Otakar Vávra

Directing

Otakar Vávra

Born February 28, 1911 · Hradec Králové, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]

Died September 15, 2011 · aged 100

Otakar Vávra (28 February 1911 – 15 September 2011) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and pedagogue. Vávra attended universities in Brno and Prague, where he studied architecture. During 1929–30, while still a student, he participated in the making of a handful of documentaries and wrote movie scripts. In 1931, he produced the experimental film Světlo proniká tmou. The first movie he direct…

Known For

WitchhammerWitchhammer · 1970
Witchhammer
★ 7.61970
MovieDramaThriller
In the 1600s, an overzealous clergy hauls innocent women in front of tribunals, forces them to confess to imaginary witchery, and engages in brutal torture and persecution of their subjects.
KrakatitKrakatit · 1948
Krakatit
★ 6.51948
MovieScience FictionThriller
In early 20th century Czechoslovakia, a gravely ill chemist recalls his discovery of a powerful explosive and how it landed in the hands of anarchists.
A Little Street in ParadiseA Little Street in Paradise · 1936
A Little Street in Paradise
★ 7.01936
MovieDramaComedy
A poor dog catcher in Prague takes up an orphan's boy who finds his favorite bull with him, with himself, until both find a better home, finally, with a rich family. - In antiquated style with put on warmth told comedy.
Rodinné trampoty oficiála TříškyRodinné trampoty oficiála Tříšky · 1949
Rodinné trampoty oficiála Tříšky
★ 5.61949
MovieComedy
The plump, punctual and slightly despotic Mr. Tříška worked as a housing officer, which completely damaged his psychological resilience, he is short-tempered and easily angered. The intended rest in the countryside, where he went with his whole family, however, turns out completely differently than he expected - because all the hardworking hands join together to ensure the fastest possible completion of the agricultural work, and there is also time left for his singing interests. And the main character is finally so carried away by the new environment that he eagerly joins in.
Morality Above All ElseMorality Above All Else · 1937
Morality Above All Else
★ 8.51937
MovieComedy
Professor Karas is widely known as enthusiastic propagator of the motto "Morality Above All Else". He guides his students as well as his own family to live a morally decent life. One day he has an unexpected visit. It's his illegitimate daughter Vera, who is proof of his thoughtless youth. Mr. Karas know that she can ruin his image, thus he decides to keep her a secret and asks her to leave. Instead of leaving she takes a position of a governess in his own family without letting him know. Mr. Karas realizes that he must reveal the truth sooner or later, but he doesn't have enough courage to do so. As he postpones it, he is more and more scared to come to his own home.
KomediantKomediant · 1984
Komediant
★ 6.01984
MovieDramaHistory
Saxony, devastated by the Thirty Years' War, is led by the comedy troupe of the principal Fortunato. The student Vavrinec has fled Bohemia and greatly values the text of Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet, which he has acquired on his wanderings around the world.
SokolovoSokolovo · 1975
Sokolovo
★ 4.21975
MovieWarHistory
The plot begins in the Soviet Union showing first efforts to establish the Czechoslovak legion in 1942. The film also shows the assassination of Heydrich and the subsequent annihilation of Lidice. The main topis of the film is battles with German troops for Sokolovo.
Jan HusJan Hus · 1955
Jan Hus
★ 6.31955
MovieDramaHistory
The first part of the "Hussite Revolutionary Trilogy", completed with Jan Žižka (1955) and Proti všem (Against All Odds, 1957). The film captures the period from May 1412 to the summer of 1415, a turbulent time in the Czech Kingdom, during which there were protests in Prague against the sale of "omnipotent indulgences" whose sale throughout the kingdom was announced by Pope John XXIII. The ideological leader of this movement is the preacher Master Jan Hus, whose words, calling for the elimination of church abuses, are listened to in the Bethlehem Chapel by thousands of ordinary Praguers, Czech lords and Queen Sophie, wife of the Czech King Wenceslas IV.

Filmography

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May Fairy TaleMay Fairy Tale · 1940
May Fairy Tale
★ 7.51940
MovieRomanceDrama
Ríša, a student of law, neglects his studies in favour of parties and pranks. His angry father refuses to continue helping him out of his debts. Ríša, however, is not entirely beyond hope. He decides to go and stay for a while with his uncle, a priest, who lives in Moravia, in order to prepare for his exams. He meets Helenka, the timid daughter of the local gamekeeper, at a village ball and is enchanted by her. The days pass and their idyllic relationship begins to tire Ríša. He begins to tell Helenka about his former debauched life the about the broken hearts of beautiful women. Helenka is hurt and refuses to see Ríša anymore. His uncle, the priest, is incensed at his behaviour and orders his nephew out of the house. Ríša tries desperately to find Helenka so he can make it up to her.

Director

Days of BetrayalDays of Betrayal · 1973
Days of Betrayal
★ 5.61973
MovieHistoryDrama
This feature film based on the events of 1938 is a chronicle of the futile efforts of the Czechoslovak president Edvard Benes (Jirí Pleskot), politicians and ordinary citizens, to save the independence and the territorial integrity of the state from the advance of Hitler's Germany. On the 29th of March 1938 the leader of the Sudeten Germans Henlein (Werner Ehrlicher) has a meeting with Hitler (Gunnar Möller). Hitler orders him to intensify pressure on the Czechoslovak government. On the 24th of April in Carlsbad, the Sudetendeutsche Partei (Sudeten German Party) decides upon eight demands that are unacceptable to the Czechoslovak President, since they would ultimately lead to the break-up of the Republic. Benes still shows a certain willingness to negotiate, and Henlein resents this. The Germans are determined to make further negotiations impossible through incidents and violence.

Director