Han, hon och pengarna (1936) Review: A Rich Mess

If you have a soft spot for 1930s Swedish comedies where everyone speaks at double speed, this is worth a look. It is a perfect choice for a lazy Sunday, but if you can't stand old-fashioned slapstick, you will probably hate it.

The movie follows Göran, played by Håkan Westergren, who is honestly a bit of a disaster. He loses money gambling that he doesn't even own yet, which is a bold move even for a movie protagonist.

He has to pledge 50 shares in a publishing firm to cover his tracks. Then, in the most convenient timing ever, his uncle dies and leaves him a million and the actual company.

The plot moves so fast it almost forgets to explain why we should care about Göran's debts. It’s very much a *'don't think too hard about it'* kind of script.

Håkan Westergren has this nervous, twitchy energy that makes him look like he’s constantly looking for the nearest exit. It works for the character, I guess, but it's a lot to take in for 80 minutes.

The real reason to watch this is Thor Modéen. He shows up and the whole movie just feels bigger and more alive.

He has this specific way of puffing out his chest and looking confused that always makes me chuckle. Even when the jokes are a bit dusty, his timing is still sharp as a tack.

There is a scene in the publishing office where everyone is running around with papers. It feels like nobody in the room has ever actually worked in an office before.

It reminds me a little bit of the chaotic energy in Way Out West, just with more suits and less desert. The sets look very 'studio-ish' but that's part of the charm.

One weird thing—there is a background extra in the dinner scene who looks genuinely terrified of his soup. I couldn't stop watching him instead of the main actors.

The romance with Greta Tegnér is... well, it's there. They don't have a ton of chemistry, but in these movies, you just assume they'll end up together because the poster says so.

It’s a bit like Charley My Boy! where the guy is just digging a deeper hole for himself. The stakes never feel truly dangerous though, because the tone is so light.

I noticed the sound quality gets a bit fuzzy during the outdoor shots. You can tell they were struggling with the microphones back then.

The lighting in the final act is also incredibly bright. Like, everyone looks like they are standing inside a giant lightbulb.

It’s not a masterpiece of Swedish cinema or anything. It's just a silly story about a guy getting lucky when he really didn't deserve to.

If you like seeing how people dressed and joked in 1936 Stockholm, it’s a fun time capsule. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything 📽️.

The ending is very abrupt. One minute they are arguing, the next minute everyone is rich and happy and the screen says 'Slut.'

I wish we saw more of the actual publishing business, but I guess 'pengarna' (the money) was more interesting to the writers. 💰