The Quiet American in Prague

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1977

Production year

1976—1977

Premiere

20 January 1978

Runtime

93 min

Category

film

Genre

drama

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Tichý Američan v Praze

Czech title

Tichý Američan v Praze

English title

The Quiet American in Prague

Summary

The events of February 1948, and a contemporary spying affair (allegedly inspired by true events) provide the basis for this 1977 motion picture drama, jointly directed by Štěpán Skalský and Josef Mach. A simple view of a complicated period revolves around the title character, scheming American diplomat Barton. He turns to blackmailing undesirable political opponents with the use of compromising photos. Employing his contacts at the interior ministry, Barton even attempts a coup d'état. The American’s cunning plan eventually fails when the working classes gain control under the leadership of the communist party… Although events in the film are clearly depicted through a heavy post “normalisation” era propagandistic lens, Tichý Američan v Praze (The Quiet American in Prague) is nonetheless regarded as a well-crafted film, whose appeal to audiences includes a strong cast led by Josef Langmiler and Polish actress Barbara Brylska.

Synopsis

In Prague of 1947 the political contest for power culminates. The opponents of growing communist influence hope in a coup supported by the Western countries. One of the spies is an American attaché Barton, a quiet and discreet man, who among others, initiates a robbery in Štěchovice archive carried out by an American army. The important documents hidden in the forests by withdrawing Germans are finally returned by the Americans; however the Gestapo agents' lists and other important materials are missing. Barton's Czech secretary Milena meets Jiří Háček, her great pre-war love. Both of them used to be members of an illegal resistance group Ztracenka that had been given away to Gestapo. Pavel Král, one of a few survivors, is determined to find out the traitor. Jiří starts to live with Milena but does not know she has been gouged on by Barton keeping her compromising photos proving her contacts with German officers. As an alleged journalist Milena gets secret information from executive army officers in turn for sex and alcohol. A newly established counterintelligence service at the Ministry of Interior is managed by captain Prokop. Pavel has found the traitor of Ztracenka - Milena. The Americans kill him with her help. Jiří is losing trust in Milena and starts to collaborate with Prokop. It is February 1948, the communists seize the power and the expected coup has not occurred. Jiří gets evidence of Milena's betrayal and breaks their relationship. The young woman commits suicide. On Prokop's request Jiří leaves the country together with the Americans.

Note

The film is based on true events of 1948.

Cast

Barbara Brylska

Voice by Libuše Švormová
sekretářka Milena Singrová

Josef Langmiler

americký kulturní atašé plukovník Charles Barton

Miroslav Zounar

rotmistr PhDr. Jiří Háček

Miroslav Moravec

kapitán Prokop, velitel kontrašpionážní skupiny ministerstva vnitra

Vladimír Ráž

major Brauer, velitel oblastní Bezpečnosti

Radovan Lukavský

Prokopův nadřízený

František Němec

odbojář Pavel Král

Svatopluk Beneš

plukovník Jaroslav Tampír

Jiří Holý

Erich Laube

Bořivoj Navrátil

americký kapitán Richards

Jiří Štěpnička

americký voják Urquart

Tomáš Sedláček

americký voják Fulton

Wilhelm Koch-Hooge

německý důstojník

Viktor Maurer

dr. Pichlík, zaměstnanec ministerstva vnitra

Hana Talpová

Ann, Bartonova manželka

Vilém Besser

vyšetřovatel

Oldřich Velen

vysoký důstojník MNO

Petr Skarke

brýlatý muž, Prokopův spolupracovník

Jiří Lír

novinář z Rudého práva

Josef Střecha

novinář ze Svobodného slova

Miroslav Částek

velitel americké skupiny

Daniela Krajná

dubl za Barbaru Brylskou

Jindra Kvardová

kuchařka u Bartona

Michal Malý

tlumočník

Jana Robenková

Tampírova žena

Zdeněk Směták

Pánek

Vladimír Navrátil

fotograf za zrcadlem

Vladimír Bičík

agent vydávající se za vyšetřovatele

Karel Engel

mlátička

Zdeněk Srstka

mlátička

Karel Sekera

poručík Kobylka

Václav Hrůza

československý důstojník

Jan Sieber

československý důstojník

Zdeněk Zámečník

československý důstojník

Jaroslav Wagner

strážný

Jiří Kosek

civilista

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Lada Vacková

Assistant Director

Jiří Koníček

Based on

Miroslav Hladký (Dirigent zákulisí – kniha)

Dramaturg

Zdeněk Dufek

Director of Photography

Josef Vaniš

Second Unit Photography

Václav Helliman

Camera Operator

Bohumil Vodička

Production Designer

Milan Nejedlý

Assistent Production Designer

Josef Kraus

Set Designer

Jiří Bžoch, Karel Kracík, Miloš Sršeň

Film Editor

Jiří Brožek

Assistant Film Editor

Eva Horázná, Eva Lackingerová

Sound Designer

Milan R. Novotný

Special Effects

Jiří Rumler

Production Manager

Jan Šuster

Unit Production Manager

Jaroslav Bouček, Rudolf Mos

Unit Production Manager

Miloslav Doležal

Consultant

František Kruml, plk. dr. M. Čáda, CSc.

Cooperation

Jitka Radová (klapka), Jiří Kučera (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Karel Svoboda

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)

Songs

Až ztichnou bílé skály

Song Composer Jan Korda
Writer of Lyrics František Korda
Singer sbor

Mám rád krásné děvče za řekou

Song Composer Jiří Voldán
Writer of Lyrics Jiří Voldán
Singer sbor

Production info

Original Title

Tichý Američan v Praze

Czech Title

Tichý Američan v Praze

English Title

The Quiet American in Prague

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1977

Production Year

1976—1977

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 12 October 1976
start of filming 15 November 1976
technical Screenplay approved 1 February 1977
end of filming 27 June 1977
projection approval 1 July 1977

Premiere

premiere 20 January 1978 /suitable for youths/

Studio

Hostivař

Creative Group

Dramaturgická skupina Miroslava Hladkého, Miroslav Hladký (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

93 min

Original length in metres

2 690 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,66

Colour

colour

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech, English

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Festival: 16. festival českých a slovenských filmů České Budějovice

1978
České Budějovice / Czechoslovakia