Gunnar Sommerfeldt
A pioneering figure in Denmark's silent film era, he transitioned from a compelling screen actor to a director shaping early Nordic cinema.
1890–1947 (age 57)·Danish actor and film maker·Birthday: September 4·The Lost Generation
Biography
Gunnar Sommerfeldt was a foundational presence in the formative years of Danish film. He first captivated audiences as an actor in the 1910s, his expressive face perfectly suited for the silent screen. Not content to stay in front of the camera, Sommerfeldt soon moved into directing, taking the reins on a series of films that helped define the visual storytelling language of the period. His work spanned the transition from silent films to talkies, requiring an adaptability that not all of his contemporaries possessed. While international fame proved elusive, his contributions were vital within Denmark, where he helped build a national film industry from the ground up during a time of rapid artistic and technological change.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Gunnar was born in 1890, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gunnar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1890
Gunnar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1890Born
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
1895Started school
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1903Became a teenager
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Could drive
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Could vote
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Turned 21
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1920Turned 30
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1930Turned 40
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1940Turned 50
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1947Died at 57
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
Key Achievements
- Acted in numerous Danish silent films during the 1910s and 1920s.
- Directed films in both the silent and early sound eras in Denmark.
- Contributed to the development of a professional film industry in Denmark as a multi-hyphenate creator.
Did You Know?
He was the brother of actor and director Arne Sommerfeldt.
His career activity spanned from around 1910 until his death in 1947.
One of his directorial credits is the 1922 film 'Munkens Fristelser' ('The Monk's Temptations').
“The light must be right, or the face is a mask.”
