On Žižka’s War Wagon

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1968

Production year

1968

Premiere

29 November 1968

Runtime

73 min

Category

film

Genre

children, adventure

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Na Žižkově válečném voze

Czech title

Na Žižkově válečném voze

English title

On Žižka’s War Wagon

Summary

This rare combination of a historical – Hussite – theme with a children's story is the work of Josef František Novotný, who wrote a screenplay based on his eponymous novel for director Milan Vošmik. In what would prove to be the last film from this director, who died at the age of 39, yeoman’s son Ondra and an orphan named Sulík set out for Kouřim. The small town in central Bohemia has been attacked by armies allied to the Pope, but the boys eventually make it into commander Žižka’s camp and even help the one-eyed Hussite leader avoid an ambush... Along with child actor Josef Filip (Ondra), who soon after this film achieved his big breakthrough in the Pan Tau (Tau) television series, that popular performer of little rascals Jan Kraus (Sulík) appears. Commander Žižka is played by Ilja Prachař, while the cast also boasts additional renowned actors, Martin Růžek and František Filipovský.

Synopsis

Widowed yeoman Tůma and his household are on their way to help the town of Kouřim, which is under attack by the papist troops. His son Ondra is secretly following his father. Mikšík the castellan, who is responsible for Ondra, finds himself forced to set off after the boy. They are both captured by soldiers from Kutná Hora. Mikšík sacrifices himself to give Ondra a chance to flee. On the way, Ondra runs into the orphan Sulík. The two boys become friends and begin to wander together. Upon their return, they find that Tůma's stronghold has been burnt down, and thus decide to look for the camp of General Žižka of Trocnov, commander of Hussite forces. While resting in an abandoned mill, they overhear a conversation between enemy cavalrymen about a trap they have set for Žižka's men. They courageously steal the cavalrymen's horses and rush to the camp of the one-eyed general. Thanks to their report, Žižka's people turn the tables on their enemy, Schwamberg. Ondra learns that his father was captured by Schwamberg. He sets off on his own to his manor to free his father, but is caught and sentenced to be burned at the stake. Happily, he is saved by Sulík and Žižka's strongman Vít Pračka. Žižka offers Schwamberg three of his captured knights in exchange for Tůma. During the exchange, Schwamberg's people betray the truce and attack Žižka's negotiators. Pračka, Tůma, Sulík and Ondra fight like lions and eventually win. Ondra has a father again and Sulík finds a protector in the feudal lord Pračka.

Cast

Josef Filip

Ondra z Kolče

Jan Kraus

Sulík

František Hanus

Vít Pračka, vůdce bratříků

Vladimír Ráž

zeman Tůma z Kolče, Ondrův otec

Ilja Prachař

hejtman Jan Žižka z Trocnova

František Smolík

felčar Sivá hlava

Josef Větrovec

kastelán Mikšík

Vladimír Hrubý

špeh Konrad Hornung

Karel Smyczek

špeh Kuno

Miloš Vavruška

Švamberkův pobočník

Josef Vorel

německý žoldnéř

František Michálek

posel/dubl hlavních rolí – jezdec na koni

Zdeněk Grygárek

rytíř u Švamberka

Ilona Kubásková

hysterická žena

Luděk Marold

bojovník

Commentary

Dubbing

Jindřich Narenta

hlas německého jezdce

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Helena Rohanová, Drahomíra Králová

Based on

Josef František Karas (Na Žižkově válečném voze – kniha)

Screenplay

J. A. Novotný

Shooting Script

Milan Vošmik

Director of Photography

Jan Novák

Second Unit Photography

Ladislav Chroust

Camera Operator

Jiří Zavřel

Production Designer

Vladimír Labský

Assistent Production Designer

Aleš Voleman

Art Director

Vladimír Dvořák

Set Designer

Rudolf Beneš, Vladimír Mácha, Miroslav Jirsa

Costume Designer

Lída Novotná

Film Editor

Miroslav Hájek

Sound Designer

Milan R. Novotný

Production Manager

Vladimír Vojta

Unit Production Manager

Luděk Marold, Artur Stacha

Unit Production Manager

Vladimír Tišer

Consultant

pplk. Eduard Wagner , František Michálek (jezdectví), Čestmír Čivrný

Cooperation

Miroslava Švestková (klapka), Josef Vítek (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Svatopluk Havelka

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)

Production info

Original Title

Na Žižkově válečném voze

Czech Title

Na Žižkově válečném voze

English Title

On Žižka’s War Wagon

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

children, adventure

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1968

Production Year

1968

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 16 October 1967
technical Screenplay approved 3 January 1968
start of filming 7 February 1968
end of filming 12 June 1968
the first film copy approved 15 August 1968
projection approval 26 August 1968
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1988

Premiere

premiere 29 November 1968 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 5 December 1968 /suitable for youths/ (kino Tatra /1 týden/, Praha)

Studio

Hostivař

Creative Group

Tvůrčí skupina Švabík – Procházka, Jan Procházka (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Erich Švabík (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

73 min

Original length in metres

2 076 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