artistic adviser, and finally a production manager. She and her husband, Stellan Claësson, who was also a production manager, led the production at AB Svensk Filmindustri from 1934 until 1941.

Karin Swanström passed away in Stockholm in 1942, at the age of 69. Her husband, Stellan Claësson, survived her.

Partial filmography

See also

In Spanish: Karin Swanström para niños