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12 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the all-time best Swedish action-movies, 30 January 2000
10/10
Author: fred-83 from Sweden

This film is still, 25 years later, probably one of the best action films ever made in Sweden. The almost documentary style of shooting, the superb naturalistic performances, gives the movie its immediacy and urgency (The editing of the helicopter sequence is absolutely superb) - the sense that this is actually happening, as opposed to the dreadful American actionmovie stylization that dominates Swedish film-making nowadays (Nolltolerans, Hassle-förgörarna, Hamilton, the list goes on). Swedish directors should take a long, hard look at this movie, and hopefully get a clue as to what works and makes a movie believable, instead of trying to emulate an American-type of movie-making.

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9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Video surprise of the year: realistic, engrossing, ranks with best American crime films of the 70's, 6 January 2002
9/10
Author: muddlyjames from Hemet, Ca. USA

Wow! I wasn't expecting this - a sober, detailed, semi-documentary study of police investigation and tactics from, of all people, Bo Widerberg?!

I am astonished to say that this is a remarkably realistic and believable film and, as another viewer suggested, should be viewed by current filmakers as a prime reference for how films in this genre can be successfully approached. This truly ranks with the best American crime/police films of the 70's (and soars above all their pale French imitations), though it may lack the visceral impact of DIRTY HARRY or a character as indelible as Popeye Doyle. But character development is not really the film's focus; it is getting the details right - which it does - of the methodical police investigation of a murder and then their forced tactical response to a sniper. In doing this Widerberg and co. avoid a number of cliches and dramatic pitfalls that have plagued other films and television dramas working this turf over the last 40 years. These include cowboy heroics by "rogue" cops, an over-reliance on police jargon (that supposedly lets us know we are "inside the world" of police work), allowing interpersonal melodramas between characters to blur the focus of the story (i.e. catching the criminal), and, of course, the now ritual abuse of explosions, car chases, and machine-gun editing (to supposedly heighten our excitement). There are also no cartoonish twisted-genius serial killers masterminding absurd plot twists. Here the killer is as unspectacular, and as understandable (although we never meet him) as the men pursuing him. It is also remarkable how characters casually enter into the film as they enter the investigation - no one emerges as THE hero - everyone just does his job. And Widerberg is so effective at focusing us on the quiet, "routine" details of how the case develops that when violence erupts in the later part of the film it is truly startling. The scenes of panicking crowds have an unsettling documentary feel. The police response to this threat is, again, restrained, unspectacular (all right the helicopter attack may be pushing it a bit) and intensely dramatic for just that reason (no bells or whistles required). When the criminal is finally stopped it is almost anti-climatic (no drawn-out battles to the death, no swelling music) and this is as it should be for the world remains the same, evil still exists, and the job goes on. Can't wait to see MAN FROM MALLORCA. 9 out of 10.

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7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Masterpiece!, 19 September 1999
10/10
Author: Renaldo Matlin from Oslo, Norway

Intense and extremely good police-thriller. Bo Widerberg is earlier responsible for beautiful romantic movies as well as gritty social drama, and suddenly he hits us *slam* right in the face with this movie. "The Man on the Roof" can only be described as the *best* action-thriller ever to come out of Scandinavia. I fear Ingmar Bergman has met his match! The film starts out as a meticulous, detailed account into the investigation of a brutal murder. The search for the killer is lead by homicide detective Martin Beck (surprisingly effectively portrayed by veteran comic actor Lindstedt) and his team in the Stockholm police. Then suddenly barely halfway through, the picture changes pace as it turns into a gripping action movie -and a convincing one at that. Helicopters, machineguns, you name it - and all in the downtown area of Stockholm! I wouldn't believe it had I not seen it for myself. "The Man on the Roof" is definitely as good as expected, and then some.

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6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Action with Intellectual Mind, 27 March 2001
Author: marquis de cinema from Boston, MA

Uncharacteristicly excellent crafted action film that takes a frank look at the horrors of Police corruption. Well thought out story with terrific action set pieces. A fine example of Swedish filmmaking in the 1970s. Its about an investigation into the murder of a high ranking Policeman who is found out was corrupt and sadistic. The murder sequence at the beginning is brutal and gory. Done with good scenes of Police procedural by Bo Widerberg.

Mannen Pa Taket/The Man on the Roof(1976) has something which many high Hollywood films of today do not have and that is brains. Carl Gustaf Lindstedt gives a fine performance as DT. Martin Beck. The climax is nail biting and realistic. The last act of Mannen Pa Taket(1976) also has its share of humor. The scenes involving a sniper in the final act might have influenced a similar scene in the opening moments of God Told Me To(1977). The Man on the Roof(1976) is a neglected action classic that should find its way on DVD someday.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the greatest, 28 August 2004
10/10
Author: Simon Sjödin from Östersund, Sweden

This is one of the greatest Swedish police movies ever made. Sure, it is a child of is time, the mid 70's, but is has something other movies lack: tension and a documentary feel.

Yes, it has a slow beginning. It doesn't have the mantra of modern movie makers: pace.

Modern movies, regardless of genre, are to often cut to hard. One scene too much is often removed. Not in this movie, though. It is something so rare as an action movie with a slow pace and actual police work.

One of Sweden's most famous comedy actors of all times plays Martin Beck: the late Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt. He's doing the greatest portrait of this disillusioned policeman ever. Gösta Ekman, Peter Haber and Walter Matthau were not even close.

Mannen på taket is a great movie, has great actors, and is a great time document. A must see in my opinion. If you can see past modern movie cliché heroes and big explosions that is. There is a reason that no one has done a remake of this movie. All other books with Martin Beck has been filmed countless of times, but not this one... (It's named Den vedervärdige mannen från Säffle in Swedish or The Abominable Man in English).

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the best Action/Crime films ever made!!!, 3 January 2002
10/10
Author: anton-6 from sweden

WOW!!! Before I saw this I was not expecting it to be so very good(just another cop-drama)but what i got was a masterpiece.Wideberg is not so famous international but in Sweden he counts as one of the best directors ever.First of all I would to say that technical this film is perfect.All the way from the masterful start to the un expected ending.

But not only that,the characters in this film are fantastic.And the acting is superb.It´s also famous because of it was the first real Action/crime film in Sweden and I still think that it is the best.A perfect film:Both very exciting and very realistic.5/5

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5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Superb., 13 February 2001
10/10
Author: Adam Frisch from London, England

This is probably the best film ever made in Sweden. It is unsurpassed in its effectiveness, from the performances, the 70's style semidocumentary storytelling and the editing. It owes a lot to the american masterpieces of that era like French Connection and The Seven-Ups. These types of gritty real police thrillers are a lost art, I wish someone would

reinvent them soon.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Skilled action based on a profound crime story, 11 January 2003
7/10
Author: Stefan Stenudd from Malmo, Sweden

This is director Widerberg's widely acclaimed first action film, based on a crime story by famous Swedish writers Sjowall/Wahloo. It's a complex story, involving both the frantic efforts to stop a man from shooting people from a roof top, and the bit by bit revelations of why he's doing it.

Widerberg could make movies, in this and other genres, and this time he was praised for accomplishing what many regarded as the first Swedish action film, which did not look like high school work, even in an international comparison.

A lot of effort was put into it, involving large parts of Stockholm city at the time, and countless citizens volunteering as extras. It got to be much larger than the movie team had anticipated, but Widerberg managed to be creative about that chaotic situation, giving the film a sense of documentary, of not being fiction at all. Of course that heightened the suspense, and made its social message more urgent.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Best Swedish triller so far!, 10 December 2001
10/10
Author: Joel Burman from Stockholm, Sweden

This movie by Bo Widerberg is the peak performance in his career as I see it. It mixes realism with outstanding action sequences that still today haven't been done this good in Sweden. I haven't seen Mannen pa mallorca by Widerberg but that might be the one that ties this film. My favourite scene is probably when Martin Beck is on stakeout in an apartment where he tries to spot the killer. The scene is very well made and the old lady who owns the apartment is mostly concerned that Martin drinks his coffe and eat his cookies. It's pure magic. The best actor in this movie is Hakan Serner in a minor role, he portray the dull everyday life perfectly and it is very easy to imagine that this guy has been in the force way to long. A must see!

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Brutal, realistic and exciting thriller!, 10 March 2004
Author: von Krolock from Stockholm, Sweden



Bo Widerberg made many different and exciting films. This one, along with "Mannen från Mallorca", is my favorite. It opens slowly but unnervingly before erupting with a very gory and terrifying murder 5 minutes into the story. After that, the film continues on a very slow pace(although it never gets boring) until the last half hour which consists of very well-done, but not standard, police-action. The film oozes of realism, from everything to small talk between father and daughter to attempts to stop a crazy gun man. The best swedish thriller ever, and damn good even by international standards.

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