A joint edit of the first three silent films about Švejk: The Good Soldier Švejk (1926, directed by Karel Lamač), Švejk at the Front (1926, directed by Karel Lamač) and Švejk in Russian Captivity (1926, directed by Svatopluk Innemann, based on the work by Karel Vaněk). The main role was played by the then very popular Karel Noll. The last silent sequel Švejk in Civilian (1927) exists separately, but the copy of the film is considerably damaged.
Helena is a 1924 German silent drama film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Edy Darclea, Vladimir Gajdarov and Albert Steinrück. The film was based on the poem the Iliad by Homer. It was released in two separate parts: The Rape of Helen and The Fall of Troy. It was produced by Bavaria Film at the Emelka Studios in Munich. The film was made on an epic scale with thousands of extras, and large sets which rivalled those of the larger Berlin-based UFA.
This light-hearted comedy operetta tells the story of a newly appointed high school professor who becomes an ideal target for pranks and jokes.
Lieutenant Lukáš was transferred to the marching battalion in České Budějovice together with Švejko. On the way, Švejk makes Lukáš uncomfortable with a bald superior, a passenger in civilian clothes, and then because of pulling the handbrake, he is removed from the train and brought to the station master. The fine for Švejk will be paid by one lucky man, for whom Švejk's stopping of the train catapulted his beloved woman directly into his arms. Švejk goes to Budějovice on foot. His journey is full of humorous incidents. After arriving at the barracks, the regiment with Švejk and Lukáš is soon sent to Hungary, where Lukáš has an adventure with Mrs. Kakonyová. Eventually, the unit including Švejk arrives all the way to the Russian front. (According to the period label.)
A Czechoslovakian comedy directed by Carl Lamac and starring himself Theodor Pistek & Anny Ondra.
One of the first Czechoslovak films to be shown abroad--a fantasy horror, filmed on the fully furnished premises of the Berlin film studio Am Zoo. The central role is portrayed by the “arrivee from darkness”, Ješek, who is awakened from a deathly sleep. The film represents unusual sparks of creative efforts and the ambitions of creative community around the director Jan S. Kolár, who was inspired by international trends and techniques.
A biographical story about significant Czech dramatist, writer and actor Josef Kajetán Tyl.
A Carl Lamac directed movie based on a novel by Karel Václav Rais.
Professor Grant signs a contract with Dr. Selin for the sale of his invention of cold light with the plans for his invention being kept in Grant's apartment. The negotiations are secretly heard by the illusionist Durk, who wants to seize the invention. A few days later Selín is found dead, killed by a light bulb filled with poisonous gas. Durk performs at the birthday party of Grant's daughter Anna and seizes the plans for the invention.
Father Vojtech (Czech: Páter Vojtěch) is a 1929 silent Czech romance film directed by Martin Frič.
Patriotic Austrian costume drama, about the martyr Medardus who opposed Napoleon's occupation of Vienna in 1809. The plot proceeds in a series of confrontations with Medardus, his mother and sister, the blind exiled Count of Valois, his ambitious daughter, and Napoleon himself (portrayed as a cool strategist), including several brief flashbacks.
This is a real curiosity; at best a reasonable film, but also a charming little gem. There is a story (in the line of "A Star is Born"), but this merely serves as an excuse, as it is more importantly a kind of moving encyclopedia of about 35 stars making their debut in a talkie (although some of them had already made one talkie), of the technical sound possibilities and of film making. Besides all that, it is entertaining and sometimes hilarious and it has fine one-liners that split my side. The film is also remarkable for making mock of typical German film genres (like the overly sweet romances involving the military), of too heavy acting and of film making in general. I have to mention this one: a short, hysterically funny parody of "Der blaue Engel". What this film in fact says is: do not take any film too seriously. (J. Steed)
After many years, three friends are to meet in Prague. The magician Marek was in America and, together with his nephew Tonny, they are bringing back their hard-earned money to their homeland. The factory owner Brejcha lives alone. His wife and daughter drove him to bankruptcy and abandoned him. The eternal student Netušil arrives from the countryside with his loving wife, the owner of a greengrocer's shop, and his daughter Anča. In the meantime, the creditors have completely evicted Brejcha's villa. Marek mentioned in a letter that he would like to marry his nephew to Brejcha's daughter. Little did he know, in order to help Brejcha, he comes up with a plan. His wife and daughter will become Brejcha's family and the money received from Marek will help the bankrupt factory owner pay off all his debts.
After a young man is arrested for a crime he didn't commit, the daughter of the local tavern owners must spring to the rescue.
A comedy of misunderstanding and a love square
An unmarried showgirl takes a handsome companion with her on a vacation, to the distress of others.
The first film treatment of the fate of the good soldier Švejk, a dog dealer from Prague, who is arrested after the Sarajevo assassination, psychiatrically examined and later called up to c. and k. army to fight for the emperor lord.
Painter Johnny Miller bets his friends he can find his house blindfolded. But he stumbles into a bandits' camp, and being mistaken for one of them, is sent to rob the villa of Frank Sellins, a banker, and his niece Lilly.
Illustration of the ballad of the same name by Karel Jaromír Erben.
A brave young woman falls in love with a mysterious stranger.
In Transcarpathia, Prince Laborets wields a divine ring that ensures his land’s peace and prosperity. Ambitious Hungarian Zoltan seizes the ring after defeating Laborets, unleashing centuries of oppression. Generations later, Prince Fedir Koryatovych leads a revolt to reclaim freedom and restore the ring’s legacy.
Dissolute Abel Beer, with the help of his debt collector friends - usurers, swindles a Prague Doctor Jakub Hlohovský out of a quiet house in Malá Strana. Jakub, familiar with the secrets and effects of various medicines, uses them to make himself look dead.
“And I say unto you, ask and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. This quote from the Gospel of Luke is read out loud by one of the characters in Tam na horách. It will manifest itself in the destinies of the two protagonists, in the story of an unmarried mother from a mountain village, who becomes a great opera singer and toast of the city salons, and in the story of her seducer, a successful painter. The fate of the two lovers offers a double perspective. One of the advertising slogans for Tam na horách was “The first Czech film of international production”, which helped to rise the audience’s expectations.
Mr. Ducháček runs the law firm of JUDr. Faukner in a peculiar but completely devoted manner, which manages the financial affairs of the Rispaldic family. The family members treat their lawyer Faukner with condescension, except for their daughter Julia, who secretly loves him. However, no one except Ducháček knows that the squandering family no longer has any money and that JUDr. Faukner is subsidizing it, because he is also secretly in love with Julia.
During a pogrom against Jews in a village, an innkeeper is killed, his daughter is put in a convent after being crucified, and her illegitimate child, who later grows up to be a student, is placed in the care of a guardian.
The village girl Žofka goes to work in Prague, where she is seduced by the reckless Rudolf Slaba. Rudolf is fired from his job for drunkenness and Žofka leaves him after the birth of her child. On the advice of an old beggar, she starts begging for a living, but is imprisoned, although she is innocent. After her release, she wants to drown herself with the child, but faints and then believes that the child has drowned. Mrs. Robová takes in the poor Žofka. After her death, Žofka inherits the money. With a guilty conscience, she returns to the village of Dubová, where she marries Jan Rokyta. However, the marriage is childless. The son of a landowner, Jaroslav Beneš, meets the charming Jitřenka in Prague. She is expecting a child with Jaroslav, but his parents prevent the wedding. Jaroslav's confidante Žofka learns from Jitřenka's parents that Jitřenka was found in a boat on the river, and recognizes her as her daughter. (Filmový přehled)