Elverhøj (The Elf Hill), originally composed and staged in 1828, is Denmark's signature theatrical drama, having never lost its initial popularity. The music by Kuhlau is broadly admired and considered thoroughly brilliant. The Danish lyrics by Heiberg are very poetic and beautiful.
To attempt a fully scored film adaptation, as was done in 1939, was a daring, ambitious and impressive undertaking. Part of the reason it doesn't entirely work is the limitations of the production values that were possible in 1939. The score is a bit shrill and fast, perhaps in an ill-advised bid to stay within the abominably short 90 minute run-time. The ballet girls who enact the elves sweep across the landscape in a transparent visual effects sequence that reminds me very much of the green CGI armies of the dead on LOTR: The Return of the King! Funny to consider how fake it looked both in 1939 and in 2003!
The characters and the acting never transcend caricature, and the "poetic" archaic speech patterns are somewhat fascinating, but perhaps more trouble than they're worth. But, we do get a glimpse of the grandeur inherent in the story and music, and to me it never got boring. The historical significance also counts for something. I will probably never realize my dream of seeing a big-budget new film adaptation of this drama, but in some way this film lets me continue that fantasy.
I need to study the original libretto more closely, but this film certainly left one or two plot-lines dangling, such as; what was the reaction of the Elf King? Why could Christian IV cross into the Elf King's realm with impunity? Seems like the whole elf dimension of the story was excised. Or maybe the budget just never allowed them to do the full story. Well, it was an interesting watch and I don't regret buying the DVD. If you're a huge fan of this drama and music, seeing it will be a relevant experience for you.
