Peter Blom, called Lynet, escapes from prison, and at the same time the unemployed actor Poul Quist sees his portrait in the newspaper, in connection with a film company wanting to make a film about Lynet, and is looking for someone to play the lead role. Since the resemblance between Blom and Quist is striking, Quist approaches the film company and then the pranks start to take off, when Quist pretends to be Lynet. The film director thinks that he really is Lynet and sees a sensation by giving him the role.
Acting
Peter Malberg playing two roles that keep accidentally becoming each other.
Writing
A script so self-aware it basically invents postmodernism in 1934.
Director
George Schnéevoigt
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This is essentially Denmark answering 'what if The 39 Steps had zero stakes and maximum farce?' Schnéevoigt was adapting wildly popular serialized crime novels that let working-class audiences laugh at the upper crust.
The film's obsession with doubles and mistaken identity mirrors 1930s anxieties about social mobility—anyone could theoretically become anyone, which was either thrilling or terrifying depending on your tax bracket.
DK
