The Stolen Battle
Country
Czechoslovakia, German Democratic RepublicCopyright
1972Production year
1971—1972Premiere
14 July 1972Runtime
93 minDirector
Erwin StrankaCategory
filmGenre
historical, comedyTypology
featurelongOriginal title
Ukradená bitvaCzech title
Ukradená bitvaEnglish title
The Stolen BattleParallel Title
Die Gestohlene SchlachtWorking Title
KäsebierSummary
Erwin Stranka predominantly directed films in the former East Germany, although he was born in the Czech town of Kadaň and studied at Prague’s FAMU film school. In 1972, Stranka wrote and directed this historical comedy that resulted from a Czech-East German coproduction – the Czech-dubbed version features the voice of Ludvík Žáček. The story is set during the time of the 18th century Seven Years’ War. Prussian King Frederick II (Herwart Grosse) and the thief Käsebier (Manfred Krug) serve as the film’s two main protagonists. The seasoned crook convinces the Prussian leader to use his troops to help force open the gates of the besieged city of Prague. But Käsebier ultimately joins forces with the defenders of the city, led by Maria Theresa’s brother-in-law Karel Lotrinský (Josef Kemr) and his wife Anna Marie (Helena Růžičková). This entertaining film, which naturally ignores historical authenticity in favour of goofball fun, is modelled on French and Italian historical comedies.
Synopsis
It is the beginning of the18th century and two boys are born. One in the family of a tailor in Halle, the other becomes the Prussian king Friedrich II. Veliký (Frederick II the Great). Andreas Christian Käsebier takes no pleasure in being a tailor and as a far-famed thief is imprisoned for life. At the same time, the already famous commander Frederick camps with his army at the gates of Prague and in vain tries to seize the city. After six weeks of the battle, he therefore sends to prison for Käsebier and orders him to open the city gates. The thief is just changing into the guard's uniform and is forging his release papers, but accepts the offer anyhow. Not far from Prague, the handsome and courageous Käsebier manages to stop runaway horses and meets a Czech girl, Katka, who together with her friends uses a secret passage to smuggle food into the starving city. For opening the city gates, the king has promised freedom to the thief, but plans to take his promise back. When Käsebier by chance finds out about the false promise, he decides to help the city defenders. He arranges with the Duke Lotrinský (of Lorraine) to open the gates for the Prussians and close it again behind them. Käsebier, however, decides upon a different solution. He gets Frederick's aide-de camps called Krusemark drunk and rewrites the commands for the army. The Prussian army, according to these commands, must stay put after the city gates open. During the morning attack the army does not move. Both commanders plan their revenge on Käsebier. He is caught and is to be executed, but Katka saves him by blowing up the gunpowder storage. The Prussians are marching off and the careless Käsebier is travelling with them in the last army carriage.
Note
The première in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) on the 1st of July 1972.
Photos
Cast
Manfred Krug
zloděj Andreas Christian Käsebier
Herwart Grosse
pruský král Friedrich II. Veliký
Marie Málková
Katka
Jaroslav Satoranský
Václav
Josef Kemr
Karel Alexandr Lotrinský
Helena Růžičková
Marie Anna Habsburská, Karlova manželka/okradená žena v kostele
Rolf Hoppe
adjutant Josef Barody
Lubomír Kostelka
grenadýr Černý
Miloš Nesvadba
grenadýr Nový
Axel Triebel
generál von Schulze
Günter Rüger
Fleucher
Günter Junghans
Kreucher
Karel Augusta
hejtman Armin von Glasenapp
Holger Mahlich
pobočník Adolar von Krusemark
Johannes Wieke
generál von Zieten
František Husák
Pepík
Jaroslav Moučka
Miloš
Josef Langmiler
von Aremberg
Hans Klering
Wegelin
Fred Kötteritzsch
generál von Itzenblitz
František Velecký
generá baron de la Motte
Hannjo Hasse
generál von Seydlitz
Vladimír Štros
von Beck
Horst Kube
Käsebierův otec
Gudrun Wendler
Käsebierova matka
Theresia Wider
Friedrichova matka
Vladimír Dlouhý
Käsebier jako dítě
Jindřich Narenta
rychtář
František Hruška
přísedící
František Kubíček
přísedící
Josef Burda
Hladík
Pavel Jiras
Sachsen
Jaroslav Čejka
balet
Jiřina Kottová
balet
Jochen Diestelmann
vojenský kaplan
Jutta Dolinski
tanečnice
Sighild Pahl
tanečnice
Zdena Hamplová
dubl za Marii Málkovou
Commentary
Dubbing
Vilém Besser
hlas Käsebiera
Jiří Holý
hlas krále
Zita Kabátová
hlas Karlovy manželky
Čestmír Řanda
hlas Barodyho
Lubor Tokoš
hlas generála von Schulze
Miloš Zavřel
hlas Fleuchera
Václav Kaňkovský
hlas Kreuchera
Josef Vinklář
hlas pobočníka
Ivo Gübel
hlas generála von Zietena
František Němec
hlas Pepíka
Karel Houska
hlas generála von Itzenblitze
Oldřich Lukeš
hlas generála von Seydlitze
Karel Beníško
hlas vojenského kaplana
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Erich Böbel
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Script Editor
Camera
Camera Operator
Detlef Hertelt
Production Designer
Set Designer
Jaroslav Česal, Jaroslav Chytrý, Karel Kočí, Herbert Rother
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Heinz Fröhlich, Rudolf Mos, Renée Lavecká
Unit Production Manager
Ladislav Herz
Consultant
Cooperation
Zuzana Folkertová, Ladislava Klusáčková
Direction of Czech version
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Music Conducted by
František Belfín (FISYO)
Songs
Kdo má pořád slunce nad hlavou
Songwriter
Zdeněk Liška (Kdo má pořád slunce nad hlavou)
Singer
Josef Zíma (Kdo má pořád slunce nad hlavou), Kühnův smíšený sbor (Kdo má pořád slunce nad hlavou)
Choreographer
Ursula Dathe-Brill
Production info
Original Title
Ukradená bitva
English Title
The Stolen Battle
Working Title
Käsebier
Parallel Title
Die Gestohlene Schlacht
Category
film
Typology
feature
Genre
historical, comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic
Copyright
1972
Production Year
1971—1972
Premiere
14 July 1972
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
Technical info
Lenght
long
Runtime
93 min
Versions
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 23. filmový festival pracujících – červen ´72
1972
43 měst / Czechoslovakia
Manfred Krug