Fjols til fjells

I think this film is one of the better classic Norwegian comedy's. It shows "The King of Norwegian Comedy's", Leif Juster, the way we loved to see him. The tall, skinny man with the funny voice does one of his best characters in this film. The setting is a hotel up in the mountain where many situations makes the days for the chief of the hotel (Juster) just as frustrated as can be. The piccolo is a girl, but is "disguised" as a boy and this also complicates some situations. I rate it 7/10.

"Fools In The Mountains" (1957) is an excruciating example of what Roger Ebert famously called The Idiot Plot - the kind of plot that would be resolved in 5 seconds if everyone involved was not a clinical idiot. The entire film is built on the shaky foundation of dumb misunderstandings. It is a major disappointment coming form Norway's first female director, Edith Carlmar, after her two very good noirs, "Death Is A Caress" (1949) and "Young Woman Missing" (1953). Maybe comedy just wasn't her forte. On the positive side, Unni Bernhoft is cute, and there is some pleasing snowy scenery. *1/2 out of 4.

"Fjolls til fjells" is a boring Norwegian farce, that (strangely) is insanely popular over here. The setting is a hotel, and the movie is about all the intrigues between the characters. This proves to be very boring and we`ve seen it a hundred times before, and Leif Juster just isn`t funny as the chief of the hotel. Avoid it but small children might enjoy it. Just be sure to let your children watch this on their own, so you could go out to see a good film. The Danish version of this film is called "Solstik" and is actually a better movie, which is mostly because of the better actors. I give "Fjolls til fjells" a 2/10

I don't know if John Cleese have seen this film, but I really wouldn't wonder if this could have been the inspiration to the most classic of all British Comedy's, Fawlty Towers,.

Fjols til Fjells (translates into: Fools in the mountains) is a beloved Norwegian comedy from 1957, which are moving around the fabulous long and thin comedian Leif Juster, which had a special way with words and facial expressions. This film us a farce with no deeper meaning, but just plain family fun.

We're at a small mountain hotel, where Poppe is portier in a fatal way, just like Basil Fawlty did 15 years later at Fawlty a Towers. Just as long and thin, and just as stupid and easily frustrated, but over all well meaning. He assumes just like Basil did some years later, and both have a huge following in Norway.

The plot is that portier Poppe is moving towards a nervous breakdown, during a stressful winter holiday time. He has some issues with the new unexperienced but well meaning bellboy, and a guest is popping up one minute, just to disappear the next, confusing Popper in a major WAP. He of course mistakes two resembling lookalikes, which are very different guests, which again both thinks Poppe is raving mad, while Poppe thinks the guy is lying or delusional.

There's so much in common with these two figures and their hotels, it's difficult to see that this is a coincidence. The film is one of the biggest cinema successes in Norway, and is every year around Christmas shown on the TV-channels.

Worth to mention is that you find Liv Ullmann in her first film role, in a minor role as guest, and a lot of others well known Norwegian actors. A joy to watch though utterly stupid, filmed in an interesting place with a large gallery of guests.

This is quite a funny farce from the fifties. The main theme is about mistaken identities. But you will also find a disguised bellboy, owls and lots of complications. Add to that a well written dialog. Leif Juster, one of Norways longest comedians (and best loved) in his best movie role. Although he was mainly a revue actor. This movie is also based on a revue. He is accompanied by a good cast. The movie is directed by Norways first female director Edith Carlmar. And she has a good hand with comedy. You will also find Liv Ullmann in her first appearance in a movie. You will have to look hard though... I pity people who can't see the charm in this movie.