Matador

The story

Matador is a Danish TV series produced and shown between 1978 and 1982. It is set in the fictional Danish town of Korsbæk between 1929 and 1947. It follows the lives of a range of characters from across the social spectrum, focusing specifically on the rivalry between the families of two businessmen: The banker Hans Christian Varnæs, an established local worthy, and social climber Mads Skjern, who arrives in town as the series opens. The name Matador was taken from the localised edition of the boardgame Monopoly, also the series' tentative English title. In addition, in contemporary Danish a "matador" is often used to describe a business tycoon, in the series referring to the character of Mads Skjern and his craftiness as a self-made entrepreneur.

Directed by famed Danish film maker Erik Balling, Matador was the idea of author Lise Nørgaard who wrote the bulk of the episodes alongside Karen Smith, Jens Louis Petersen and Paul Hammerich. The series is one of the most well-known and popular examples of Danish television and represents the peak of longtime development of Danish TV drama by the public service channel Danmarks Radio.

The series has become part of the modern self-understanding of Danes, partly because of its successful mix of melodrama and a distinct warm Danish humour in the depiction of characters, which were portrayed by a wide range of the most popular Danish actors at the time; but also not least because of its accurate portrayal of a turbulent Denmark from around the start of the Great Depression and through Nazi Germany's occupation of Denmark in World War II.

The seasons

Season 1 Season 1 1978 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Nov. 11, 1978

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 2 Season 2 1979 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Nov. 17, 1979

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 3 Season 3 1980 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Dec. 6, 1980

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 4 Season 4 1981 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Nov. 28, 1981

A synopsis is not available yet.

Special episodes

Specials 2006 · 5 episodes Season details＋

Nov. 14, 2006

A synopsis is not available yet.

Cast

J Jørgen BuckhøjMads Andersen-Skjern G Ghita NørbyIngeborg Skjern H Holger Juul HansenHans Christian Varnæs M Malene SchwartzMaude Varnæs J Jesper LangbergKristen Andersen-Skjern H Helle VirknerElisabeth Friis B Buster LarsenGrisehandler Oluf Larsen L Lily BrobergKatrine Larsen K Kirsten OlesenAgnes Jensen E Elin ReimerLaura Larsine Sørensen K Karin NellemoseMisse Møhge O Ove SprogøeDr. Louis Hansen

See more cast

B Bjørn Watt-BoolsenOberst Ditlev Hachel S Sonja OppenhagenVicki Hachel E Else-Marie Juul HansenKonsulinde Holm P Per PallesenSeverin Boldt K Kurt RavnLauritz 'Røde' Jensen B Benny HansenFrede 'Fede' Hansen E Esper HagenArnold Vinter L Lis LøwertViolet Vinter K Karen-Lise MynsterUlla Jacobsen J John Hahn-PetersenHr Stein B Bent MejdingJørgen Varnæs A Anne JensenGudrun V Vera GebuhrInger Jørgensen K Kirsten Hansen-MøllerMarie Hansen A Ann Margrethe SchouFrk. Mortensen H Holger PerfortTjener Olsen B Birgitte FederspielBaronesse Arense von Rytger B Birgitte BruunEsther S Susse WoldBirgitte 'Gitte' Graa O Ole AndreasenFortæller K Karen BergFru Fernando Møhge K Karl SteggerKonsul Holm A Arthur JensenRudolf Schwann U Ulla HenningsenIben Skjold Hansen / Iben Skjern A Axel StrøbyeViggo Skjold-Hansen B Birthe BackhausenMusse Skjold-Hansen H Holger VistisenBogholder Christiansen, Omegnsbanken B Bendt RotheBaron Carl von Rytger A Allan FrankVilly, jernbanearbejder J Jens ArentzenUlrik Varnæs N Niels Martin CarlsenDaniel Skjern C Camilla HammerichRegitze Varnæs J John ScheldeMogens Lamborg B Benedikte DahlEllen Skjern Lamborg · Ellen Skjern C Claus HeilFritz E Elisabeth Danneskjold-SamsøRegitze Varnæs H Henrik MortensenUlrik Varnæs H Helge Kjærulff-SchmidtLærer Frederik Andersen R Rigmor HvidtfeldtFru Olsen · Garderobedame på Postgården M Michael BrüelJernbanearbejder E Esben PetersenSofus Jensen, Betjent P Preben MahrtAlbert Arnesen S Søren BruunUlrik Varnæs K Kristian Steen RemDaniel Andersen-Skjern / Daniel Skjern N Nicla UrsinRegitze Varnæs J Jacob DalgårdDaniel Skjern N Nynne UbbeEllen Skjern S Solveig KallenbachFru Rum, ansat hos Agnes S Sebastian SørensenKnud Jensen D Ditte Maria NorupHelle Varnæs S Søren MarkersAksel Jensen P Poul ReichhardtMurermester Jacob Jessen B Bodil UdsenFru Murermester Jessen R Rikke WölckMaja Ebbesen / Maja Varnæs H Helle NielsenEllen Larsen / Ellen Andersen-Skjern / Ellen Skjern H Hanne LøyeFrk. Mikkelsen E Egon AagaardFrederik, jernbanearbejder S Solveig SundborgHjemmesyerske · Kone i Korsbæk P Paul HüttelHerbert Schmidt L Lane LindJenny C Christian SteffensenPoul Christensen J Joen BilleAage Holmdal E Else kornerupFru apoteker Strøm L Lene BrøndumAgnete Hansen C Christiane RohdeFrk. Hollenberg J Jarl ForsmanMand på Jernbanehotellet E Else PetersenFrk. Grøn - syerske H Hardy RafnGodtfred Lund