Karel Hašler
Encyclopedia
Karel Hašler was a Czech
songwriter, actor, lyricist, film and theatre director, composer, writer, dramatist, screenwriter and cabaretier. He was murdered in the Mauthausen concentration camp.
n theatre in Ljubljana
, but soon moved back to Prague, where he joined the National Theatre
ensemble. In the National Theatre, he asserted himself in conversational plays. In addition to that, he also attempted to apply his singing abilities. Around 1908, he started composing his own music, and at the same time he began to incline to cabaret activities. Gradually he became a director and head of various Prague cabarets, such as Lucerna (1910–1915, 1918–1923), Rokoko (1915–1918) and Karlín
Variety Theatre (1924–1929). In 1908, he married a sister of pianist and composer Rudolf Friml
.
During World War I
he also began to appear in silent film
s, as an actor, director and author. In 1914, he made a comedy České hrady a zámky (Czech Castles), based on his own script. The film was intended as an introduction for the play Pán bez kvartýru (A Man Without Flat). He appeared also in the comedy
Ahasver and in other silent films.
Among his most successful film roles were the lawyer and deputy Uher in the drama film Batalion (The Battalion, 1927) by Přemysl Pražský
, and the organist in Varhaník u sv. Víta (Organist at St. Vitus Cathedral
, 1929) by Martin Frič
. The coming era of the sound film
in 1930s enabled Hašler to utilize his singing skills. In his first sound film role Písničkář (Balladeer, 1932) by Svatopluk Innemann
he sang patriotic songs Svoboda (Freedom) and Ta naše písnička česká (Our Czech song), among others. In 1942, in his last film role, he played himself in Za tichých nocí (In the Quiet Nights), made by his son Gina Hašler. From 1932 to 1941 Hašler played in more than 13 films. In September 1941, during production of the film Městečko na dlani, based on the script by Jan Drda
, he was arrested by the Gestapo
and sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp. The main reason for his arrest was his patriotic songs. In Mauthausen he was tortured to death.
In 2008, Czech directors Marek Jícha and Josef Lustig made a documentary Písničkář, který nezemřel (The Immortal Balladeer of Prague) describing the fate of Hašler's illegitimate son Thomas Hasler.
A popular Czech medicinal candy was called “Hašlerky” after him.
Selected songs
Actor:
Writer:
Composer:
Music Department:
Director:
Soundtrack:
Producer:
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
songwriter, actor, lyricist, film and theatre director, composer, writer, dramatist, screenwriter and cabaretier. He was murdered in the Mauthausen concentration camp.
Biography
Hašler studied to be a glove-maker, but he became intererested in theatre at a young age and occasionally performed with amateur theatre ensembles. In 1897, following his debut at the Aréna Theatre he left home and successively joined various travelling theatre companies. In 1902 he became a member of the SloveniaSlovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n theatre in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, but soon moved back to Prague, where he joined the National Theatre
National Theatre (Prague)
The National Theatre in Prague is known as the Alma Mater of Czech opera, and as the national monument of Czech history and art.The National Theatre belongs to the most important Czech cultural institutions, with a rich artistic tradition which was created and maintained by the most distinguished...
ensemble. In the National Theatre, he asserted himself in conversational plays. In addition to that, he also attempted to apply his singing abilities. Around 1908, he started composing his own music, and at the same time he began to incline to cabaret activities. Gradually he became a director and head of various Prague cabarets, such as Lucerna (1910–1915, 1918–1923), Rokoko (1915–1918) and Karlín
Karlín
Karlín is a cadastral area of Prague, part of Prague 8 municipal district, former independent town . It is bordered by the river Vltava and Holešovice to the north, Vítkov hill and Žižkov to the south, New Town to the west and Libeň to the east.-History:The building of the Karlín district began in...
Variety Theatre (1924–1929). In 1908, he married a sister of pianist and composer Rudolf Friml
Rudolf Friml
Rudolf Friml was a composer of operettas, musicals, songs and piano pieces, as well as a pianist. After musical training and a brief performing career in his native Prague, Friml moved to the United States, where he became a composer...
.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he also began to appear in silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s, as an actor, director and author. In 1914, he made a comedy České hrady a zámky (Czech Castles), based on his own script. The film was intended as an introduction for the play Pán bez kvartýru (A Man Without Flat). He appeared also in the comedy
Ahasver and in other silent films.
"If our songs perish, We'd lose all we cherish; Living would then be in vain." |
| Ta naše písnička česká, end of the third stanza, English translation published in Chicago Chicago Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... , 1934. |
Among his most successful film roles were the lawyer and deputy Uher in the drama film Batalion (The Battalion, 1927) by Přemysl Pražský
Přemysl Pražský
Přemysl Pražský was an early Czech film director, film actor and screenwriter. He directed and appeared in a number of films in Czechoslovakia in the 1920s and 1930s, directing comedy films such as Two Mothers , The Mysterious Beauty , Hraběnka z Podskalí and Prague Seamstresses in 1929...
, and the organist in Varhaník u sv. Víta (Organist at St. Vitus Cathedral
St. Vitus Cathedral
Saint Vitus' Cathedral is as a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prague, and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. The full name of the cathedral is St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral...
, 1929) 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...
. The coming era of the sound film
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
in 1930s enabled Hašler to utilize his singing skills. In his first sound film role Písničkář (Balladeer, 1932) by Svatopluk Innemann
Svatopluk Innemann
Svatopluk Innemann was a Czech film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and actor. Innemann, brother of Miroslav Innemann and Liduška Innemannová, was one of the pioneers of Czech cinema....
he sang patriotic songs Svoboda (Freedom) and Ta naše písnička česká (Our Czech song), among others. In 1942, in his last film role, he played himself in Za tichých nocí (In the Quiet Nights), made by his son Gina Hašler. From 1932 to 1941 Hašler played in more than 13 films. In September 1941, during production of the film Městečko na dlani, based on the script by Jan Drda
Jan Drda
Jan Drda was a Czech prose writer and playwright.He was a member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia since 1945...
, he was arrested by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
and sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp. The main reason for his arrest was his patriotic songs. In Mauthausen he was tortured to death.
In 2008, Czech directors Marek Jícha and Josef Lustig made a documentary Písničkář, který nezemřel (The Immortal Balladeer of Prague) describing the fate of Hašler's illegitimate son Thomas Hasler.
A popular Czech medicinal candy was called “Hašlerky” after him.
Works
Karel Hašlers artistic output consists mainly of songs. He created more than 300 compositions, many of which became popular "folk songs". With his engaged patriotic approach he helped to strengthen the national consciousness of Czech people during times of danger and oppression. Following his death in the concentration camp, his songs became a symbol of national resistance.Selected songs
- Hoši od Zborova
- Kampak na nás, bolševíci? (1919)
- Po starých zámeckých schodech
- Pětatřicátníci
- Ta naše písnička česká
- Čí je Praha? Naše!
- Já mám holku od Odkolků
- Strahováček
- Podskalák
Actor:
- Pantáta Bezoušek (The Old Man Bezousek, 1941) - Councillor Burdych
- Roztomilý člověk (A Charming Man, 1941) - Editor-in-chief
- Za tichých nocí (In the Still of the Night, 1941) - Karel Hašler
- Jarní písnička (Spring Song, 1937) - Chodec
- Vzdušné torpédo 48 (Air Torpedo 48, 1936) - Dr Marvan
- Ať žije nebožtíkLong Live with Dearly DepartedLong Live with Dearly Departed is a 1935 Czech comedy film directed by Martin Frič.- Cast :* Hugo Haas as Petr Suk* Adina Mandlová as Alice Machová* Karel Hasler as Petr Kornel * Milada Gampeová as Barbora - Housekeeper...
(Long Live with Dearly Departed, 1935) - Petr Kornel - Jedenácté přikázáníJedenácté přikázáníJedenácté přikázání is a Czech comedy film directed by Martin Frič. It was released in 1935.-Cast:* Hugo Haas - Jiri Vobosky* Jirina Stepnicková - Emma Kralickova Voborska* Jindrich Plachta - Emanuel Strela* Jirí Plachý - Milos Jicinsky...
(The Eleventh Commandment, 1935) - The Police Captain - Král ulice (King of the Street, 1935) - Martin Antoni/Martin
- Za ranních červánků (1934) - Josef Dobrovský
- Srdce za písničku (A Heart for a Song, 1933) - Hugo Strindberg
- Záhada modrého pokoje (Mystery of a Blue Room, 1933) - Count Hellford
- Jindra, hraběnka Ostrovínová (Jindra, the Countess Ostrovín, 1933) - Musician Jahoda
- Písničkář (Balladeer, 1932) - Pavel Hala
- Kennst du das kleine Haus am Michigansee? (Znáš onen malý domek u jezera?, 1930) - Kennedy
- Adjunkt Vrba (Adjunct Vrba, 1929) - Maran
- Varhaník u sv. VítaThe Organist at St. Vitus' CathedralThe Organist at St. Vitus' Cathedral is a 1929 silent Czech drama film directed by Martin Frič.-Cast:* Karel Hašler as Organist* Oscar Marion as Ivan, Painter * Suzanne Marwille as Klára, Foster-child* Ladislav H...
(Organist at St. Vitus CathedralSt. Vitus CathedralSaint Vitus' Cathedral is as a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prague, and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. The full name of the cathedral is St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral...
, 1929) - Organist - Batalion (Battalion, 1927) - JUDr. František Uher
- Falešná kočičkaFalešná kočička aneb Když si žena umíníFalešná kočička aneb Když si žena umíní is a Czech silent comedy film directed by Svatopluk Innemann. It was released in 1926.-Cast:* Vlasta Burian - Vendelín Pleticha* Karel Hasler - MUDr. Karel Verner* Jirí Dréman - Janota...
(The Little False Cat, 1926) - MUDr. Karel Verner - Cikán Jura (Gypsy Jura, 1922)
- Ahasver (1915) - Painter's Husband Valentin
- České hrady a zámky (Czech Castles and Palaces, 1914) .... Karel Hašler
Writer:
- Babička (Grandmother, 1940)
- Hordubalové (1938)
- Švanda dudák (1937) - screenplay
- Irčin románek (Irca's Romance, 1936) - screenplay
- Vojnarka (1936) - screenplay
- Vzdušné torpédo 48 (Air Torpedo 48, 1936)
- JánošíkJánošík (1935 film)-Cast:* Palo Bielik as Juraj Jánosík* Zlata Hajdúková as Anka* Andrej Bagar as Master Sándor* Theodor Pištěk as Count Andre Markusovský* Filip Davidik as Janicko, shepherd boy* Kudo Bachlet as A Janosik "Brigand"* Mirko Eliás as A Janosik "Brigand"...
(1935) - Král ulice (King of Street, 1935) - screenplay
- Za ranních červánků (1934) - screenplay
- Záhada modrého pokoje (1933) - screenplay
- V tom domečku pod Emauzy (In the Little House Below Emausy, 1933)
- Písničkář (Balladeer, 1932) (screenplay)
- České hrady a zámky (Czech Castles and Palaces, 1914) - story
Composer:
- Venoušek a Stázička (1939)
- Neporažená armáda (Undefeated Army, 1938)
- Jana (1935)
- Jedenácté přikázání (The Eleventh Commandment, 1935)
- Král ulice (1935)
- Poslední muž (1934)
- Srdce za písničku (A Heart for a Song, 1933)
- U snědeného krámu (The Ruined Shopkeeper, 1933)
- Záhada modrého pokoje (1933)
- Písničkář (1932)
Music Department:
- Rote Rosen - blaue Adria (1938) - composer: song "Rote Rosen - Blaue Adria", "O du mein alter Stephansturm ..."
- Jarní písnička (Spring Song, 1937) - composer: song "Ta naše krásná zem je jako pohádka"
- Divoch (Wild Girl, 1936) - composer: song "Pod oblohou modré Adrie"
- Za ranních červánků (1934) - composer: song "Ty šumavské hory"
- Matka Kráčmerka (Mother Kracmerka, 1934) - composer: song "Valčík"
- Jindra, hrabenka Ostrovínová (Jindra, the Countess Ostrovín, 1933) - composer: song "My nikdy svoji nebudem"
Director:
- Irčin románek (Irca's Romance, 1936)
- Srdce za písničku (A Heart for a Song, 1933)
- České hrady a zámky (Czech Castles and Palaces, 1914)
Soundtrack:
- Za tichých nocí (In the Still of the Night, 1941) - music: "Po starých zámeckých schodech"
Producer:
- Jánošík (1935)