Egil Eide
Encyclopedia
Egil Næss Eide was a Norwegian silent film
actor and director
. He appeared in eighteen films between 1913
and 1935
, and worked at the National Theatre
between 1899 and 1939.
until 1894, where he went through his first marriage. Back in Norway, he made his state debut in 1894 at Den Nationale Scene
. He was hired at Christiania Theater in 1898, and when it went defunct one year later he moved to the new National Theatre
. He played many notable roles, both internationally known roles like Romeo
, Othello
, King Lear
and Oedipus
, but also in plays by the Nordic writers Henrik Ibsen
, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
and August Strindberg
, including the title role in the first Norwegian performance (in 1904) of Ibsen's play Brand
. Brand, published as far back as in 1866, had previously been staged in Sweden.
He made his silent film
debut in Sweden
in 1913, and later played in films such as The Clergyman
(1914), The Price of Betrayal
(1915), The Wings
(1916) and The Ships That Meet
(1916). He also directed two films. He faced declining health in the 1930s, and finished his on-screen career with two Norwegian films in 1932 and 1935. He left the National Theatre in 1939. Also in 1939, his marriage to singer Kaja Eide Norena since 1909 was dissolved.
In 1919 he was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He died in December 1946 in Haugesund.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actor and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He appeared in eighteen films between 1913
1913 in film
The year 1913 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* The Squaw Man, the first Hollywood feature film, is made.* December 29, Charlie Chaplin signs a contract with Mack Sennett to begin making films at Keystone Studios.* D. W...
and 1935
1935 in film
-Events:*Judy Garland signs a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .*Seven year old Shirley Temple wins a special Academy Award.*The Bantu Educational Kinema Experiment started in order to educate the Bantu peoples.-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:...
, and worked at the National Theatre
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
between 1899 and 1939.
Career
He was born in Haugesund as a son of ship-owner Ludolf Eide (1821–1908) and Albertine Knagenhjelm Wiese (1834–1903). He was an uncle of zoologist Albert Eide Parr. After finishing his secondary education, Eide lived in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
until 1894, where he went through his first marriage. Back in Norway, he made his state debut in 1894 at Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene is the largest theatre in Bergen, Norway. Den Nationale Scene is also one of the oldest permanent theatre in Norway.-History:...
. He was hired at Christiania Theater in 1898, and when it went defunct one year later he moved to the new National Theatre
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
. He played many notable roles, both internationally known roles like Romeo
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
, Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
, King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
and Oedipus
Oedipus
Oedipus was a mythical Greek king of Thebes. He fulfilled a prophecy that said he would kill his father and marry his mother, and thus brought disaster on his city and family...
, but also in plays by the Nordic writers Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
and August Strindberg
August Strindberg
Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg's career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography,...
, including the title role in the first Norwegian performance (in 1904) of Ibsen's play Brand
Brand (play)
Brand is a play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It is a verse tragedy, written in 1865 and first performed in Stockholm on 24 March 1867. Brand was an intellectual play that provoked much original thought....
. Brand, published as far back as in 1866, had previously been staged in Sweden.
He made his silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
debut in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1913, and later played in films such as The Clergyman
The Clergyman
The Clergyman is a 1914 Swedish silent drama film directed by Victor Sjöström.-Cast:* Carl Borin* Egil Eide - Priest* Justus Hagman - Older Priest* William Larsson - Clara's Father* Richard Lund - Estate Owner* Clara Pontoppidan - Maria...
(1914), The Price of Betrayal
The Price of Betrayal
The Price of Betrayal is a 1915 Swedish silent drama film directed by Victor Sjöström.-Cast:* Gabriel Alw* Stina Berg* Egil Eide - Blom* Kaja Eide - Mrs. Blom* John Ekman - Mr. Holck...
(1915), The Wings
The Wings (film)
-Production background:The film was directed by Mauritz Stiller, starring Egil Eide, Lars Hanson, Lili Bech, and Julius Hälsig, and was based on Herman Bang's 1902 novel Mikaël, which was the same source Carl Theodor Dreyer used for his 1924 film Michael....
(1916) and The Ships That Meet
The Ships That Meet
The Ships That Meet is a 1916 Swedish silent drama film directed by Victor Sjöström.-Cast:* Lili Bech - Ethel* Egil Eide - John Hall* Mathias Taube - Dr. Hiller* August Warberg - Cramer...
(1916). He also directed two films. He faced declining health in the 1930s, and finished his on-screen career with two Norwegian films in 1932 and 1935. He left the National Theatre in 1939. Also in 1939, his marriage to singer Kaja Eide Norena since 1909 was dissolved.
In 1919 he was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He died in December 1946 in Haugesund.