Colonel Švec

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1929

Production year

1929

Premiere

14 February 1930

Runtime

144 min

Category

film

Genre

drama, war

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Plukovník Švec

Czech title

Plukovník Švec

English title

Colonel Švec

Synopsis

The Czechoslovak legion in Russia have been guaranteed a free passage by the Bolshevik government through to Vladivostok. The Czechoslovak unit receive the news by wire that they are to be disarmed, divided up and put in the Red Army. At this news the division takes up its weapons, lieutenant Švec takes over command with the support of his men and, thus armed, they stand up against the Soviets. Under the leadership of a new commander, the Czechoslovaks press on through the assiduous resistance of the Bolsheviks claiming victory after victory. However, after so many battles they are tired and soon lose heart with the feeling that they are on their own and that the world knows nothing about them. Irresponsible demagogues among their numbers propagate the defeatist mood and they manage even to sew the seed of doubt in the men against their commander. Colonel Švec, in order to save his army and his honour, takes his own life and shoots himself. This sacrifice is not in vain for the Czechoslovaks are filled with renewed strength and they finally push through the whole of Siberia to Vladivostok in order to return to their homeland.

Cast

Bedřich Karen

plukovník Švec

Otto Zahrádka

major Kaluža

Fred Bulín

poručík Trojan

František Roland

buřič Martyška

Josef Rovenský

Kodl, Švecův vojenský sluha

Zdena Kavková

Trojanova láska Nataša

Káťa Inglerová-Černá

kněžna Suvarovskaja, matka Nataši

Mimi Erbenová

Švecova láska z mládí Maki

L. H. Struna

vojín Perný

Miloš Hajský

vojín Janda

Jaro Hykman

vojín Jurajčík

Josef Šnobl

vojín Líbrman

Josef Linhart (2)

vojín Václav Hofírek

Irena Ardenová

Perného dívka Marie Ivanovna

M. Lisunov

ruský generál

Karel Fiala

kazaňský starosta

Jaroslav Marvan

srbský major Blagotič

Stanislav Neumann

legionář u vlaku

Luigi Hofman

legionář

Přemysl Pražský

sovětský komisař Kurajev

Felix Kühne

sovětský komisař Liebersohn

Robert Ford

sovětský komisař Minikin

Josef Neuberg

sovětský komisař Aralov

Jan Sviták

sovětský důstojník

Crew and creators

Assistant Director

František Jerhot, Rovinskij

Based on

Rudolf Medek (Plukovník Švec – divadelní hra), Rudolf Medek (Mohutný sen – román /čtvrtá část románové kroniky Anabaze/), Rudolf Medek (Za svobodu – kniha)

Director of Photography

Bohumil Kolátor

Production Designer

Hans Ledersteger, Alois Mecera

Special Effects

František Poneš (triky a modely)

Consultant

štábní kapitán Turek (historie), Jindra Vlček

Cooperation

Willy Ströminger (fotograf)

Production info

Original Title

Plukovník Švec

Czech Title

Plukovník Švec

English Title

Colonel Švec

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama, war

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1929

Production Year

1929

Production specifications

date of censorship 13 February 1930 (kulturně-výchovný)

Premiere

premiere 14 February 1930 /suitable for youths/ (kino Fénix /9 týdnů/, Praha)

Production

Oceanfilm

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Oceanfilm

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

144 min

Original length in metres

4 110 meters

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,33

Colour

black & white

Sound

silent

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

without dialogue

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Intertitles languages

Czech

Opening/End credits languages

Czech