Clown Ferdinand and the Rocket
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1962Production year
1962Premiere
10 May 1963Runtime
72 minDirector
Jindřich PolákCategory
filmGenre
childrenTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Klaun Ferdinand a raketaCzech title
Klaun Ferdinand a raketaEnglish title
Clown Ferdinand and the RocketSummary
To achieve some economies, Jindřich Polák used costly props designed for his ambitious sci-fi film Ikarie XB 1 (AKA Voyage to the End of the Universe, 1963) in the making of another film, Klaun Ferdinand a raketa (Clown Ferdinand and the Rocket, 1963), a sci-fi for children. The lead character of this family movie was a household name in the 1960s and screenwriter Ota Hofman (who was to become a fixture in Polák’s filmmaking) made sure that Clown Ferdinand gave his young fans plenty of entertainment in his feature-film appearance. Ferdinand (Jiří Vršťala) is a friend to all children. It is thus no wonder that he finds himself inside a space rocket in the company of little Helenka, Honza and Jirka. The foursome soon discover that returning to Earth is no easy task, but Ferdinand eventually succeeds in averting a crash with the Sun and sets the spaceship on a homeward course. The part of Jirka is delivered by experienced child actor Hanuš Bor. Vladimír Horka (Honza) was later cast by Jindřich Polák in three parts of the Pan Tau (Tau) series.
Synopsis
An unknown space rocket approaches Earth. A state of emergency has been declared and evacuation ordered in the city. People all flee their homes except for the clown Ferdinand, who lives in a caravan at the periphery and, unruffled, prepares for a show. On his way to the theatre he finally realizes that the city is deserted. He doesn't meet a soul, except for Helenka, a little girl he encounters at the crossroads, and Honza and Jirka, two boys he discovers at the theatre. When he learns the news about he tries to save the children but drives his caravan straight into the rocket by mistake. The rocket takes off with the four of them on board. The children enjoy it inside the rocket and Ferdinand pretends that everything is in order. But soon the children get homesick. The clumsy Ferdinand tries out all kinds of handles and buttons, until he finally manages to change the spaceship's direction and set its course away from the dangerous Sun and towards Earth.
Photos
Cast
Jiří Vršťala
klaun Ferdinand
Eva Hrabětová
Helenka
Hanuš Bor
Jirka
Vladimír Horka
Honzík
Luděk Kindermann
artista
Jan Kurčík
artista
Karel Smrž
Voice by Jaroslav Válek
robot
Jiří Růžička
chlapec
Dubbing
Václav Štekl
hlas papouška
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Art Director
Set Designer
Karel Lukáš
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Jaromír Svoboda, Bohumír Brunclík (zvukové efekty), Jaromír Svoboda (zvukové efekty)
Special Effects
Jan Kališ, Milan Nejedlý, Jiří Hlupý, Pavel Nečesal, Karel Císařovský, František Žemlička, Trikový ateliér FSB
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Ludmila Tikovská, František Jaderník
Consultant
inž. Otakar Sedliský, inž. Jaroslav Jenčík
Cooperation
Ladislava Boudová (klapka), Miroslav Pešan (fotograf), V. Pohl
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), Orchestr Karla Vlacha, Jiří Malásek, Jiří Bažant
Songs
V Austrálii, Americe, Africe i Evropě
Song Composer Evžen Illín
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer Václav Štekl
Takový den, jako je dnes
Song Composer Evžen Illín
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer mužský hlas
Na Zemi jsou hezké věci
Song Composer Evžen Illín
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer sbordětský sbor
Production info
Original Title
Klaun Ferdinand a raketa
Czech Title
Klaun Ferdinand a raketa
English Title
Clown Ferdinand and the Rocket
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
children
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1962
Production Year
1962
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 24 January 1962
technical Screenplay approved 27 May 1962
start of filming 17 July 1962
end of filming 12 November 1962
projection approval 28 December 1962
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1988
Premiere
premiere 10 May 1963 /suitable for youths/ (kino Orlík /1 týden/, Praha)
premiere 10 May 1963 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Tvůrčí skupina Švabík – Procházka, Jan Procházka (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Erich Švabík (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skuipny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
72 min
Original length in metres
2 036 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 15. mezinárodní festival filmů pro děti a mládež Benátky
1963
Benátky / Italy
