Ud i den kolde sne: A Taxi Driver and a Messy Inheritance

Should you bother?

If you like black-and-white comedies that feel like a warm hug from your great-grandfather, you might dig Ud i den kolde sne. It is not exactly high art, and if you hate theatrical dialogue where everyone projects to the back row of a theater, you will probably want to turn it off within ten minutes. But for fans of classic Danish cinema, it is a decent enough way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ud i den kolde sne (1934) through its definitive frames.

The whole thing kicks off with Basse, who is just your standard, overly cheerful taxi driver. He ends up stuck in the middle of a family drama involving a baroness and some poor guy named Povl who has just been hit with bad news about his inheritance. It is classic stuff, really.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ud i den kolde sne (1934) through its definitive frames.

Odd moments and things I noticed

• The pacing is erratic. One minute they are having a calm chat in a carriage, the next, everyone is sprinting through emotional revelations like their lives depend on it.
• The spiritist plot point feels like it was thrown in just to make things complicated. It’s barely explained, but hey, it moves the plot along.
• I spent way too much time looking at the background extras. Some of them look like they are just waiting for their lunch break rather than reacting to the scene.
• There is a distinct lack of tension whenever the money issues come up. You just know these guys are going to figure it out because that is how these movies work.

There is a lot of that theatrical energy that reminds me of A Rich Man's Darling. It is that same kind of breezy, slightly stagey vibe where the stakes feel personal but never truly dangerous. You aren't watching this for a life-changing experience. You are watching it for the costumes and the way people used to talk in movies.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ud i den kolde sne (1934) through its definitive frames.

The bond between Basse and Povl is probably the only reason to stick around. It is a bit sugary, sure. But there is something genuine in how they help each other out while everyone else is busy being dramatic about estates and letters. Sometimes the movie stops making sense for a second, but then they just keep driving the taxi, and you forget the plot hole existed.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ud i den kolde sne (1934) through its definitive frames.

It’s not quite as sharp as other era-appropriate films like Not So Quiet, but it has its own weird, cozy charm. Don't go in expecting a masterpiece. Just take it for what it is: a slightly dusty, very earnest little story about a taxi driver who probably should have minded his own business. 🚕❄️

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ud i den kolde sne (1934) through its definitive frames.