Prisoner on Bezděz Castle

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1932

Production year

1932

Premiere

1 July 1932

Runtime

81 min

Category

film

Genre

drama, historical

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Film state

lost film

Original title

Vězeň na Bezdězi

Czech title

Vězeň na Bezdězi

English title

Prisoner on Bezděz Castle

Synopsis

The army of Czech king Přemysl Otakar II on the right bank of the river Morava on the eve of the feast of St Rufus, 1278. The Czech and Moravian lords swear their allegiance to their leader the day before the battle with the German army of Rudolf of Habsburg. Although heavily outnumbered, Přemysl's army has the better of the enemy until betrayal by Milota z Dědic causes the Czech army to be defeated and the king is killed. Přemysl's son prince Wenceslas is still young and so Emperor Rudolf appoints margrave Otto of Brandenburg as ruler of the country. He imprisons Wenceslas in Bezděz castle. The country is marauded by Otto's mercenaries; there is famine and plague. The Czech lords try to free Wenceslas but Otto has the prisoner transferred to northern Germany. Wenceslas, poorly fed and clothed, is saved by his father's faithful servant, Dětřich Špaček of Kostelec. The Czech lords try to ransom Wenceslas with 35,000 pieces of silver they have amassed but Otto tricks them. Wenceslas is finally released by order of the emperor after five years in prison and, ill and emaciated, he returns to his homeland. (According to promotional material issued at the time the film was made.)

Note

The film materials are believed lost.

Cast

Petr Dmitrijevič Roščin

král český Přemysl Otakar II.

Pavel Alexejev

Herman z Bezdězu

V. Ch. Vladimírov

podkomoří Dětřich Špaček z Kostelce

Milli Czivišová

kralevic Václav

Theodor Pištěk

správce hradu rytíř z Wolfensteinu

Ada Pellová-Czivišová

královna Kunhuta

Jiří Hron

zbrojnoš Vítek, později sluha na Bezdězi

Karel Schleichert

Vítkův děd

Nataša Javorská

dívka Alenka

Jan W. Speerger

braniborský markrabě Ota V. Braniborský

P. Gorjanskij

Robert, správcův syn

Crew and creators

Screenstory

Karel Špelina

Screenplay

Karel Špelina

Director of Photography

Jan Stallich

Production Designer

Václav Kolář

Film Editor

Marie Bourová

Sound Designer

Josef Nečásek, Václav Kolář

Production Manager

Karel Špelina

Music

Music Composed by

Josef Stelibský

Production info

Original Title

Vězeň na Bezdězi

Czech Title

Vězeň na Bezdězi

English Title

Prisoner on Bezděz Castle

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Film state

lost film

Genre

drama, historical

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1932

Production Year

1932

Production specifications

date of censorship 05/1932 (kulturně-výchovný)

Premiere

premiere 1 July 1932 /suitable for youths/ (kino Passage /1 týden/, Praha)

Production

Dafa

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Dafa

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

81 min

Original length in metres

2 300 meters

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,19

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

Bulánek-Nečásek

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

without dialogue

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Intertitles languages

Czech

Opening/End credits languages

Czech