Beg to Report

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1957

Production year

1957

Premiere

3 January 1958

Runtime

92 min

Category

film

Genre

anti-war, comedy, satire, war

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Poslušně hlásím

Second title

Že jsem opět zde!

Czech title

Poslušně hlásím

English title

Beg to Report

English second title

That I am Here Again!

English parallel title

Beg to Report, Sir

Working title

Dobrý voják Švejk II.

Summary

In 1956, director Karel Steklý filmed an adaptation of the classic Jaroslav Hašek novel Dobrý voják Švejk (The Good Soldier Švejk). A year later, this was followed by a sequel, in which Rudolf Hrušínský once again excels in the iconic lead role. This time, the indomitable hero – Josef Švejk – is up in arms over the absurd machinery of the Austro-Hungarian army. He then gets lost during a train journey, leading to some colourful adventures culminating in the city of České Budějovice. Ultimately, however, Švejk rejoins the front and his superior officer – First Lieutenant Lukáš (Svatopluk Beneš). Even in the heat of battle, Švejk fails to lose his optimistic take on life, refined dimwittedness and ability to contrive the most curious scenes of confusion and chaos. Unlike in the written work, the protagonist also takes on board the spirit of the communist-era 1950s, becoming a jovial “man of the people” in the process. Steklý’s superbly cast film has risen to become a timeless classic, exuding style, elegance, and also carrying an anti-war message, which managed to sneak out even in the repressive climate of the time.

Synopsis

Lieutenant Lukáš travels by train to České Budějovice with his batman Švejk. The kind-hearted but over-talkative Švejk causes a delicate situation when he offends a bald man, in reality the major general. He is told to leave the compartment and accidently pulls on the emergency chord along with the guard. Švejk is thrown off the train at Tábor where the station master is to decide upon his punishment. The compassionate man pays the soldier's fine and also gives him money for another ticket as the train to Budějovice has already left. Švejk, who drinks his way through the money, has to go there on foot. He loses his way and is arrested as a Russian spy in Putim. Meanwhile, Lukáš is assigned another batman, the gluttonous Baloun. Švejk finally arrives at his destination and is given the job of orderly for the march company. The soldiers leave for the front. When they arrive in a small town the unpopular Lieutenant Dub warns the soldiers of the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases but it is he whom Švejk has to collect from the brothel in a totally drunken state. Švejk looks for somewhere for the soldiers to sleep and, by a lake, he finds a Russian uniform left on the bank by a bathing soldier, which he puts on. Only great fortune saves him from punishment by death for high treason. Švejk's division comes under heavy fire. When the firing dies down, a smiling Švejk emerges from a hole made by a grenade.

Note

For part one, see The Good Soldier Švejk.

Cast

Rudolf Hrušínský

vojín Josef Švejk

Svatopluk Beneš

nadporučík Jindřich Lukáš

Miloš Nedbal

generálmajor von Schwarzburg

Jaroslav Marvan

Flanderka, četnický strážmistr v Putimi

Fanda Mrázek

četnický závodčí v Putimi

Jaroslav Vojta

starý ovčák

Alois Dvorský

starý tulák

Jana Kovaříková

bába Pejzlarka

František Šlégr

obrst Schröder

Otto Hradecký

hejtman Ságner

Jarka Pižla

obecní blázen Pepek Vyskoč

Vladimír Řepa

četnický rytmistr König

Arna Pekárková

babička v Putimi

Miloš Patočka

poručík nádražní kontroly v Táboře

Vlastimil Brodský

maďarský infanterista

Josef Bartůněk

muž platící za Švejka pokutu

Václav Trégl

průvodčí ve vlaku

Miloš Nesvadba

kadet Biegler

Josef Hlinomaz

feldvébl Vaněk

Milan Neděla

pucflek Baloun

Eman Fiala

kuchař Jurajda

Miloslav Homola

Kunert, Dubův pucflek

Martin Růžek

hejtman Tayerle

Ota Sklenčka

důstojník v zajateckém táboře major Wolf

Bedřich Vrbský

generál Fink von Finkenstein

František Vnouček

major auditor

Antonín Šůra

Rampa, četník v Putimi

Věra Ferbasová

dáma v bordelu v Sanoku

Jiřina Steimarová

dáma v bordelu v Sanoku

Rudolf Princ

majitel bordelu v Sanoku

Ljuba Hermanová

Dubova prostitutka v Sanoku

Jarmila Švabíková

žena v bílém kabátu a černém klobouku v Táboře

Josef Příhoda

železničář hlásící vlaky v Táboře

Jan Skopeček

Palánek, kaprál v Táboře

Ladislav Krečmer

farář v Putimi

Milan Mach

důstojník ve vlaku

Jindřich Narenta

důstojník ve vlaku

Zdeněk Kutil

poddůstojník u soudu

Oldřich Dvorský

železničář

František Marek

přednosta stanice v Táboře

Stanislav Langer

důstojník u soudu

Zdeněk Martínek

vojenská stráž u soudu

Karel Svoboda

důstojník na nádraží v Sanoku

Oskar Hák

voják, Jurajdův pomocník

Josef Bulík

voják, Jurajdův pomocník

Oldřich Hoblík

důstojník předávající telegram u soudu

Emanuel Kovařík

četnický závodčí v Písku

Slávka Hamouzová

dáma v bordelu v Sanoku

Jožka Lakatoš

houslista v bordelu v Sanoku

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Lada Vacková

Continuity

Eva Kolářová

Screenstory

Karel Steklý

Based on

Jaroslav Hašek (Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka za světové války – román)

Screenplay

Karel Steklý

Director of Photography

Jan Roth

Camera Operator

Josef Pechar

Production Designer

Karel Škvor

Assistent Production Designer

Bohumil Pokorný

Set Designer

Jan Janda

Costume Designer

Josef Gabriel

Make-Up Artist

Karel Marek

Film Editor

Miroslav Hájek

Assistant Film Editor

Magda Hájková

Sound Designer

Josef Zora

Special Effects

Trikový ateliér FSB

Production Manager

Josef Beran

Unit Production Manager

Václav Dobeš

Consultant

dr. Stanislav Langr (vojenství)

Music

Music Composed by

Jan Seidel

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)

Songs

Hej, Slované

Song Composer lidová slovenská píseň
Writer of Lyrics Samo Tomášik
Singer Rudolf HrušínskýJaroslav MarvanFanda Mrázek

Sokolíci

Singer Fanda Mrázek

Když jsem já ty koně pásal

Singer Fanda Mrázek

Červený šátečku, kolem se toč /parafráze/

Singer mužský sbor

Já jsem malý mysliveček

Ten kvíteček, cos mi dala

Production info

Original Title

Poslušně hlásím

Czech Title

Poslušně hlásím

Second Title

Že jsem opět zde!

English Title

Beg to Report

English Second Title

That I am Here Again!

English Parallel Title

Beg to Report, Sir

Working Title

Dobrý voják Švejk II.

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

anti-war, comedy, satire, war

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1957

Production Year

1957

Production specifications

projection approval 16 November 1957
withdrawal from distribution 1 November 1982
withdrawal from distribution 1 August 1993

Premiere

preview 27 December 1957 (kino Sevastopol /1 týden/, Praha)
premiere 3 January 1958 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Lucerna /5 týdnů/, Metro /3 týdny/, Vzlet /1 týden od 10. 1./, Oko /1 týden od 17. 1./, Dukla /1 týden od 24. 1./, Kyjev /1 týden od 24. 1./, Arbes /1 týden od 31. 1./ a Flora /1 týden od 31. 1./, Praha)
renewed premiere 1 April 1983 /unsuitable for youths/
renewed premiere 5 May 2016 /suitable for all ages without limit/

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Studio

Barrandov

Distribution

Ústřední půjčovna filmů (původní 1958 a obnovená 1983), Národní filmový archiv (obnovená 2016)

Creative Group

Tvůrčí skupina Feix – Daniel, František Daniel (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Karel Feix (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

92 min

Original length in metres

2 610 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm, DCP 2-D, BRD

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

colour

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech, German, Hungarian

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech