Colonel Švec
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1929Production year
1929Premiere
14 February 1930Runtime
144 minDirector
Svatopluk InnemannCategory
filmGenre
drama, warTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Plukovník ŠvecCzech title
Plukovník ŠvecEnglish title
Colonel ŠvecSynopsis
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.
Note
At some screenings in cinemas in and outside Prague, emcee and ballad-singer Josef Waltner recited the poem "The Oath" by Rudolf Medek as a melodramatic introduction to the film and sang the song "Brothers from Siberia" during the intermission.
Photos
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
Jindřich Lhoták
pobočník
Karel Fiala
kazaňský starosta
Jaroslav Marvan
srbský major Blagotič
Stanislav Neumann
legionář u vlaku
Luigi Hofman
legionář
F. X. Mlejnek
kuchař
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
Director
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)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Film Editor
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)
date of censorship 04/1935 (kulturně-výchovný; konec povolení k promítání 1940)
Premiere
gala premiere 13 February 1930 (kino Fénix, Praha)
premiere 14 February 1930 /suitable for youths/ (kino Fénix /9 týdnů/, Praha)
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
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
