A Man There Was (Terje Vigen)

A nitrate copy of "A Man There Was" was found in 2004.

A digital restauration was done with parts from a dupe neg.

The existing Norwegian title cards are from that era as well.

The film's original tint and color has been recreated.

ACT I

There lived a remarkably grizzled man on the uttermost, barren isle.

He never harmed neither man nor child, whether by land or sea.

His eyes could flash, when storms approached.

Let me tell you about Terje from beginning to end.

On land he never found peace.

No. Better to live on the mighty, billowing sea.

In autumn, when the grey-goose flew south, they crossed paths.

It felt like a weight on the sailor's shoulders.

They left behind a world of light, and faced the winter so black.

They anchored and his shipmates went off for a dance and a rouse.

He gave them a wistful glance, as he stood by his cabin door.

He peeped through the curtains, white and neat.

His wife sat there spinning, and at her feet

in a cradle lay a baby, rosy and plump.

It's said, from that moment, Terje turned sober.

He sang the merriest of songs with little Anna in his arms

as she pulled at his brown hair.

Time flew and soon there was a time of war - in 1809.

Still to this day, old tales tell of the hardship years.

Harbors were closed by English ships, and crops failed inland.

The poor people starved, the wealthy went short.

Two brawny arms were no match for disease and death.

Terje sat for a day or two.

Then he was rid of his sorrow.

A friend he remembered, old and true - the big, billowing sea.

The lightest skiff of all he took, for his trip to Skagen.

Sail and mast he left behind, thinking they were no help.

When the winds had abated, Terje rowed for wife and child

over the sea in an open boat.

The Jutland reef might be hard to get by

but more so the English blockade. They had eyes like an eagle.

To be continued.

A MAN THERE WAS ACT II

Fladstrand he reached safe and sound, and gathered his cargo.

He had the salvation, but it was his wife and child that mattered.

Day four, at sunrise, he spotted some land.

He was home!

But then, the words from his mouth froze!

The reef is called "The Gosling", east of Homborgsund.

From the prow the officer yelled "Stop!"

He held an oar which he swung through the bottom of the skiff!

"Furthest inland, on the stony shores

sits my wife at the cabin door, waiting for bread for our child."

He dove and swam, and dove again.

In two feet of water, the precious cargo sank.

They fished him out of the sea, he was taken on board.

He bought with tears, they sold him smiles.

Terje turned silent, it was done. The sorrow he made his own.

He sat in prison for many years - some say as many as five.