The Greeneyed Elephant
A 1960 Danish body-swap comedy based on Thorne Smith's novel.
The Greeneyed Elephant (Danish: *Elefanter på loftet*) is a 1960 Danish body-swap comedy. The directors were Peter Guildbrassen and Sidney W. Pink. The lead actors are Naura Hayden and Delphi Lawrence, with Dirch Passer in a supporting role—though his name was given top billing in promotional materials. The story follows two aspiring actresses who accidentally use an ancient Aztec elephant sculpture to exchange bodies, combining their inner and outer qualities to help one of them win a desired role. The film adapts Thorne Smith’s 1931 novel *Turnabout*. Originally a television pilot, it was expanded into a feature film. The cast also includes Ove Sprogøe, Bjørn Watt-Boolsen, Kirsten Passer, Phil Baker, Avi Sagild, Grethe Sønck, Peer Guldbrandsen (uncredited as director and narrator), and Gitte Müller (uncredited as script girl). The Greeneyed Elephant is considered Denmark’s example of the body-swap trope. Unlike the other two films Pink made in Denmark, it contains no erotic content and received very poor reviews from Danish critics.
- title
- The Greeneyed Elephant
- year
- 1960
- country
- Denmark
- directors
- Peter Guildbrassen, Sidney W. Pink
- genre
- body-swap comedy
- based_on
- Turnabout (1931) by Thorne Smith
- notable_cast
- Dirch Passer, Naura Hayden, Delphi Lawrence
Lore & Background
The Greeneyed Elephant was produced as a TV pilot that later became a feature film. Its premise involves two aspiring actresses who accidentally use an ancient Aztec elephant sculpture to switch bodies, combining their inner and outer talents to land a coveted role. The film is notable for being a Danish example of the body-swapping trope.
Reader's Guide
The Greeneyed Elephant is significant as the Danish example of the body-swapping trope in cinema. It was one of three films made by Sidney W. Pink in Denmark, and like the others, it offered no erotic content. The film was very poorly received by Danish critics. Dirch Passer, though playing a smaller role, was top-billed in the marketing. The film also connects to Reptilicus, another Pink-written film starring Passer.
Did You Know?
- The film is a TV pilot that became a feature film.
- It is based on the novel Turnabout (1931) by Thorne Smith.
- Dirch Passer played a smaller role but was top-billed in marketing.
- The film was very poorly received by Danish critics.
More in Films about body swapping 1-24
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