Císaruv pekar a pekaruv císar
Encyclopedia
The Emperor and the Golem is a two-part Czech historical comedy film produced in 1951. It was originally directed by Jiří Krejčík, but after disputes with Jan Werich
, Jiří Krejčík was replaced by Martin Frič
. In addition to the two-part version, a 112-minute long one-part international version was produced, with propaganda
scenes
cut out. The film was filmed in color (not common for Czechoslovak films in that period) because of the international release.
The film is set during the reign of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
. It is one of the best known film with Jan Werich
(performing a dual role
of Emperor and baker).
The film was created in Czechoslovak
early socialistic era and the songs (and partially the story itself) are flavoured with socialistic propaganda
. The propaganda scenes were cut out in the international (US) version.
, is demonstrated here.
He welcomes Magister Edward Kelly
in his palace and shows him around.
He keeps an alchemist laboratory in his palace, where generally either swindlers or fools work (one desires to materialize dark, another beats with a hammer on a piece of metal and immediately begins to examine it, wishing to change it into gold). There is also a character who, when the Emperor asks him of his doings, always begins to babble in a senseless language (in the end, it is revealed that he has been making "slivovice", a well known Czech plum brandy ).
One character, Alessandro Scotta (called Honza Skoták), appears repeatedly: instead of experimenting, he cooks sausages and approaches the emperor with a cleaning product, with which he immediately cleans the floor, making it slippery and causing another person to slip, to the amusement of the Emperor. Rudolf is obsessed with finding the Golem
. He and Scotta later accidentally stumble upon him while performing a magic ritual (not as its result). But he does not have the Shem and cannot awaken him.
The movie then follows a baker, Matew, Matěj (also played by Werich, but as a younger man than Rudolf) who is confronted with angry people who want bread but cannot receive it, because it is meant for royalty. He is later imprisoned in the dungeons for spreading bread to poor people.
Later on, Kelly reveals his homunculus
, to whom the Emperor wishes to teach everything of our world (not knowing that she is a plain country girl, acting after coercion by Kelly). She and Matěj communicate through vents between Kelly's room and the dungeons.
Later the Emperor takes part in what is supposed to make him young again by Alessandro Scotta's drink of youth (which is actually a mix of strong alcoholic drinks and morphium). Then he and his entourage ride on a carriage to country side to remind themselves of the sins of their misspent youth.
Meanwhile Matěj escapes the dungeons. Unknowing subjects of the Emperor find the fugitive (who bears a supreme likeness to the Emperor in his young days) in a bath and, believing the rejuvenation
to have worked out hold him for the emperor. Matěj gets into an embarrassed scene with the emperor's "consort" (something like a guest, only longer staying and generally arguing with Rudolf). He believes he killed her and puts her on top of a two-story bed.
A sphere of intrigue (shown rather humorously) between the emperor's councilors is shown and all basically want the shem, which a hound is spotted to have.
Matěj (as the emperor) sits as a table with Tycho de Brahe and talks about planets and as the astronomer demonstrates the moving of planets with the wine grails, he mixes a wine grail with poison, arranged by the councilors. They are stunned, unknowing which grail is the poisoned one, take theirs on Matěj's demands.
The situation escalates, as the Golem is awakened and destroys the general, who wanted to use him to conquer the whole world. The Emperor returns and chaos is at large. The Matěj manages to reason Golem into stopping and then uses his power to bake for the poor.
Jan Werich
Jan Werich was a Czech actor, playwright and writer.-Life:Between 1916 to 1924 he attended "reálné gymnasium" in Křemencová Street in Prague...
, Jiří Krejčík was replaced by Martin Frič
Martin Fric
Martin Frič was a Czech film director and screenwriter. He had over 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films.-Filmography:* Páter Vojtěch...
. In addition to the two-part version, a 112-minute long one-part international version was produced, with propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
scenes
Scene (film)
In TV and movies, a scene is generally thought of as the action in a single location and continuous time. Due to the ability to edit recorded visual works, it is typically much shorter than a stage play scene....
cut out. The film was filmed in color (not common for Czechoslovak films in that period) because of the international release.
The film is set during the reign of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
. It is one of the best known film with Jan Werich
Jan Werich
Jan Werich was a Czech actor, playwright and writer.-Life:Between 1916 to 1924 he attended "reálné gymnasium" in Křemencová Street in Prague...
(performing a dual role
Dual role
Dual role refers to one actor playing two or more roles, which may be deliberately scripted in a play or film, or merely be a by-product of a low budget. In a theatrical production where more than one actor plays multiple characters, it is sometimes referred to as an "Ironman" cast...
of Emperor and baker).
The film was created in Czechoslovak
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
early socialistic era and the songs (and partially the story itself) are flavoured with socialistic propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
. The propaganda scenes were cut out in the international (US) version.
Plot
It first follows the aging and eccentric Rudolf II, who refuses to hear out ambassadors and falls into fits, destroying vases and dishes. The conflict between he and his brother MatthiasMatthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
, is demonstrated here.
He welcomes Magister Edward Kelly
Edward Kelley
Sir Edward Kelley or Kelly, also known as Edward Talbot was an ambiguous figure in English Renaissance occultism and self-declared spirit medium who worked with John Dee in his magical investigations...
in his palace and shows him around.
He keeps an alchemist laboratory in his palace, where generally either swindlers or fools work (one desires to materialize dark, another beats with a hammer on a piece of metal and immediately begins to examine it, wishing to change it into gold). There is also a character who, when the Emperor asks him of his doings, always begins to babble in a senseless language (in the end, it is revealed that he has been making "slivovice", a well known Czech plum brandy ).
One character, Alessandro Scotta (called Honza Skoták), appears repeatedly: instead of experimenting, he cooks sausages and approaches the emperor with a cleaning product, with which he immediately cleans the floor, making it slippery and causing another person to slip, to the amusement of the Emperor. Rudolf is obsessed with finding the Golem
Golem
In Jewish folklore, a golem is an animated anthropomorphic being, created entirely from inanimate matter. The word was used to mean an amorphous, unformed material in Psalms and medieval writing....
. He and Scotta later accidentally stumble upon him while performing a magic ritual (not as its result). But he does not have the Shem and cannot awaken him.
The movie then follows a baker, Matew, Matěj (also played by Werich, but as a younger man than Rudolf) who is confronted with angry people who want bread but cannot receive it, because it is meant for royalty. He is later imprisoned in the dungeons for spreading bread to poor people.
Later on, Kelly reveals his homunculus
Homunculus
Homunculus is a term used, generally, in various fields of study to refer to any representation of a human being. Historically, it referred specifically to the concept of a miniature though fully formed human body, for example, in the studies of alchemy and preformationism...
, to whom the Emperor wishes to teach everything of our world (not knowing that she is a plain country girl, acting after coercion by Kelly). She and Matěj communicate through vents between Kelly's room and the dungeons.
Later the Emperor takes part in what is supposed to make him young again by Alessandro Scotta's drink of youth (which is actually a mix of strong alcoholic drinks and morphium). Then he and his entourage ride on a carriage to country side to remind themselves of the sins of their misspent youth.
Meanwhile Matěj escapes the dungeons. Unknowing subjects of the Emperor find the fugitive (who bears a supreme likeness to the Emperor in his young days) in a bath and, believing the rejuvenation
Rejuvenation (aging)
Rejuvenation is the hypothetical reversal of the aging process.Rejuvenation is distinct from life extension. Life extension strategies often study the causes of aging and try to oppose those causes in order to slow aging...
to have worked out hold him for the emperor. Matěj gets into an embarrassed scene with the emperor's "consort" (something like a guest, only longer staying and generally arguing with Rudolf). He believes he killed her and puts her on top of a two-story bed.
A sphere of intrigue (shown rather humorously) between the emperor's councilors is shown and all basically want the shem, which a hound is spotted to have.
Matěj (as the emperor) sits as a table with Tycho de Brahe and talks about planets and as the astronomer demonstrates the moving of planets with the wine grails, he mixes a wine grail with poison, arranged by the councilors. They are stunned, unknowing which grail is the poisoned one, take theirs on Matěj's demands.
The situation escalates, as the Golem is awakened and destroys the general, who wanted to use him to conquer the whole world. The Emperor returns and chaos is at large. The Matěj manages to reason Golem into stopping and then uses his power to bake for the poor.
Cast
- Jan WerichJan WerichJan Werich was a Czech actor, playwright and writer.-Life:Between 1916 to 1924 he attended "reálné gymnasium" in Křemencová Street in Prague...
as Rudolf II / pekar Matej - Marie Vásová as Countess Katharina Strada
- Natasa GollováNataša GollováNataša Gollová was a Czechoslovak film actress. She appeared in 55 films and television shows between 1930 and 1984.-Selected filmography:* Christian * Eva tropí hlouposti...
as Katerina aka Sirael - Bohus Záhorský as Lang, komorí
- Jirí Plachý as Edward Kelley
- Zdenek StepánekZdenek ŠtepánekZdeněk Štěpánek was a Czech actor. He appeared in 65 films between 1922 and 1968.-Selected filmography:* Paradise Road * The World Is Ours * Skeleton on Horseback...
as Rusworm, marsál - Frantisek Filipovský as Court astrologer
- Frantisek Cerný as Scotta
- Václav TréglVáclav TréglVáclav Trégl was a Czechoslovak film actor. He appeared in over 120 films between 1933 and 1977.-Selected filmography:* Revizor * Workers, Let's Go * Poslední muž...
as Emperor's servant - Vladimír Leraus as Hungarian delegate
- Milos Nedbal as Court doctor
- Bohus Hradil as Tycho de Brahe (as B. Hradil)
- Frantisek Holar as Commander of guard (as F. Holar)