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JAN HUS (1955)

Starring Zdenek Stepanek, Karel Hoger, Vlasta Matulova Director: Otakar Vavra

Print: color
Runtime: 125 min.
Genre: drama
Language: Czech
Subtitles: English

Biopic on Czechoslovakia's great historical figure and precursor of the Reformation. Somewhat academic in style and not particularly original, but well enacted, with some brilliant performances. An absorbing and historically honest denouncement of the abuses committed by the Roman Catholic Church in the 15th century, which occasioned the Reformation one century later.

JAN ZIZKA (1957)

Starring Zdenek Stepanek, Frantisek Horak, Karel Hoger Director: Otakar Vavra

Print: color
Runtime: 105 min.
Genre: drama
Language: Czech
Subtitles: English

1419: The atmosphere in Prague after Hus' death is very tense. Several rebels are prisoned and radical priest Jan Zelivský leads large masses of people to the Old Town's council house occupied by corrupt councillors, where the prisoners are kept. The councillors refuse demands lodged by Zelivský and several people are killed by stones thrown from windows. This act provokes ennoyance and leads to an overt uprising: the gate of the council house is broken and the councillors are thrown out of windows and killed (the so-called first Prague defenestration). When the king hears about this event, he is enormously upset and dies of heart failure. In the night the queen with courtiers leaves the city. The hussite revolution begins and the rebels elect Jan Zizka as their leader.

AGAINST ALL (1958)

Starring Zdenek Stepanek, Gustav Hilmar, Vlasta Matulova, Bedrich Karen, Jan Pivec Paul Page Directed by Otakar Vavra

Print: color
Runtime: 112 min.
Genre: drama
Language: Czech
Subtitles: English

The friendship of two men becomes tested when they both fall for the same woman.