Martin Beck
Encyclopedia
Martin Beck is a fictional Swedish police
detective
who is the main character in a series of ten novels by Sjöwall and Wahlöö
, collectively titled The Story of a Crime. The stories are often seen largely from his perspective and are frequently referred to as the Martin Beck stories.
In the novels he is a tall man who smokes. In The Abominable Man he is shot and severely wounded.
All of the novels have been produced as movies, although some appeared with different titles and three have been filmed outside Sweden. In the movies, the first actor to play Martin Beck was Keve Hjelm
in 1967. Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt
also portrayed Beck in 1976. In 1993 and 1994, Gösta Ekman
played the character in six movies based on the novels, Martin Beck is played by Peter Haber
. The most notable actor (to American audiences) to play Martin Beck abroad was Walter Matthau
, who in 1973 played him in the movie called The Laughing Policeman
, though his character was called "Jake Martin". Martin Beck has also been played by Jan Decleir
and Derek Jacobi
. Roseanna is the only novel that has been filmed twice.
and Mikael Persbrandt
as Martin Beck's colleague and friend Gunvald Larsson. Some of them were released theatrically, but most went direct-to-video
Swedish Police Service
The Swedish Police Service is a collection of Government agencies concerned with police matters in Sweden. The Swedish Police Service consists of 28,500 employees of which 39 per cent are women. The staff consists of 20,000 police officers of which 25 per cent are women and 8,500 civilian staff of...
detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
who is the main character in a series of ten novels by Sjöwall and Wahlöö
Sjöwall and Wahlöö
Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, a common-law wife and husband team of detective writers from Sweden. Together they conceived and wrote a series of ten novels about the exploits of detectives from the special homicide commission of the national police in which the character of Martin Beck was the...
, collectively titled The Story of a Crime. The stories are often seen largely from his perspective and are frequently referred to as the Martin Beck stories.
Character
Throughout the novels, he goes from being an unhappily married man and father to two young teenagers, to a divorced man in an unmarried relationship. Beck also gets several promotions, seemingly much to the chagrin of everyone involved, including himself.In the novels he is a tall man who smokes. In The Abominable Man he is shot and severely wounded.
All of the novels have been produced as movies, although some appeared with different titles and three have been filmed outside Sweden. In the movies, the first actor to play Martin Beck was Keve Hjelm
Keve Hjelm
Karl Evert "Keve" Hjelm was a Swedish actor and film director. He appeared in 70 films between 1943 and 2004.-Selected filmography:* Girl with Hyacinths * Raven's End * Love 65...
in 1967. Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt
Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt
Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt was a Swedish actor. He grew up in Kungsholmen in Stockholm, where there now is a street named after him....
also portrayed Beck in 1976. In 1993 and 1994, Gösta Ekman
Gösta Ekman
Hans Gösta Gustaf Ekman is a Swedish actor.-Biography:One of Sweden's most appreciated, respected and popular actors; Gösta Ekman started his career in theatre but has also appeared in several Swedish films, including the Jönssonligan series...
played the character in six movies based on the novels, Martin Beck is played by Peter Haber
Peter Haber
Peter Alexander Haber is a Swedish actor. He grew up in Södertälje and in Remscheid, Germany. In 1987 he was hired by the Stockholm City Theatre where he was active until 1994....
. The most notable actor (to American audiences) to play Martin Beck abroad was Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau was an American actor best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon, as well as his role as Coach Buttermaker in the 1976 comedy The Bad News Bears...
, who in 1973 played him in the movie called The Laughing Policeman
The Laughing Policeman (novel)
The Laughing Policeman , by Sjöwall and Wahlöö, is the fourth police detective novel, in the ten-part 'Martin Beck' series. Originally published in Sweden in 1968 as Den skrattande polisen, it is the first novel in the series to criticize the shortcomings of the Swedish welfare state...
, though his character was called "Jake Martin". Martin Beck has also been played by Jan Decleir
Jan Decleir
Jan Decleir is a prolific Belgian movie and stage actor born in Niel, Antwerp .He had his first big role in Fons Rademakers "Mira" and has since then appeared in countless Flemish and Dutch films and tv productions...
and Derek Jacobi
Derek Jacobi
Sir Derek George Jacobi, CBE is an English actor and film director.A "forceful, commanding stage presence", Jacobi has enjoyed a highly successful stage career, appearing in such stage productions as Hamlet, Uncle Vanya, and Oedipus the King. He received a Tony Award for his performance in...
. Roseanna is the only novel that has been filmed twice.
Novels
Title - Year - English title- RoseannaRoseannaRoseanna by Sjöwall and Wahlöö is the first novel in their detective series revolving around Martin Beck and his team.- Plot summary :...
(1965) (Roseanna) - Mannen som gick upp i rökThe Man Who Went Up in SmokeThe Man Who Went Up in Smoke is a novel by Sjöwall and Wahlöö in their detective series revolving around Martin Beck and his team. -Plot summary:...
(1966) (The Man who Went Up in Smoke) - Mannen på balkongenThe Man on the BalconyThe Man on the Balcony is the third novel in the detective series revolving around Swedish police detective Martin Beck, and was written by Sjöwall and Wahlöö and originally published as Mannen på balkongen in 1967.-Plot summary:...
(1967) (The Man on the Balcony) - Den skrattande polisenThe Laughing Policeman (novel)The Laughing Policeman , by Sjöwall and Wahlöö, is the fourth police detective novel, in the ten-part 'Martin Beck' series. Originally published in Sweden in 1968 as Den skrattande polisen, it is the first novel in the series to criticize the shortcomings of the Swedish welfare state...
(1968) (The Laughing Policeman) - Brandbilen som försvannThe Fire Engine That DisappearedThe Fire Engine That Disappeared is the fifth in the 'Martin Beck' detective series by Sjöwall and Wahlöö.-Plot summary:...
(1969) (The Fire Engine That Disappeared) - Polis, polis, potatismos!Murder at the SavoyMurder at the Savoy is a Swedish crime novel and the sixth book out of ten in the 'Martin Beck' detective series by Sjöwall and Wahlöö revolving around police detective Martin Beck.- Title :"Murder at the Savoy" is the English title of the novel...
(1970) (Murder at the Savoy) - Den vedervärdige mannen från SäffleThe Abominable ManThe Abominable Man is a Swedish crime novel by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö from 1971 in the series revolving around police detective Martin Beck. One of Donald Knuth's favourite novels, "one of Sjöwall and Wahlöö's brilliantly Swedish detective novels"...
(1971) (The Abominable Man) - Det slutna rummetThe Locked RoomThe Locked Room is a novel by Sjöwall and Wahlöö in their detective series revolving around Martin Beck and his team. -Plot summary:...
(1972) (The Locked Room) - PolismördarenCop Killer (novel)Cop Killer is a novel by Sjöwall and Wahlöö in their detective series revolving around Martin Beck and his team. - Plot summary:...
(1974) (Cop Killer) - TerroristernaThe TerroristsThe Terrorists is a 1975 novel by Sjöwall and Wahlöö in their detective series revolving around Martin Beck and his team...
(1975) (The Terrorists)
Movies based on the novels
- Roseanna (1967) (starring Keve HjelmKeve HjelmKarl Evert "Keve" Hjelm was a Swedish actor and film director. He appeared in 70 films between 1943 and 2004.-Selected filmography:* Girl with Hyacinths * Raven's End * Love 65...
) - The Laughing PolicemanThe Laughing Policeman (film)The Laughing Policeman is an American police procedural film loosely based on the novel The Laughing Policeman by Sjöwall and Wahlöö. The setting of the story is transplanted from Stockholm to San Francisco...
(1973)' (starring Walter MatthauWalter MatthauWalter Matthau was an American actor best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon, as well as his role as Coach Buttermaker in the 1976 comedy The Bad News Bears...
, this movie had the setting changed to San Francisco and changed the names of the characters) - Mannen på taketThe Man on the RoofThe Man on the Roof is a 1976 Swedish film directed by Bo Widerberg, based on the 1971 novel The Abominable Man by Sjöwall and Wahlöö. The film is a crime thriller about the police officer Martin Beck trying to catch a killer, and it reaches its climax when the killer barricades himself on a roof...
(1976) (The Man on the Roof, based on The Abominable Man starring Carl-Gustaf LindstedtCarl-Gustaf LindstedtCarl-Gustaf Lindstedt was a Swedish actor. He grew up in Kungsholmen in Stockholm, where there now is a street named after him....
) - The Unfinished Dinner (1979) (based on Polis polis potatismos!, starring Romualds Ancāns)
- Der Mann, der sich in Luft auflöste (1980) (starring Derek JacobiDerek JacobiSir Derek George Jacobi, CBE is an English actor and film director.A "forceful, commanding stage presence", Jacobi has enjoyed a highly successful stage career, appearing in such stage productions as Hamlet, Uncle Vanya, and Oedipus the King. He received a Tony Award for his performance in...
) - Beck - De gesloten kamer (1993) (starring Jan DecleirJan DecleirJan Decleir is a prolific Belgian movie and stage actor born in Niel, Antwerp .He had his first big role in Fons Rademakers "Mira" and has since then appeared in countless Flemish and Dutch films and tv productions...
) - Roseanna (1993) (starring Gösta EkmanGösta EkmanHans Gösta Gustaf Ekman is a Swedish actor.-Biography:One of Sweden's most appreciated, respected and popular actors; Gösta Ekman started his career in theatre but has also appeared in several Swedish films, including the Jönssonligan series...
) - Brandbilen som försvann (1993) (starring Gösta Ekman)
- Polis polis potatismos! (1993) (starring Gösta Ekman)
- Mannen på balkongen (1993) (starring Gösta Ekman)
- Polismördaren (1994) (starring Gösta Ekman)
- Stockholm MarathonStockholm Marathon (film)Stockholm Marathon is a 1994 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Peter Keglevic.- Cast :*Gösta Ekman as Martin Beck*Kjell Bergqvist as Lennart Kollberg*Rolf Lassgård as Gunvald Larsson*Niklas Hjulström as Benny Skacke...
(1994) (starring Gösta Ekman)
Season 1
Most of these were written by Rölf Börjlind, all starring Peter HaberPeter Haber
Peter Alexander Haber is a Swedish actor. He grew up in Södertälje and in Remscheid, Germany. In 1987 he was hired by the Stockholm City Theatre where he was active until 1994....
and Mikael Persbrandt
Mikael Persbrandt
Mikael Åke Persbrandt is a Swedish actor. In Swedish films he usually has lead roles and “tough guy” parts. He is perhaps most famous for his recurring role as the no-nonsense police officer Gunvald Larsson in the latest installment of the Martin Beck movies...
as Martin Beck's colleague and friend Gunvald Larsson. Some of them were released theatrically, but most went direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
- Beck 1 – LockpojkenBeck (film)Beck, later called Beck – Lockpojken, is a 1997 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Pelle Seth.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Figge Norling as Benny Skacke...
(June 27, 1997) (The Bait-Boy) - Beck 2 – Mannen med ikonernaBeck – Mannen med ikonernaBeck – Mannen med ikonerna is a 1997 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Pelle Seth.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Figge Norling as Benny Skacke*Stina Rautelin as Lena Klingström...
(December 17, 1997) (The Man With the Icons) - Beck 3 – Vita nätterBeck – Vita nätterBeck – Vita nätter is a 1998 Swedish police film about Martin Beck, directed by Kjell Sundvall.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Stina Rautelin as Lena Klingström*Per Morberg as Joakim Wersén...
(February 27, 1998) (White Nights) - Beck 4 – Öga för ögaBeck – Öga för ögaBeck – Öga för öga is a 1998 Swedish police film about Martin Beck, directed by Kjell Sundvall.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Stina Rautelin as Lena Klingström*Per Morberg as Joakim Wersén...
(March 27, 1998) (Eye For An Eye) - Beck 5 – Pensionat PärlanBeck – Pensionat PärlanBeck – Pensionat Pärlan is a 1997 Swedish police film about Martin Beck, directed by Kjell Sundvall.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Stina Rautelin as Lena Klingström*Per Morberg as Joakim Wersén...
(April 8, 1998) (The Pension House Pearl) - Beck 6 – MonstretBeck – MonstretBeck – Monstret is a 1998 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Harald Hamrell.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Stina Rautelin as Lena Klingström*Per Morberg as Joakim Wersén...
(May 20, 1998) (The Monster) - Beck 7 – Moneyman (June 3, 1998) (Moneyman)
- Beck 8 – Spår i mörkerBeck – Spår i mörkerBeck – Spår i mörker is a 1997 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Morten Arnfred. It is the eighth film about Martin Beck with Peter Haber as Martin Beck and Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson....
(October 31, 1997) (Trails In Darkness)
Season 2
- Beck 9 – Hämndens pris (June 27, 2001)
- Beck 10 – Mannen utan ansikteBeck – Mannen utan ansikteBeck – Mannen utan ansikte is a 2001 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Harald Hamrell.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Malin Birgerson as Alice Levander...
(November 7, 2001) - Beck 11 – KartellenBeck – KartellenBeck – Kartellen is a 2002 Swedish police film about Martin Beck, directed by Kjell Sundvall.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Malin Birgerson as Alice Levander*Marie Göranzon as Margareta Oberg...
(December 12, 2001) - Beck 12 – EnslingenBeck – EnslingenBeck – Enslingen is a 2002 Swedish police film about Martin Beck, directed by Kjell Sundvall.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Malin Birgerson as Alice Levander*Marie Göranzon as Margareta Oberg...
(January 16, 2002) - Beck 13 – Okänd avsändareBeck – Okänd avsändareBeck – Okänd avsändare is a 2002 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Harald Hamrell.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Malin Birgerson as Alice Levander...
(February 13, 2002) - Beck 14 – AnnonsmannenBeck – AnnonsmannenBeck – Annonsmannen is a 2002 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Daniel Lind Lagerlöf.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Malin Birgerson as Alice Levander...
(March 20, 2002) - Beck 15 – Pojken i glaskulanBeck – Pojken i glaskulanBeck – Pojken i glaskulan is a 2002 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Daniel Lind Lagerlöf.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Malin Birgerson as Alice Levander...
(April 10, 2002) - Beck 16 – Sista vittnetBeck – Sista vittnetBeck – Sista vittnet is a 2002 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Harald Hamrell.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Malin Birgerson as Alice Levander*Marie Göranzon as Margareta Oberg...
(January 4, 2002)
Season 3
- Beck 17 – Skarpt läge (June 28, 2006)
- Beck 18 – Flickan i jordkällarenBeck – Flickan i jordkällarenBeck – Flickan i jordkällaren is a 2006 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Harald Hamrell.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Måns Nathanaelson as Oskar Bergman...
(December 6, 2006) - Beck 19 – GamenBeck – GamenBeck – Gamen is a 2007 Swedish police film about Martin Beck, directed by Kjell Sundvall. Gamen means The Vulture in English. In this episode former sports minister John Vedén disappears and it quickly becomes apparent this is connected to his addiction to gambling...
(January 17, 2007) - Beck 20 – AdvokatenBeck – AdvokatenBeck – Advokaten is a 2006 Swedish police film about Martin Beck, directed by Kjell Sundvall.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Måns Nathanaelson as Oskar Bergman*Stina Rautelin as Lena Klingström...
(February 21, 2007) - Beck 21 – Den japanska ShungamålningenBeck – Den japanska ShungamålningenBeck – Den japanska Shungamålningen is a 2007 Swedish police film about Martin Beck, directed by Kjell Sundvall.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Måns Nathanaelson as Oskar Bergman...
(June 5, 2007) - Beck 22 – Den svaga länkenBeck – Den svaga länkenBeck – Den svaga länken is a 2007 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Harald Hamrell. Police investigates rapes and murders that occur at night in park.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson...
(March 23, 2007) - Beck 23 – Det tysta skriketBeck – Det tysta skriketBeck – Det tysta skriket is a 2007 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck directed by Harald Hamrell.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Måns Nathanaelson as Oskar Bergman...
(September 19, 2007) - Beck 24 – I Guds namnBeck – I Guds namnBeck – I guds namn is a 2007 Swedish police film about Martin Beck, directed by Kjell Sundvall.- Cast :*Peter Haber as Martin Beck*Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson*Måns Nathanaelson as Oskar Bergman...
(October 10, 2007)
Season 4
- Beck 25 – I stormens ögaBeck – I stormens ögaBeck: The Eye of the Storm is a 2009 film about the Swedish police detective Martin Beck, directed by Harald Hamrell. It is the 25th film in the series of chief inspector Martin Beck with Peter Haber in the role of Beck and Mikael Persbrandt as Gunvald Larsson...
(August 26, 2009) - Beck 26 – Levande begravd (June 22, 2010)
See also
- Maj SjöwallMaj SjöwallMaj Sjöwall is a Swedish author and translator. She is best known for the collaborative work with her partner Per Wahlöö on a series of ten novels about the exploits of Martin Beck, a police detective in Stockholm...
- Per WahlööPer WahlööPer Fredrik Wahlöö was a Swedish author. He is perhaps best known for the collaborative work with his partner Maj Sjöwall on a series of ten novels about the exploits of Martin Beck, a police detective in Stockholm, published between 1965 and 1975...
- Author Henning MankellHenning MankellHenning Mankell is a Swedish crime writer, children's author, leftist activist and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most famous creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander.-Life and career:...
's Swedish detective character Kurt WallanderKurt WallanderKurt Wallander is a fictional character created by Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell. The protagonist of several mystery novels, set in and around the town of Ystad, 60 km south-east of the city of Malmö, in the southern province of Skåne...
. Both Sjöwall and WahlööSjöwall and WahlööMaj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, a common-law wife and husband team of detective writers from Sweden. Together they conceived and wrote a series of ten novels about the exploits of detectives from the special homicide commission of the national police in which the character of Martin Beck was the...
and Henning MankellHenning MankellHenning Mankell is a Swedish crime writer, children's author, leftist activist and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most famous creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander.-Life and career:...
are focussed on the social issues in the Swedish welfare state. Similar issues prevailed in the 1960s and 1970s of the Martin Beck character and in the 1990s of the Wallander character.
External links
- Martin Beck series on Internet Book List