Jan Werich Movies
- 1967
This lugubrious spy yarn finds Philip Scott (Stephen Boyd) posing as a toy manufacturer to hide his real purpose in life. He and his faithful operative Harris (Michael Redgrave) battle the evil Smith (Leo McKern) in Austria, England and West Germany. Toni Peters (Camilla Sparv) is the love interest in Philip's life, which is in constant danger from shadowy spies and double agents. The low-key direction ends up having no key to unlock anyone's imagination, but there's nothing inspiring about much of anything in this feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Boyd, Camilla Sparv, (more)
- 1967
Adapted from the novel by C. Virgil Gheorghiu, this satirical concentration-camp drama from Turkish-born French director Henri Verneuil stars Anthony Quinn as Johann Moritz, a Romanian peasant who experiences the horrors of World War II when the Nazis invade his country. Because local police chief Dobresco (Gregoire Aslan) is anamorous towards Moritz's wife Suzanna (Virna Lisi), he has the lowly fieldhand falsely labeled a Jew and sent to a work camp. Moritz's troubles continue to mount, as his wife is threatened with losing their property unless she divorces him. Also starring Michael Redgrave, La Vingt-cinquième heure is also known as The 25th Hour, though it should not be confused with and bears no resemblance to the 2002 Spike Lee film of the same name. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Virna Lisi, (more)
- 1961
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen was Czechoslovakian special-effect master Karel Zeman's follow-up to The Fabulous World of Jules Verne (60). Using Gustav Dore paintings as backdrops, Zeman (by way of 18th century satirist Rudolf Raspe) recounts the many mendacious adventures of the boastful Baron (Milos Kopecky). The film opens on the surface of the moon, where a modern-day cosmonaut confronts both Munchausen and another legendary pioneer space traveller, Cyrano de Bergerac. The cosmonaut then joins the Baron for further highlight suspect escapades. Combining live action, stop-motion animation and deliberately unreal backgrounds, The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (original title: Baron Prasil) is a wonderful bouquet to the spirit of imagination--or "the spirit of man", as the cosmonaut puts it. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jana Brejchova, Rudolf Jelinek, (more)
- 1951
The Czechoslovakian The Emperor and the Golem is actually a "double feature." For American distribution purposes, two Czech productions, The Emperor's Baker and The Baker's Emperor, have been re-edited and spliced together into a single 110 minute feature. Jan Werich stars as a humble baker who happens to be the exact double of a powerful European emperor. The two men decide to switch identities, and have a wonderful time indulging in their respective new lifestyles. The fairy-tale costume designs were handled by famed Czech animator Jiri Trnka. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jan Werich, Marie Vasova, (more)
- 1936
Filmed in Czechoslovakia, this French-language adaptation of the oft-filmed Jewish folk tale The Golem was one of the most expensive productions ever made in that country. The story, which some have cited as a precursor to Frankenstein, is set in Prague's Jewish Ghetto. Fearing an anti-Semitic pogrom at the hands of Emperor Rudolf (Harry Baur), Rabbi Jacob (Charles Dorat) magically brings a statue to life to protect his people from harm. Known as "Die Golem," the living statue (Ferdinand Hart) does indeed save the Jews from destruction, but in so doing becomes a creature of destruction itself -- until it is tamed by the one person who does not fear him. The American release print of The Golem retained most of its spectacle, but several of the more bloodcurdling scenes -- including a lengthy torture-chamber episode -- were removed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Germaine Aussey, Jany Holt, (more)
