The Man on the Roof [Mannen på taket] *** (1976, Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt, Sven Wollter, Thomas Hellberg) – Classic Movie Review 11,084

Director Bo Widerberg’s 1976 Swedish film The Man on the Roof [Mannen pò Taket] starts with the brutal killing of a police inspector in a hospital in Stockholm that initiates a manhunt led by detective Martin Beck (Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt), which reveals accusations of police misconduct and a revenge motive, and culminates with the killer gunning down the police from a rooftop in central Stockholm.

The solid pulp-thriller premise makes a duller film than it should be thanks to the over-familiar plotting and characters. But writer/ director Bo Widerberg nevertheless brings some considerable style to his film, and notches up a good tally of suspense, exciting set pieces and food for thought.

Widerberg’s screenplay is based on Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöös’s novel The Abominable Man.

The main cast are Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt, Gunnel Wadner, Håkan Serner, Ingvar Hirdwall, Bellan Roos, Sven Wollter, and Thomas Hellberg.

The Man on the Roof [Mannen på taket] is directed by Bo Widerberg, runs 110 minutes, is made by Svensk Filmindustri, is written by Bo Widerberg, based on Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöös’s novel The Abominable Man, is shot in Eastmancolor by Odd Geir, is produced by Per Berglund and scored by Björn Jason Lindh.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,084

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