Pippi on the Run

Hans Alfredson (who played Konrad the Peddler in this film) and his "Hasseåtage" comedy troupe partner Tage Danielsson were originally slated to play the policemen Kling and Klang in the Pippi Longstocking (1969) TV series.

The original Swedish version opens with Pippi riding astride her horse, Lilla Gubben, against a beautiful sunset, in slow motion. (The film's title is seen here.) A Western-style instrumental arrangement of the film's theme song, "Sommarsången" ("Summer Song"), permeates this scene. There is then a brief scene of Tommy and Annika entering Pippi's home, Villa Villekulla, with Pippi's pet monkey, Mr. Nilsson, in a small bed. Tommy and Annika then attempt to bake bread. Then, the opening credits continue. The same arrangement of "Sommarsången" as before now bursts into full gentle rhythm with soft bongo drums into a montage of Pippi riding Lilla Gubben at full speed in the sunset, some in real-time speed, others in slow-motion. (And occasionally, even two boxed-in shots over black, with some of the credits filling in the black spaces.) The opening credits then conclude with Pippi reaching her destination, Villa Villekulla.

There are two different versions of the opening credits in the US version:

• Just as in the original Swedish version, a shot of Pippi riding Lilla Gubben (her horse) against a beautiful sunset opens the film, accompanied by the sentimental cowboy-style instrumental arrangement of "Sommarsången" ("Summer Song," the film's theme song). We then cut to the scene of Tommy and Annika entering Villa Villekula, looking for Pippi, and only find Mr. Nilsson in bed. Tommy attempts to bake biscuits, while Annika helps him. Just then, the opening credits, over montage shots of Pippi riding on Lilla Gubben against the sunset, begin. In the Swedish version of the credits, the aforementioned arrangement of "Sommarsången" continues, in full rhythm with soft bongo percussions. In the US version, this track is replaced with an instrumental arrangement of the Pippi Longstocking theme song, "Här Kommer Pippi Långstrump" ("Here Comes Pippi Longstocking").
• The other version simply begins with the scene of Tommy and Annika entering Villa Villekula. The original credits are replaced with cute child-like drawings of Pippi Longstocking (the same drawings seen in the US version opening credits of Pippi Goes on Board (1969)), with the same instrumental arrangement of "Här Kommer Pippi Långstrump" as before.

Follows Pippi Longstocking (1969)