The Quiet American in Prague
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1977Production year
1976—1977Premiere
20 January 1978Runtime
93 minCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Tichý Američan v PrazeCzech title
Tichý Američan v PrazeEnglish title
The Quiet American in PragueSummary
The events of February 1948, and a contemporary spying affair (allegedly inspired by true events) provide the basis for this 1977 motion picture drama, jointly directed by Štěpán Skalský and Josef Mach. A simple view of a complicated period revolves around the title character, scheming American diplomat Barton. He turns to blackmailing undesirable political opponents with the use of compromising photos. Employing his contacts at the interior ministry, Barton even attempts a coup d'état. The American’s cunning plan eventually fails when the working classes gain control under the leadership of the communist party… Although events in the film are clearly depicted through a heavy post “normalisation” era propagandistic lens, Tichý Američan v Praze (The Quiet American in Prague) is nonetheless regarded as a well-crafted film, whose appeal to audiences includes a strong cast led by Josef Langmiler and Polish actress Barbara Brylska.
Synopsis
In Prague of 1947 the political contest for power culminates. The opponents of growing communist influence hope in a coup supported by the Western countries. One of the spies is an American attaché Barton, a quiet and discreet man, who among others, initiates a robbery in Štěchovice archive carried out by an American army. The important documents hidden in the forests by withdrawing Germans are finally returned by the Americans; however the Gestapo agents' lists and other important materials are missing. Barton's Czech secretary Milena meets Jiří Háček, her great pre-war love. Both of them used to be members of an illegal resistance group Ztracenka that had been given away to Gestapo. Pavel Král, one of a few survivors, is determined to find out the traitor. Jiří starts to live with Milena but does not know she has been gouged on by Barton keeping her compromising photos proving her contacts with German officers. As an alleged journalist Milena gets secret information from executive army officers in turn for sex and alcohol. A newly established counterintelligence service at the Ministry of Interior is managed by captain Prokop. Pavel has found the traitor of Ztracenka - Milena. The Americans kill him with her help. Jiří is losing trust in Milena and starts to collaborate with Prokop. It is February 1948, the communists seize the power and the expected coup has not occurred. Jiří gets evidence of Milena's betrayal and breaks their relationship. The young woman commits suicide. On Prokop's request Jiří leaves the country together with the Americans.
Note
The film is based on true events of 1948.
Photos
Cast
Barbara Brylska
Voice by Libuše Švormová
sekretářka Milena Singrová
Josef Langmiler
americký kulturní atašé plukovník Charles Barton
Miroslav Zounar
rotmistr PhDr. Jiří Háček
Miroslav Moravec
kapitán Prokop, velitel kontrašpionážní skupiny ministerstva vnitra
Vladimír Ráž
major Brauer, velitel oblastní Bezpečnosti
Radovan Lukavský
Prokopův nadřízený
František Němec
odbojář Pavel Král
Svatopluk Beneš
plukovník Jaroslav Tampír
Jiří Holý
Erich Laube
Alois Švehlík
Hunter
Bořivoj Navrátil
americký kapitán Richards
Jiří Štěpnička
americký voják Urquart
Tomáš Sedláček
americký voják Fulton
Wilhelm Koch-Hooge
německý důstojník
Viktor Maurer
dr. Pichlík, zaměstnanec ministerstva vnitra
Hana Talpová
Ann, Bartonova manželka
Vladimír Ptáček
Kočvara
Vilém Besser
vyšetřovatel
Oldřich Velen
vysoký důstojník MNO
Petr Skarke
brýlatý muž, Prokopův spolupracovník
Jiří Lír
novinář z Rudého práva
Josef Střecha
novinář ze Svobodného slova
Miroslav Částek
velitel americké skupiny
Daniela Krajná
dubl za Barbaru Brylskou
Miroslav Krejča
stenograf
Jindra Kvardová
kuchařka u Bartona
Michal Malý
tlumočník
Vladimír Pospíšil
inženýr
Jana Robenková
Tampírova žena
Zdeněk Směták
Pánek
Vladimír Navrátil
fotograf za zrcadlem
Vladimír Bičík
agent vydávající se za vyšetřovatele
Karel Engel
mlátička
Gustav Jankovský
mlátička
Zdeněk Srstka
mlátička
Karel Sekera
poručík Kobylka
Václav Hrůza
československý důstojník
Jan Sieber
československý důstojník
Zdeněk Zámečník
československý důstojník
Jaroslav Wagner
strážný
Jiří Kosek
civilista
Bohumil Koška
civilista
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Based on
Miroslav Hladký (Dirigent zákulisí – kniha)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Jiří Bžoch, Karel Kracík, Miloš Sršeň
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Consultant
František Kruml, plk. dr. M. Čáda, CSc.
Cooperation
Jitka Radová (klapka), Jiří Kučera (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)
Songs
Až ztichnou bílé skály
Song Composer Jan Korda
Writer of Lyrics František Korda
Singer sbor
Mám rád krásné děvče za řekou
Song Composer Jiří Voldán
Writer of Lyrics Jiří Voldán
Singer sbor
Production info
Original Title
Tichý Američan v Praze
Czech Title
Tichý Američan v Praze
English Title
The Quiet American in Prague
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1977
Production Year
1976—1977
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 12 October 1976
start of filming 15 November 1976
technical Screenplay approved 1 February 1977
end of filming 27 June 1977
projection approval 1 July 1977
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1988
Premiere
premiere 20 January 1978 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Miroslava Hladkého, Miroslav Hladký (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
93 min
Original length in metres
2 690 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, English
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 16. festival českých a slovenských filmů České Budějovice
1978
České Budějovice / Czechoslovakia
