The Great Journey

Country

Czechoslovakia, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Copyright

1962

Production year

1962

Premiere

18 October 1963

Runtime

97 min

Director

Jurij Ozerov

Category

film

Genre

comedy, biography

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Velká cesta

Czech title

Velká cesta

English title

The Great Journey

Co-production title

Bolšaja doroga

Synopsis

It is the year 1914 and Prague prepares for the arrival of Archduke Ferdinand. The police thus remove all politically unreliable citizens, the famous writer Jaroslav Hašek among them. He is placed into a psychiatric asylum. This, however, does not stop Hašek from making provocations. In consequence, he is sent to the drill square and subsequently to the battle front, where the military leadership cannot entrust him with anything but cows. As soon as Hašek meets some Russian soldiers he surrenders, but the Russians are not interested in more fighting either and want to be captured by the Austrians. The Czech writer grants their wishes and is promoted for his act. One day, he manages to desert with his soldiers to the Russian army. First, they find themselves in a P.O.W. camp and later become part of the Czechoslovak legion. As soon as the Russian October revolution breaks out, Hašek and Josef Strašlipka (the latter being the model of the good soldier Josef Švejk) join the Reds. Hašek is appointed commander of the city of Bugulma, where he meets his future wife, Šura. He maintains order in the town and also founds the first red division consisting of Czech and Slovak refugees. Upon his return home with Šura, he, however, faces great disappointment, finding himself prone to police surveillance again, and thus abandoning his dear friend Strašlipka in order to spare him of any possible complications in the future.

Note

The film´s director-consultant was Vladimír Vlček.

Cast

Josef Abrhám

spisovatel Jaroslav Hašek

Rudolf Hrušínský

vojín Josef Strašlipka

Inna Gulaja /ž/

náčelnice štábu garnizony Šura

Jaroslav Marvan

generál Václav

Jurij V. Jakovlev

bělogvardějec Polivanov

Alexandr Kutěpov

předseda výkonného výboru Jakov Sverdlov

Nikolaj Griňko

velitel brigády

Oleg Borisov

pobočník velitele Miťka

Sergej Filippov

starosta města

Josef Kemr

tajný detektiv

Josef Hlinomaz

hostinský

František Hanus

policejní inspektor

Karel Effa

rakouský arcivévoda František Ferdinand d'Este, následník trůnu

Míla Myslíková

česká vévodkyně Žofie Chotková, arcivévodova žena

Boris Andrejev

vzdávající se ruský voják

Pavel Vinnik

pop

Zdeněk Týle

návštěvník hospody

Josef Steigl

recepční hotelu

Nikolaj Jakovčenko

rolník

Petr Kirjutkin

Jerofejev, pomocník velitele Jaroslava Haška

Dmitrij Kapka

Mefodij, spolupiják starosty

Jevgenij Šutov

voják s roztrhanými botami

Michail Vasiljev

zrzavý voják

Fjodor Gladkov

voják, otec šesti dcer

Vitalij Beljakov

voják s foukací harmonikou

Nikolaj Taljura

voják, Haškův spolubojovník

Vladimir Klimentěv

voják-pozorovatel

Jakov Lenc

stařík odevzdávající pistoli

Nikita Kondratěv

anglický generál

Grigorij Těslja

pekař

Irina Šaljapina /ž/

žena

Vladimir Dorofejev

Pjotr Petrovič, pomocník Jakova Sverdlova

Vladimir Uan-Zo-Li

revoluční soudruh

Emilija Trejvas /ž/

hostitelka na Haškově svatbě

Česlav Suškevič

houslista

Alexandr Myľnikov

muž

A. Čerňavcev

muž

Crew and creators

Director

Jurij Ozerov

Second Unit Director

Valentina Kuzněcova /ž/

Screenplay

Georgij Mdivani

Dramaturg

Edgar Smirnov

Director of Photography

Igor Černych

Production Designer

Alexandr Mjagkov

Sound Designer

Boris Volskij

Production Manager

Dimitrij Geršengorin

Consultant

Vladimír Vlček (konzultant režiséra)

Music

Music Composed by

Karen Chačaturjan

Music Performed by

Orchestr hlavní správy kinematografie SSSR (Music Conducted by Emin Chačaturjan)

Songs

V Hodoníně za vojáčka mňa vzali

Song Composer lidová píseň
Writer of Lyrics lidová píseň
Singer Josef Abrhámsbor

Production info

Original Title

Velká cesta

Czech Title

Velká cesta

English Title

The Great Journey

Co-production Title

Bolšaja doroga

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy, biography

Origin country

Czechoslovakia, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Copyright

1962

Production Year

1962

Production specifications

projection approval 1 March 1963
withdrawal from distribution 1988

Premiere

premiere abroad 27 April 1963 (Moskva, Sovětský svaz)
premiere 15 October 1963 /suitable for youths/ (kina Jalta /2 týdny/, Revoluce /1 týden/ a Arbes /1 týden od 25. 10./, Praha)
premiere 18 October 1963 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

97 min

Original length in metres

2 750 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech, German, Russian

Subtitles languages

Czech

Opening/End credits languages

Czech