Bedre enn sitt rykte (1955)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Karin	Vigdis Røising	½
Dag	Magne Bleness	½
Frøken Tone Strøm	Kari Nordseth	½
Roald	Atle Merton
Per Ellingsen	Odd Borg
Mona	Unni Bernhoft
Gerd	Synnøve Strigen
Leif	Per Christensen
Rektor	Anders Sundby
Frk. Hansen, lektor	Lalla Carlsen

Review

Edith Carlmar was one the most prolific filmmakers in Norway in 1950s, hence arguably one of few female directors who could boast being amongst the leading national filmmakers at the time. She worked together with writer-husband Otto Carlmar, and created more renowned films such as Fjols til fjels (1957) and Lån meg din kone (1958), and Ung flukt (1959), which was Liv Ullman's debut film.

Bedre enn sitt rykte is an enjoyable and well-played film depicting the antics of "russen" (a traditional Scandinavian/Norwegian celebration for students who graduate from upper secondary school and are ready for universities) back in 1955. Carlmar shows a fine command of the comedy and the romance alike, and "russen" are portrayed in a good-natured and positive, but also rather candid way. The film is surprisingly explicit on sexual themes and has stood the test of time well, discussing issues which are still recognizable and relevant for people the same age today. The scene in the teachers' lounge is particularly descriptive, as the Carlmars suggest the cyclic nature of how the old tend to consider the young depraved, lazy and immoral.

Quotes (in Norwegian)

Etter at han har blitt ropt opp av eksaminatoren:
Per Ellingsen (Odd Borg): "Å dæven, det er meg."

Etter å ha blitt avslørt som en rundbrenner av ei jente i Fredrikstad:
Leif: "Jeg trodde ikke jeg var nødt til å bla opp i boka når det gjaldt ei provins-rype."