The Man Who Built the Cathedral
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1919Production year
1919Premiere
5 March 1920Runtime
39 minCategory
filmGenre
drama, historicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionmediumOriginal title
Stavitel chrámuCzech title
Stavitel chrámuEnglish title
The Man Who Built the CathedralSummary
Film The Man Who Built the Cathedral is an adaptation of legends about the architect Petr Parléř, who was commissioned by Charles IV to build a Gothic temple in Prague, a work that went beyond possibilities of architecture at the time. One of the first Czechoslovak narrative films explores human ambition, doubt, and envy in an archetypal Faustian tale.
Synopsis
The story is an adaptation of a Prague legend about Petr Parléř, architect to Charles IV who was entrusted with the task of building a Gothic cathedral in Prague, a magnificent example of the architecture of the time. Petr arrives at Karlštejn castle to submit his construction project to the king. After its approval, he starts his courageous task. The closer the day draws near on which the support beams are to be taken down, the more jealous other builders become and they try to sabotage his work. News spreads among his workers that the cathedral is the work of the Devil and that it will collapse. The workers, out of fear, refuse to take down the wooden construction supporting the cathedral. Petr himself is scared and has his own doubts because he does indeed meet with the Devil who promises him help but forces him to burn down the scaffolding. Petr flees the city from the possible consequences. The building, however, remains standing and the people search for their architect to tell him the good news. Petr, fleeing from the crowds comes to the edge of a precipice. The Devil throws him down and receives his soul as reward.
Note
A unique film in which Jakub Seifert plays his one and only film role. The film was successfully shown in France with the title La Cathédrale. Working shots of crowd scenes from the film appear in How the films were made in our country (compiled by Bohumil Veselý, 1954).
Photos
Cast
Jakub Seifert
císař římský a král český Karel IV.
Rudolf Deyl st.
stavitel Petr
Karel Kolár
kameník
Eva Vrchlická
Alena, kameníkova dcera
Jaroslav Hurt
první stavitel/ďábel
Florentin Steinsberg
druhý stavitel
Karel Váňa
třetí stavitel/druhý kněz
Vladimír Šrámek
zpovědník císaře a krále Karla IV.
Milada Zázvorková
páže císaře a krále Karla IV.
Rudolf Deyl ml.
dítě
členové sokolských jednot
lid/kameníci/mniši/cechy
Crew and creators
Director
Based on
anonym (pověst ze XIV. století)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Cooperation
Emil Fafek (fotograf)
Production info
Original Title
Stavitel chrámu
Czech Title
Stavitel chrámu
English Title
The Man Who Built the Cathedral
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama, historical
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1919
Production Year
1919
Production specifications
date of censorship 1920
date of censorship 5 October 1933 (konec povolení k promítání 5. 10. 1938)
projection approval 1963
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1991
Premiere
premiere 5 March 1920 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Světozor /2 týdny/, Praha)
renewed premiere 1 October 1963 /unsuitable for youths/ (Filmové kluby)
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Bratři Deglové (původní 1920), Ústřední půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1963)
Technical info
Duration typology
medium length film
Duration in minutes
39 min
Original length in metres
1 115 meters
Distribution carrier
35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,33
Colour
tinting, black & white
Sound
silent
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
without dialogue
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Intertitles languages
Czech
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
