Dobrý voják Svejk (1955) - full transcript
Czechoslovakian State Film
PUPPET FILM (PRAGUE)
Presents a Puppet Colour Film
The Fortunes of the
Good Soldier Svejk
A Work by National Artist
JOSEF LADA
Read by State Laureate Prizewinner
J. WERICH
Camera
Editing
Production
Music
Directed and Edited
Jiri Trnka
FROM HATVAN TO THE
GALICIAN BORDER
The station was overcrowded.
It can certainly be said that here was
a mass of trains with troops from
every possible unit of the army.
There was also a train with a
detachment of aircraft.
On other tracks stood wagons
with the same objects, such as
aircraft and guns, but badly broken.
They were shot-down aircraft and
howitzers with their barrels smashed.
And so while everything fresh and
new went up to the front,these
the remnants of glory travelled back to
the base for repair and reconstruction.
To the soldiers who crowded round
the smashed guns and aeroplanes
Lieutenant Dub was just
explaining that they were war booty.
Whatever way you look at it or not,
it's just war booty.
At first sight it looks
a bit tricky when you read
"K und K Austrian Artillery Battalion"
but it was probably like this: the gun
fell into the hands of the Russians
and we had to win it back.
Booty like that is much more valuable
because... because nothing must
be left in the hands of the enemy.
It's like what happened in Przemysl
or with that soldier
who had his field flask
torn off by the enemy.
I have something to return to you, Sir
It was during the Napoleonic wars,
and this soldier went
into the enemy camp at night
and brought the field flask back again.
It was worth it, because in the night
the enemy had drawn spirit rations.
See you make yourself scarce, Svejk
and that I don't find you here again!
Just as you order, Sir.
After Svejk had gone
Lieutenant Dub was still so stupid
that he drew the soldiers' attention
again to a shot-down Austrian plane
which had clearly marked on its
metal frame 'Wiener Neustadt'.
You don't know me yet!
shouted Dub
Perhaps you know my good side.
But when you come to know
my bad side, I'm evil!
You think I'm evil,
I'll make you all cry!
This one we shot down from
the Russians at Lvov,
This one... we shot down from
the Russians at Lvov,
His words were overheard
by Lieutenant Lukas,
who came up and added aloud:
And both Russian pilots were burned.
He left without a word, thinking that
Lieutenant Dub was a prize fool.
Humbly report, Sir, Company
Orderly Svejk awaits further orders.
Humbly report, Sir,
I've already looked for you
in the staff carriage.
Listen, Svejk, you know what
your name is?
Have you already forgotten what
I called you?
You're a...
Humbly report, Sir,
I've not forgotten a thing like that,
because I'm not like a certain
volunteer called Zelezny.
Long before the war, when we
were in Karlin barracks,
there was a Colonel there by
the name Fliedler von Bumerang
Humbly report, Sir,
Our Colonel was half your height, he
had full whiskers like Prince Lobkovic
so that he looked like a monkey,
and when he got angry he jumped
twice as high as he was tall, so
we called him the India-rubber Fossil.
It happened to be the first of May
and we were on alert.
The evening before in the courtyard
he delivered a great speech
saying that the next day we must
all remain in the barracks,
and not move a step outside, so that
in case of need on highest orders,
we could shoot all the Socialist scum.
And so if any soldier had extended
leave of absence today and,
instead of returning to the barracks,
stretched it out until the next day,
he would be committing high treason,
because a drunken bastard like that
couldn't hit a man when salvoes were
fired but would shoot into the air.
So that simple volunteer Zelezny said
that if the India-rubber Fossil wouldn't
let anyone into the barracks next day,
It would therefore be best for him
not to come to the barracks at all
and that's what the
smart fellow did with great gusto!
But this Colonel Fliedler, Sir
was such a lousy swine, God help us,
that next day he went all over Prague
looking if anyone from our regiment
had dared to leave the barracks.
Somewhere near the Powder Tower
he had the luck to run into Zelezny
and immediately let fly at him:
"I'll give you hell! I'll teach you!
I'll make it bloody hot for you!"
He said a great deal more like this
and dragged him off to the barracks.
And all the whole way he said all
sorts of ugly threatening things
and kept on asking him his name.
"Zelezny,
Zelezny, you'll shit for this
"I'm delighted I've caught you.
I'll teach you the first of May!
"I've got you now, Zelezny,
"I'll lock you up, lock you up!"
But Zelezny didn't care any more.
So, as they went along Poric,
around Rozvafilu, Zelezny got away
and cheated the India-rubber Fossil
of the pleasure of clapping him in jail.
The Colonel was so furious
over his escape
that in his rage he forgot the
delinquent's name, got it mixed up,
"Who is he? Really who?"
and when he came back
to the barracks,
began to jump up to the ceiling.
The ceiling was low and
the duty officer was very surprised
that the old Fossil was shouting:
"Clap Medeny into jail!
Don't clap Medeny into jail!
"Clap Oloveny into jail!
Don't clap Oloveny into jail!
"Clap Cinovy into jail!"
And so the old Fossil bullied his staff,
asking if they had caught
Medeny, Oloveny and Cinovy, and
he even called up the whole regiment,
but Zelezny,
whom everybody knew about,
had been drafted into the medical
section because he was a dentist.
Then one day a man from our
regiment succeeded in stabbing,
in the pub U Bucku, a dragoon
who had been running after his girl.
So they formed us into a square
and we all had to come on parade,
even the sick,and if anyone was
very ill, he was held by two others.
And so there was no help for it:
Zelezny had to fall in in the yard
and they read us
the regimental roll-call.
Our Colonel suddenly
discovered Zelezny
"You can't get away from me,
you can't escape anywhere.
"Now I say again
that you're Zelezny
"I keep saying Medeny, Cinovy,
Oloveny, but he's Zelezny
"You bloody bastard Zelezny,
I'll teach you Oloveny,
"Cinovy, Medeny, you bastard
"you swine, you Zelezny!"
And then he gave him 4 weeks' clink
A fortnight later
his teeth began to ache
and he remembered
that Zelezny was a dentist.
So he had him brought out of arrest
to pull his tooth out.
And then, a day later, he
wanted to lock him up again,
but suddenly he became meek, Sir;
and finally sent him kisses!
And so that's what happens, Sir,
when a superior officer forgets
the name of his subordinate.
But a subordinate must never forget
the name of his superior,
just as that Colonel used to tell us.
He said we'd never ever forget that
we had once had a Colonel Fliedler.
Was that story perhaps
a little too long, Sir?
Listen, Svejk, do you know of
any medicinal cognac?
I'm not feeling very well.
If you like, Sir,
I'll find some cognac for you
only I'm afraid that
the train might leave before...
In the end Lieutenant Lukas
assured him
that they would not be leaving
for two hours
and that cognac was being secretly
sold in bottles just behind the station
And here were fifteen crowns
and he should go,
but not tell anybody that it was
for Lieutenant Lukas
or that it was he who sent him,
because it was a
strictly forbidden thing.
You can rest assured, Sir,
that everything will be all right,
because if there's anything I love, it's
forbidden things. I've always been
mixed up in something forbidden
without my even knowing about it.
Once in Karlin barracks
they forbade us...
About turn!
quick march!
Lieutenant Lukas interrupted him.
What are you fooling around here for?
Do you know me?
Humbly report, I don't want to
get to know your bad side.
Humbly report, Sir,
I want to know you only
on your good side,
so you don't have to make me cry
as you said to me last time.
Get away, you bastard!
I'll have something to say to you later!
Immediately behind the
ditch bordering the road
was a hut where all this business
with illicit drinks was transacted.
The soldiers first of all started the
dealings at the baskets,
and a Jew with sidecurls drew out
of the bottom of the basket
an innocent-looking bottle of spirits
and took it under
his kaftan to the wooden shed,
where a soldier hid it discretely in
his trousers or under his tunic.
Svejk directed himself here
while Lieutenant Dub with his
detective talent watched him closely
from the station
Svejk went straight to the first basket.
First he picked out some sweets which
he paid for and put in his pocket,
while the gentleman with sidecurls
whispered to him:
I have some schnapps too,
Honourable soldier!
Svejk went into the shed but did not
hand over the money until
the gentleman with the sidecurls had
opened the bottle
and let Svejk taste the contents.
Svejk was satisfied with the cognac
and returned to the station after
shoving the bottle under his tunic.
Where have you been, you bastard?
Humbly report, Sir,
I've been to buy some sweets.
If the Lieutenant doesn't object...
I've already tasted them
and they're not bad.
They've got a pleasant, special taste
like plum jam, Sir.
What are you carrying there,
you bastard?
Take it out!
Attention!
Humbly report, Sir,
that I pumped a little drinking water
into an empty cognac bottle.
I still have a terrible thirst after
that goulash we had yesterday.
Only the water in that pump,
as you can see, Sir,
is a bit yellow.
It must be iron-rich water, they
are very healthy and good for you.
If you have such a thirst, Svejk,
If you have such a thirst,
then drink, but drink properly.
Drink it all in one draught!
Lieutenant Dub had already
planned in advance
how Svejk would take a few gulps
and be unable to go on,
And how he, Lieutenant Dub,
would have a glorious victory over him
Ah, you wretch!
Humbly report, Sir,
that water really had a taste of iron.
Taste, I'll give you taste!
Come and show me the well
where you got the water from!
It's only a little way from here, Sir,
just there behind that wooden shed.
Walk in front, you scum,
so I can see whether
you can walk straight!
Here is that iron-rich water, Sir.
The panic-stricken man with sidecurls
appeared and Svejk told him
in German to bring a glass as
the lieutenant wanted to drink.
Lieutenant Dub completely lost his
head and drank up the whole glass,
and there spread through his mouth
a flavour of horse urine and manure.
Then, driven completely silly
by what he had experienced,
he gave the sidecurled Jew
five crowns for the glass of water
and turning to Svejk said:
What are you gaping at?
Clear off home!
Humbly report, Sir,
but in five, at the most ten, minutes
I shall be completely out of it
but I'll lie down in my compartment.
I would beg you, Sir, if you would
not call me, Sir,
for the next three hours at least,
and not give me any orders, Sir,
until I've slept it off.
Everything's completely in order,
but Lieutenant Dub caught me.
I told him that it was water
so I had to drink the whole bottle
of cognac in front of him
to show him that it was just water.
Everything is all right,
I didn't give anything away,
and I was also very careful.
But now, humbly report, Sir,
Sir, I'm already beginning to feel it
Beg to report, Sir, I'm used to it
Go away, you brute!
Czechoslovakian State Film
PUPPET FILM (PRAGUE)
Presents a Puppet Colour Film
The Fortunes of the Good Soldier Svejk
A Work by National Artist
JOSEF LADA
Read by State Laureate Prizewinner
J. WERICH
Music
Direction and Editing Jiri Trnka
SVEJK'S MISADVENTURES
IN THE TRAIN
In a second-class compartment
of the Prague-Ceske Budejovice
express there were three people:
Lieutenant Lukas,
a completely bald elderly
gentleman seated opposite,
and Svejk, who stood modestly
at the corridor door,
and was about to hear
a new torrent of curses
from Lieutenant Lukas,
Svejk!
Svejk, they've stolen one of our cases
I dutifully report,
I dutifully report, Sir,"
that they really did steal it.
There are always a lot of crooks
like that knocking about on the station
and I imagine
that one of them undoubtedly
liked your suitcase,
and this crook undoubtedly
took advantage of the moment.
when I went away from our luggage
to tell you
that everything was all right
He probably stole our case
just at that exact moment.
They're sniffing after such an
opportunity.
At stations they always steal
and will keep stealing.
There's no other way.
Svejk, I still don't know whether
you're just playing the mule
or whether you were born one?
What did you want to say, Sir?
The door was closed.
What was in the suitcase?
Nothing in particular, Sir,
only the mirror from the room with
the iron clothes-rack from the hall
so we've haven't suffered any loss
since the mirror and the clothes-rack
both belonged to the landlord.
I dutifully report, Sir,
I had no idea beforehand
that the suitcase would be stolen
and as for the mirror and the
clothes-rack I told the landlord
that we would return them to him
when we came home from the war.
In hostile countries there are many
mirrors and clothes-racks,
so that even in this case
we can't suffer any loss.
As soon as we conquer a city...
Be quiet, Svejk!
I'll have you court-martialled!
Think carefully, if you're not the
bloodiest fool in the world!
You've noticed that?
I dutifully report that
I've noticed it too.
I have, as they say,
a talent for observation
when it's too late and something
unpleasant is happening.
I have the same luck as a certain
Nechleba from Nekazanka,
His grandfather went on a hike...
Svejk!
For God's sake, Svejk, leave
me in peace with your stories!
Dutifully report, Sir,
Everything I tell you is holy truth.
So his grandfather went on a hike...
Svejk!
Show your tickets, please
Maybe this gentleman reading a
newspaper also has a ticket
Well, well, he had one
Be quiet Svejk!
I didn't say anything, please.
Be quiet, Svejk! A million times!
Now I'll be quiet, Lieutenant
Dutifully report, a million times.
In the end Lukas read,
He read of great victories,
read of the activities of the
German submarine 'E ',
he read of a new German
invention for blowing up towns
with the help of aeroplanes.
He read and forgot his sufferings.
Do you happen to be Mr Purknibek,
the representative of Slavia Bank?
Dutifully report, Sir,
I once read in the newspapers
that a normal man ought to
have on his head an average of
60 to 70 thousand hairs
and dark-haired people have fewer,
as can be seen from many examples.
And then also a medic
in U Spirku cafe.
once said that hair loss
was caused by emotional
excitement in the sixth week.
Get out, you swine!
The bald man took Lukas by surprise
when he introduced myself.
The bald man was not
Mr Purknibek of Slavia Bank,
but a Major General
Major General von Schwarzburg.
He was the most frightful
Inspector-general ever born,
and was travelling in civilian dress
to take Budejovice by surprise.
If he found something wrong,
he spoke thus to the Commandant:
"Have you got a revolver?
"You have. Good!
"In your place I would certainly
know what to do with it,
"because what I see here
is not a garrison...
"but a bloody pigsty!"
And indeed after his inspections
someone always shot himself
somewhere or other
The Major-General now gave
a lecture on the fact
that officers spoke with their
subordinates in a familiar tone
and that he saw that as the danger
of democratic principles.
The soldier must be in terror,
he must tremble before his
superior and fear him,
Officers must not allow them
to think independently
or even think at all,
that was the tragic mistake
of recent years.
In the past, the men feared
their officers like fire, but today"
And so on and so on.
Turn!
Quick March!
Halt!
Turn!
Quick March!
Halt!
Right Turn!
March!
Svejk, the moment has finally
come when you are going
to get a couple of slaps such
as the world has never seen!
I dutifully report,Sir,
I never thought that some bald
person would be a Major General!
- Svejk! damn you, shut up
- I had no idea, I dare to report...
- Be silent Svejk!
- But I'm already silent!
- Shut up, damn you!
- It was, as they say, a tragic mistake.
Svejk, and now I'll show you something!
Tunnel, Lieutenant, Sir.
Unfortunately, now we must be careful.
Once a tailor told us when he
was tailoring in Styria,
how he went by train and thought
that he was the only Czech
in the whole train,
Hey, another one!
So, near St Moritz he began to
slice up the ham,
which he had bought in Maribor.
This is a long one, Sir
The gentleman sitting opposite him
began to water at the mouth.
Ah, we've come out.
The tailor noticed it and said:
"You'd like some, you old bastard!"
And the gentleman replied in Czech:
"Man, if you'd give it to me!"
That gentleman's name was Vojtech Rous.
Dutifully report, Sir,
We'll be in Tabor in five minutes.
And the train only stops for
six and a half minutes.
Will you order something to eat?
Some years ago they used to
have some very good...
I wish you good success
May I ask you something, please?
A certain Hoffman, it's some years
ago, used to come to me,
and he always stated that these
alarm signals never work,
that they simply don't work well
when you pull on this handle.
To tell the truth, I've never been
interested in such things,
but since I've noticed
the alarm system here,
I'd like to know what I'm up against
If by chance or necessity or sometime...
I was wondering why
the train stopped so suddenly.
It was going and then suddenly,
if you please, it stopped.
It annoys me more than you.
It will cost you twenty crowns.
To this Svejk repeated
that he was honest
and had no interest in
delaying the train
because he was going further on.
But it's worth twenty crowns,
and it's really still cheap.
Once, when His Imperial Majesty
visited Zizkov,
a certain Franta Snor
stopped his carriage
by kneeling before
His Imperial Majesty in the road.
I dutifully report, Lieutenant,
that they're blaming me
for stopping the train.
Then the police commissioner
told Mr Snor with tears in his eyes
that he ought not to have done it
in his district,
but in a street lower down which
belonged to Commissioner Kraus.
He should have stopped
the carriage there.
After that they put Mr Snor in jail!
So let's get going, shall we?
It's not nice when the train is late.
If it were peacetime, for God's sake
but when there's a war, then
everyone should know that there are
military ranks travelling in every train;
Major Generals, Lieutenants
and batmen.
How long have you been
with the railways, Conductor?
Conductor?
I'll hand you over to
the Stationmaster in Tabor.
Good, I like talking to educated people
and I look forward to seeing the
Stationmaster in Tabor.
Years ago, Mr Wagner was the head
of the station in Svitava.
He was a devil to his subordinates,
teasing them wherever he could,
and was most of all down
on the points man Jungwirt,
EXIT
until the poor man drowned
himself in despair in the river.
Before he did that, he wrote a letter
to the station master
saying that he would come and
haunt him in the night.
Dear Mr Chief
And I'm not lying.
He did it.
In the night our good man was
sitting at his telegraph receiver
the bells rang
and he received the
following telegram:
"How are you, you old bastard?
"How are you, you old bastard?
"How are you?
"you old bastard? Jungwirt."
This lasted a whole week and
the station master
began sending official telegrams:
"Forgive me, Jungwirt.
"Forgive me, Jungwirt.
"Forgive me, Jungwirt.
"Forgive me, Jungwirt."
And in the night the receiver
tapped out the following reply:
"Hang yourself on the
signals at the bridge."
"Jungwirt."
And the station master obeyed.
A while later they jailed the
telegraphist from a station to Svitava.
By this you see, there are things
between heaven and earth
of which we have no idea.
Beer!
Hot sausages!
Hot sausages!
Beers! Beers!
They're taking me to the
station master, Sir.
Lieutenant Lukas did not answer.
He was overcome by complete
apathy to everything.
Svejk then addressing the chief,
declared that he was innocent
Folks! I'm innocent!
The crowd accepted this verdict
and one gentleman announced
that he would pay for
Svejk and added:
"Look at him.
You see that he's innocent!"
The good man who believed
in Svejk's innocence
took him to the third-class restaurant
and gave him a fiver for a ticket
to Budovice and beer,
The train to Gorazdjovice is departing!
Ihre Dokumenten!
Your tokuments?
I zee you here zitting,
nicht travelling, zitting, trinking,
keep on trinking, still trinking!
Don't have them, darling,
Lieutenant Lukas,
of regiment No 91, took them with
him and I stayed here at the station.
Wot is this wort "Darlink"?
"Darlink" -
"Darlink", that's like Sergeant-Major
Efrey soldat most haf tokumenten
Vizout tokuments lock him op
at Bahnhofs-Militarkommando,
ze lousy brute; like mad dog! Yes!
I'm innocent and should be in Budejovice
I'm innocent!
so it turned out to be
a dark night outside Tabor.
I am...
I am...
I went out for a little walk
into the green grove...
Benedict, Windischkrez
Two gentleman soldiers
Benedict, Windischkrez
Two gentleman soldiers
When they prayed...
When they prayed...
When they prayed...
They started the war!
Czechoslovakian State Film
The Fortunes of the
Good Soldier Svejk
A Work by National Artist
JOSEF LADA
Read by State Laureate Prizewinner
J. WERICH
Music
Direction and Editing Jiri Trnka
SVEJK'S BUDEJOVICE ANABASIS
Jesus Christ!
I'm back in Putim where
I slept in the haystack!
Where are you going?
I humbly report, to...Budejovice.'
To my regiment,
But you're going away from Budejovice!
Your Budejovice is right behind you,
The Putim gendarmerie sergeant
was known throughout the district
for his very tactful yet sharp way
of conducting business.
He never swore at those he
detained or arrested,
but subjected them to such a
searching cross-examination
that even an innocent man could
do nothing but confess.
'The secret of criminal investigation
lies in shrewdness and good manners,'
the gendarmerie sergeant always said
'Bellowing at anybody doesn't help.'
Welcome here, soldier,
Sit down comfortably and tell us
where you are going.
Svejk repeated that he was going to
Ceske Budejovice to join his regiment
Then you've surely taken a wrong turn,
because you're now going away
from Ceske Budejovice,
Above us hangs a map of Bohemia.
And there you'll see, soldier.
To the south of us is Protivin.
To the south of Protivin is Hluboka
and south of that...
is what?
Ceske Budejovice.
And so you see you're going
away from Budejovice
And yet I'm going to Budejovice.
You know, soldier,
I shall disabuse you of that idea, and
you yourself will come to share
my opinion that every denial only
makes a confession more difficult!
You're absolutely right,
Every denial makes a
confession more difficult,
...and the contrary.
As you'll see yourself, soldier,
Answer me if you would be so kind,
where you were coming from?
Well?
I came from Tabor.
And what were you doing in Tabor?
I was waiting for a train to Budejovice.
Why didn't you take the
train to Budejovice?
Because I didn't have a railway ticket.
Why, as a soldier,
didn't they give you a free ticket?
Because I had no documents on me.
So
that's it!
He's not as stupid as he pretends
He's starting to spin a good line,.
You were at the station in Tabor,
And what did you do there?
I chatted to the soldiers.
And what, for example,
did you chat about?
and what did you ask them?
What regiment they were from
and where they were going.
Excellent.
And you didn't ask them, for instance,
How many men in the regiment and
how they were distributed?
No, I didn't ask that
because I know it by heart for ages.
So!
So you're perfectly informed about
the composition of our army?
Of course, Sergeant.
Do you speak Russian?
No, I don't, I humbly report
Did you hear that?
He doesn't speak Russian!
He's a cunning one!
He's admitted everything
but the most important thing.
Tomorrow we shall send him to
the district officer in Pisek.
Yes, yes
Criminology depends on
cleverness and good manners.
You saw how I drowned him in
a flood of questions?
Who would have thought that of him!
He looks so stupid and idiotic,
but with such people you must
have your wits about you.
Now you search him properly and
I'll go and write a report about it.
And be careful!
The sergeant took from the
cache a secret instruction from
Prague Headquarters with the
usual: "Strictly Confidential!"
So he could read it over to
himself carefully once more:
That "all gendarmerie stations
are strictly enjoined
"to keep exceptionally careful watch
"on all persons passing
through their district.
"according to confidential
reports, a number of
"Russian intelligence agents
have found their way into Bohemia.
"They speak perfect Czech and
appear to be especially dangerous,
"because they can disseminate
treasonable propaganda
"among the Czech population."
"The regional High Command
therefore orders
"first: that all suspicious
elements must be detained,
"secondly: those detained must
be subject to an immediate search"
search...
"And submit to undergo an
immediate search..."
Tell me, why do you have absolutely
nothing on you?
Because I don't need anything.
Well, and how do you like
being in Bohemia?
I like it everywhere in Bohemia.
On my travels I found
good people everywhere.
People are very good and
well behaved here.
A theft or a brawl here or there
Yes, indeed
Yes, in case I forget..
What did you want to do in Budejovice?
Take up my duty in the 91st regiment.
The sergeant wrote:
The spy, having mastery of
the Czech language,
Planned to enlist in Ceske Budejovice
in the 91st infantry regiment
Lance-corporal!
Lance-corporal!
Lance-corporal! Have you given
the enemy officer anything to eat?
By your orders, Sergeant,
we serve food only to those who are
brought in and interrogated
before twelve o'clock.
This is exceptional, a high-ranking
officer, someone from general staff.
You know, the Russians would never
send just anyone here as a spy.
Send to the "Tom Cat"
for some lunch for him.
If they have nothing left
then cook him something
Then make him some tea with rum,
don't say who it's for,
don't mention to anyone at all
who we've got here.
Lance-corporal!
Lance-corporal! It's a military secret!
The sergeant painted
in his mind alluring pictures
his district commander would
pat him on the back and say:
"I congratulate you Sergeant!"
then would come decorations,
promotion to the highest rank,
and need of his criminological skills
Sergeant...
What is it?
Did he get lunch?
Yes, ham, dumplings and cabbage.
There wasn't any soup left.
he's drunk his tea and
wants another cup.
and said "it's cosy and
warm in here,"
Let him have it!
That's very cunning of him,
He acts as though it
didn't concern him.
And yet he knows that he'll be shot.
We must respect a man like that,
even if he's an enemy
A man like that is going
to certain death.
but he sits there calmly and says:
"it's cosy and warm in here."
I don't know how
we would be in his place...
We might perhaps waver or give in,
Well then now. Did you enjoy it?
It wasn't so bad, Sergeant.
I could have done with a
bit more cabbage.
But never mind!
I know you weren't prepared.
The tea with the rum did me good too.
In Russia, is it true
they drink a lot of tea?
Have they got rum there also?
You can find rum all over
the world, Sergeant.
He's avoiding the question, you hear?
Listen, soldier
Are there pretty girls in Russia?
Pretty girls are also all
over the world, Sergeant.
He'd give anything to
get out of this now.
Be careful.
What did you want to do
in the 91st regiment?
I wanted to go with them to the front.
That's true.
That's the best way
of getting to Russia.
This fellow doesn't bat an eyelid.
That's their military training
Have you ever been to Pisek?
In 1910, at the Imperial manoeuvres.
Did you go through all the manoeuvres?
Of course, Sergeant, as an infantryman.
His plan was as follows:
to insinuate himself
into the 91st infantry regiment,
and at the first opportunity get to
Russia, because he noticed,
that the way back would be impossible
owing to the vigilance
of our security organs
That he would have done well
in the 91st infantry regiment
is quite understandable,
because by his own admission
he confessed, upon a further
cross-examination, that,
in 1910, he took part
in all the Imperial manoeuvres
in the region of Pisek
From this it is clear
that he is very able in his profession.
I should like to add that
the indictments which
I have collected are the result of
my own system of interrogation.
Interrogation...
Sergeant,
Sergeant, he wants to go to the...
Fix bayonets! and bring him here.
So you want to...
Isn't there something else behind this?
Honestly, it's just a question of...
Just to make sure...
I shall accompany you
About turn!
Quick march!
Station yourself at the back
and on the right
so that he doesn't dig his way
out through the cess pit.
I hope I wasn't too long inside?
I hope I haven't kept you waiting?
Oh, not at all, not at all,
I wish you good evening.
Pejzlarka, run to the "Tom Cat" for beer
In my opinion,
it's not right to hang spies.
a man who sacrifices himself for his
duty, for his, as they say, homeland,
should be dispatched honourably,
with powder and lead.
What do you think, Lance-corporal?
Certainly he should just be shot
and not hanged,
Let's say that they
sent for me and said:
"Lance-corporal go and find out
how many machine-guns the enemy
have in their detachment."
And then we had
to disguise ourselves and go.
Why would they have to hang me
like some robber and murderer?
I insist
on being shot and buried
with military honours!
I know!
I know...I know must be done
I know must be done
Correct!
The snag is, if he's clever nobody
can prove anything against him.
And they can, And they can!
If they're equally smart.
Who have they got there?
Some suspicious individual.
Just before I left,
they both had their arms around his
neck and the Sergeant was saying:
"My lovely Slavonic boy!"
"My little spy!"
Tell me that in Russia they haven't
got such good Kontusovka as this!
Yes?
Tell me, so I can go to bed in peace!
Confess it like a man!
You've made me happy.
You've confessed.
That's how it should be!
If I'm guilty, why deny it?
No? I still must add...
in addition, that Russian Kontusovka
that the Russian Kontu...
that the Russian Kontusovka
based on Paragraph 56...
Write, write
So, I am! .Amen
Come on!
Thank you, Sergeant,
for everything you've done for me.
When I have the chance
I'll write to you
Come on!
And if I should ever
come round here again,
I'll visit you!
I never thought the way to Budejovice
would involve such difficulties.
It reminds me of the case of
butcher Chaura from Kobylisy.
One time at night he came to
Palacky's monument in Moran
and went round and round it
until morning,
because he thought that
the wall had no end.
He was so desperate, by morning he
couldn't go on and began to shout:
"Help, police!"
When the police came
he asked them the way to Kobylisy
saying that he'd already been
walking around a wall for five hours
and still there was no end to it.
And so they took him with them and
he smashed everything in his cell.
Hey look! A noose!
It must be poachers.
It's poachers,
Nothing but poachers here,.
They wanted to throw the
sergeant into the water.
The water bailiff on the dam
keeps firing shot at their backsides,
but it doesn't help. They wear a
piece of metal in their trousers, see.
The lance-corporal started to
talk about progress,
How quickly people
get on to everything,
and how people cheat each other.
He developed a new theory
that the war was a great
blessing for humanity,
because in the battles not only
good people were shot
but lots of rogues and bastards too.
In any case there are too
many people in the world,
Each one's breathing
down another's neck
and it's awful how humanity breeds...
how they breed! it's terrible.
That's what I say
and I know must be done,
Come on, Mr Guard!
It's blowing a bloody awful wind, eh
Well, how about a glass? I'm saying
a glass won't do us any harm.
Come on and don't tell anybody
I'm taking you to Pisek.
It's a state secret.
It mustn't get out who you are,
Panic.
We mustn't allow panic to spread.
Panic is a very bad thing
in times of war,
You say something and it spreads like
an avalanche over the whole region.
I know what must be done
Well, I shan't spread any panic here,
My brother here,
says we'll be in Pisek in an hour.
And so your brother's got leave?
Today's his last day!
We fooled him all right!
Only, no panic,
it's wartime.
a few drinks can't hurt,
insisted the brave lance-corporal
when he took Sveijk to the pub
He was an optimist; when he had
drunk twelve he he stated quite firmly
that the District Commander
would be at dinner until 8.00,
and that there was no point
in arriving there earlier
and apart from that,
a blizzard was coming up.
There was plenty of time.
As they said in "The Ram",
until 9.00, there was enough time
And it didn't matter whether
they went now or later.
Pisek wouldn't run away.
Let's be glad we're
sitting in a warm place,
In the trenches
they go through more than us
The lance-corporal
declared a contest
inviting the landlord to
keep up with him
accusing him of drinking too little,
which was obvious slander
because he could hardly stand
on his legs and he claimed that
in the night he'd heard
gunfire in the east,
at which the lance-corporal
hissed "Just no panic!"
This is no good.
I could easily lose you.
Have you got handcuffs on you?
Every gendarme
must carry handcuffs
it's our daily bread.
District Police Headquarters
PISEK
Breathe on me!
Now I understand,
Rum, Kontusovka, Cert, Jerabinka,
Orechovka, Visnovka
Breathe again!
...and Vanillkova
Coming here drunk, totally sozzled.
Crawling here like an animal!
Well, what?
He's got a report.
A report on him will go to court!
Lock him up!
Lock him up! Lock him up!
I told you last time, Lance-corporal...
that the biggest bloody fool
I've ever known
is the police Sergeant in Protivin,
but judging by this report here
the sergeant from Putim
has gone one better.
Here he writes such rubbish,
that every little child could see
that he was as drunk
as a Papal prelate.
These people don't know me.
I can be a devil!
Until I've made them shit
with fright three times a day
they seem to think they can
put one over on me!
Which regiment
have you deserted from?
From no regiment.
I serve in the 91st regiment
and not only did I not desert,
but the opposite
So you can't find your regiment?
Let's see,
and where did you look?
Tabor, Milevsko, Kvetov,
Vraz, Malcin, Cizova, Sedlec,
Horazovice, Radomysl, Putim,
Strakonice, Volyn, Dub, Putim,
I'll come at 6 when my husband
goes out. Kiss you, your Kitten
PUPPET FILM (PRAGUE)
Presents a Puppet Colour Film
The Fortunes of the
Good Soldier Svejk
A Work by National Artist
JOSEF LADA
Read by State Laureate Prizewinner
J. WERICH
Camera
Editing
Production
Music
Directed and Edited
Jiri Trnka
FROM HATVAN TO THE
GALICIAN BORDER
The station was overcrowded.
It can certainly be said that here was
a mass of trains with troops from
every possible unit of the army.
There was also a train with a
detachment of aircraft.
On other tracks stood wagons
with the same objects, such as
aircraft and guns, but badly broken.
They were shot-down aircraft and
howitzers with their barrels smashed.
And so while everything fresh and
new went up to the front,these
the remnants of glory travelled back to
the base for repair and reconstruction.
To the soldiers who crowded round
the smashed guns and aeroplanes
Lieutenant Dub was just
explaining that they were war booty.
Whatever way you look at it or not,
it's just war booty.
At first sight it looks
a bit tricky when you read
"K und K Austrian Artillery Battalion"
but it was probably like this: the gun
fell into the hands of the Russians
and we had to win it back.
Booty like that is much more valuable
because... because nothing must
be left in the hands of the enemy.
It's like what happened in Przemysl
or with that soldier
who had his field flask
torn off by the enemy.
I have something to return to you, Sir
It was during the Napoleonic wars,
and this soldier went
into the enemy camp at night
and brought the field flask back again.
It was worth it, because in the night
the enemy had drawn spirit rations.
See you make yourself scarce, Svejk
and that I don't find you here again!
Just as you order, Sir.
After Svejk had gone
Lieutenant Dub was still so stupid
that he drew the soldiers' attention
again to a shot-down Austrian plane
which had clearly marked on its
metal frame 'Wiener Neustadt'.
You don't know me yet!
shouted Dub
Perhaps you know my good side.
But when you come to know
my bad side, I'm evil!
You think I'm evil,
I'll make you all cry!
This one we shot down from
the Russians at Lvov,
This one... we shot down from
the Russians at Lvov,
His words were overheard
by Lieutenant Lukas,
who came up and added aloud:
And both Russian pilots were burned.
He left without a word, thinking that
Lieutenant Dub was a prize fool.
Humbly report, Sir, Company
Orderly Svejk awaits further orders.
Humbly report, Sir,
I've already looked for you
in the staff carriage.
Listen, Svejk, you know what
your name is?
Have you already forgotten what
I called you?
You're a...
Humbly report, Sir,
I've not forgotten a thing like that,
because I'm not like a certain
volunteer called Zelezny.
Long before the war, when we
were in Karlin barracks,
there was a Colonel there by
the name Fliedler von Bumerang
Humbly report, Sir,
Our Colonel was half your height, he
had full whiskers like Prince Lobkovic
so that he looked like a monkey,
and when he got angry he jumped
twice as high as he was tall, so
we called him the India-rubber Fossil.
It happened to be the first of May
and we were on alert.
The evening before in the courtyard
he delivered a great speech
saying that the next day we must
all remain in the barracks,
and not move a step outside, so that
in case of need on highest orders,
we could shoot all the Socialist scum.
And so if any soldier had extended
leave of absence today and,
instead of returning to the barracks,
stretched it out until the next day,
he would be committing high treason,
because a drunken bastard like that
couldn't hit a man when salvoes were
fired but would shoot into the air.
So that simple volunteer Zelezny said
that if the India-rubber Fossil wouldn't
let anyone into the barracks next day,
It would therefore be best for him
not to come to the barracks at all
and that's what the
smart fellow did with great gusto!
But this Colonel Fliedler, Sir
was such a lousy swine, God help us,
that next day he went all over Prague
looking if anyone from our regiment
had dared to leave the barracks.
Somewhere near the Powder Tower
he had the luck to run into Zelezny
and immediately let fly at him:
"I'll give you hell! I'll teach you!
I'll make it bloody hot for you!"
He said a great deal more like this
and dragged him off to the barracks.
And all the whole way he said all
sorts of ugly threatening things
and kept on asking him his name.
"Zelezny,
Zelezny, you'll shit for this
"I'm delighted I've caught you.
I'll teach you the first of May!
"I've got you now, Zelezny,
"I'll lock you up, lock you up!"
But Zelezny didn't care any more.
So, as they went along Poric,
around Rozvafilu, Zelezny got away
and cheated the India-rubber Fossil
of the pleasure of clapping him in jail.
The Colonel was so furious
over his escape
that in his rage he forgot the
delinquent's name, got it mixed up,
"Who is he? Really who?"
and when he came back
to the barracks,
began to jump up to the ceiling.
The ceiling was low and
the duty officer was very surprised
that the old Fossil was shouting:
"Clap Medeny into jail!
Don't clap Medeny into jail!
"Clap Oloveny into jail!
Don't clap Oloveny into jail!
"Clap Cinovy into jail!"
And so the old Fossil bullied his staff,
asking if they had caught
Medeny, Oloveny and Cinovy, and
he even called up the whole regiment,
but Zelezny,
whom everybody knew about,
had been drafted into the medical
section because he was a dentist.
Then one day a man from our
regiment succeeded in stabbing,
in the pub U Bucku, a dragoon
who had been running after his girl.
So they formed us into a square
and we all had to come on parade,
even the sick,and if anyone was
very ill, he was held by two others.
And so there was no help for it:
Zelezny had to fall in in the yard
and they read us
the regimental roll-call.
Our Colonel suddenly
discovered Zelezny
"You can't get away from me,
you can't escape anywhere.
"Now I say again
that you're Zelezny
"I keep saying Medeny, Cinovy,
Oloveny, but he's Zelezny
"You bloody bastard Zelezny,
I'll teach you Oloveny,
"Cinovy, Medeny, you bastard
"you swine, you Zelezny!"
And then he gave him 4 weeks' clink
A fortnight later
his teeth began to ache
and he remembered
that Zelezny was a dentist.
So he had him brought out of arrest
to pull his tooth out.
And then, a day later, he
wanted to lock him up again,
but suddenly he became meek, Sir;
and finally sent him kisses!
And so that's what happens, Sir,
when a superior officer forgets
the name of his subordinate.
But a subordinate must never forget
the name of his superior,
just as that Colonel used to tell us.
He said we'd never ever forget that
we had once had a Colonel Fliedler.
Was that story perhaps
a little too long, Sir?
Listen, Svejk, do you know of
any medicinal cognac?
I'm not feeling very well.
If you like, Sir,
I'll find some cognac for you
only I'm afraid that
the train might leave before...
In the end Lieutenant Lukas
assured him
that they would not be leaving
for two hours
and that cognac was being secretly
sold in bottles just behind the station
And here were fifteen crowns
and he should go,
but not tell anybody that it was
for Lieutenant Lukas
or that it was he who sent him,
because it was a
strictly forbidden thing.
You can rest assured, Sir,
that everything will be all right,
because if there's anything I love, it's
forbidden things. I've always been
mixed up in something forbidden
without my even knowing about it.
Once in Karlin barracks
they forbade us...
About turn!
quick march!
Lieutenant Lukas interrupted him.
What are you fooling around here for?
Do you know me?
Humbly report, I don't want to
get to know your bad side.
Humbly report, Sir,
I want to know you only
on your good side,
so you don't have to make me cry
as you said to me last time.
Get away, you bastard!
I'll have something to say to you later!
Immediately behind the
ditch bordering the road
was a hut where all this business
with illicit drinks was transacted.
The soldiers first of all started the
dealings at the baskets,
and a Jew with sidecurls drew out
of the bottom of the basket
an innocent-looking bottle of spirits
and took it under
his kaftan to the wooden shed,
where a soldier hid it discretely in
his trousers or under his tunic.
Svejk directed himself here
while Lieutenant Dub with his
detective talent watched him closely
from the station
Svejk went straight to the first basket.
First he picked out some sweets which
he paid for and put in his pocket,
while the gentleman with sidecurls
whispered to him:
I have some schnapps too,
Honourable soldier!
Svejk went into the shed but did not
hand over the money until
the gentleman with the sidecurls had
opened the bottle
and let Svejk taste the contents.
Svejk was satisfied with the cognac
and returned to the station after
shoving the bottle under his tunic.
Where have you been, you bastard?
Humbly report, Sir,
I've been to buy some sweets.
If the Lieutenant doesn't object...
I've already tasted them
and they're not bad.
They've got a pleasant, special taste
like plum jam, Sir.
What are you carrying there,
you bastard?
Take it out!
Attention!
Humbly report, Sir,
that I pumped a little drinking water
into an empty cognac bottle.
I still have a terrible thirst after
that goulash we had yesterday.
Only the water in that pump,
as you can see, Sir,
is a bit yellow.
It must be iron-rich water, they
are very healthy and good for you.
If you have such a thirst, Svejk,
If you have such a thirst,
then drink, but drink properly.
Drink it all in one draught!
Lieutenant Dub had already
planned in advance
how Svejk would take a few gulps
and be unable to go on,
And how he, Lieutenant Dub,
would have a glorious victory over him
Ah, you wretch!
Humbly report, Sir,
that water really had a taste of iron.
Taste, I'll give you taste!
Come and show me the well
where you got the water from!
It's only a little way from here, Sir,
just there behind that wooden shed.
Walk in front, you scum,
so I can see whether
you can walk straight!
Here is that iron-rich water, Sir.
The panic-stricken man with sidecurls
appeared and Svejk told him
in German to bring a glass as
the lieutenant wanted to drink.
Lieutenant Dub completely lost his
head and drank up the whole glass,
and there spread through his mouth
a flavour of horse urine and manure.
Then, driven completely silly
by what he had experienced,
he gave the sidecurled Jew
five crowns for the glass of water
and turning to Svejk said:
What are you gaping at?
Clear off home!
Humbly report, Sir,
but in five, at the most ten, minutes
I shall be completely out of it
but I'll lie down in my compartment.
I would beg you, Sir, if you would
not call me, Sir,
for the next three hours at least,
and not give me any orders, Sir,
until I've slept it off.
Everything's completely in order,
but Lieutenant Dub caught me.
I told him that it was water
so I had to drink the whole bottle
of cognac in front of him
to show him that it was just water.
Everything is all right,
I didn't give anything away,
and I was also very careful.
But now, humbly report, Sir,
Sir, I'm already beginning to feel it
Beg to report, Sir, I'm used to it
Go away, you brute!
Czechoslovakian State Film
PUPPET FILM (PRAGUE)
Presents a Puppet Colour Film
The Fortunes of the Good Soldier Svejk
A Work by National Artist
JOSEF LADA
Read by State Laureate Prizewinner
J. WERICH
Music
Direction and Editing Jiri Trnka
SVEJK'S MISADVENTURES
IN THE TRAIN
In a second-class compartment
of the Prague-Ceske Budejovice
express there were three people:
Lieutenant Lukas,
a completely bald elderly
gentleman seated opposite,
and Svejk, who stood modestly
at the corridor door,
and was about to hear
a new torrent of curses
from Lieutenant Lukas,
Svejk!
Svejk, they've stolen one of our cases
I dutifully report,
I dutifully report, Sir,"
that they really did steal it.
There are always a lot of crooks
like that knocking about on the station
and I imagine
that one of them undoubtedly
liked your suitcase,
and this crook undoubtedly
took advantage of the moment.
when I went away from our luggage
to tell you
that everything was all right
He probably stole our case
just at that exact moment.
They're sniffing after such an
opportunity.
At stations they always steal
and will keep stealing.
There's no other way.
Svejk, I still don't know whether
you're just playing the mule
or whether you were born one?
What did you want to say, Sir?
The door was closed.
What was in the suitcase?
Nothing in particular, Sir,
only the mirror from the room with
the iron clothes-rack from the hall
so we've haven't suffered any loss
since the mirror and the clothes-rack
both belonged to the landlord.
I dutifully report, Sir,
I had no idea beforehand
that the suitcase would be stolen
and as for the mirror and the
clothes-rack I told the landlord
that we would return them to him
when we came home from the war.
In hostile countries there are many
mirrors and clothes-racks,
so that even in this case
we can't suffer any loss.
As soon as we conquer a city...
Be quiet, Svejk!
I'll have you court-martialled!
Think carefully, if you're not the
bloodiest fool in the world!
You've noticed that?
I dutifully report that
I've noticed it too.
I have, as they say,
a talent for observation
when it's too late and something
unpleasant is happening.
I have the same luck as a certain
Nechleba from Nekazanka,
His grandfather went on a hike...
Svejk!
For God's sake, Svejk, leave
me in peace with your stories!
Dutifully report, Sir,
Everything I tell you is holy truth.
So his grandfather went on a hike...
Svejk!
Show your tickets, please
Maybe this gentleman reading a
newspaper also has a ticket
Well, well, he had one
Be quiet Svejk!
I didn't say anything, please.
Be quiet, Svejk! A million times!
Now I'll be quiet, Lieutenant
Dutifully report, a million times.
In the end Lukas read,
He read of great victories,
read of the activities of the
German submarine 'E ',
he read of a new German
invention for blowing up towns
with the help of aeroplanes.
He read and forgot his sufferings.
Do you happen to be Mr Purknibek,
the representative of Slavia Bank?
Dutifully report, Sir,
I once read in the newspapers
that a normal man ought to
have on his head an average of
60 to 70 thousand hairs
and dark-haired people have fewer,
as can be seen from many examples.
And then also a medic
in U Spirku cafe.
once said that hair loss
was caused by emotional
excitement in the sixth week.
Get out, you swine!
The bald man took Lukas by surprise
when he introduced myself.
The bald man was not
Mr Purknibek of Slavia Bank,
but a Major General
Major General von Schwarzburg.
He was the most frightful
Inspector-general ever born,
and was travelling in civilian dress
to take Budejovice by surprise.
If he found something wrong,
he spoke thus to the Commandant:
"Have you got a revolver?
"You have. Good!
"In your place I would certainly
know what to do with it,
"because what I see here
is not a garrison...
"but a bloody pigsty!"
And indeed after his inspections
someone always shot himself
somewhere or other
The Major-General now gave
a lecture on the fact
that officers spoke with their
subordinates in a familiar tone
and that he saw that as the danger
of democratic principles.
The soldier must be in terror,
he must tremble before his
superior and fear him,
Officers must not allow them
to think independently
or even think at all,
that was the tragic mistake
of recent years.
In the past, the men feared
their officers like fire, but today"
And so on and so on.
Turn!
Quick March!
Halt!
Turn!
Quick March!
Halt!
Right Turn!
March!
Svejk, the moment has finally
come when you are going
to get a couple of slaps such
as the world has never seen!
I dutifully report,Sir,
I never thought that some bald
person would be a Major General!
- Svejk! damn you, shut up
- I had no idea, I dare to report...
- Be silent Svejk!
- But I'm already silent!
- Shut up, damn you!
- It was, as they say, a tragic mistake.
Svejk, and now I'll show you something!
Tunnel, Lieutenant, Sir.
Unfortunately, now we must be careful.
Once a tailor told us when he
was tailoring in Styria,
how he went by train and thought
that he was the only Czech
in the whole train,
Hey, another one!
So, near St Moritz he began to
slice up the ham,
which he had bought in Maribor.
This is a long one, Sir
The gentleman sitting opposite him
began to water at the mouth.
Ah, we've come out.
The tailor noticed it and said:
"You'd like some, you old bastard!"
And the gentleman replied in Czech:
"Man, if you'd give it to me!"
That gentleman's name was Vojtech Rous.
Dutifully report, Sir,
We'll be in Tabor in five minutes.
And the train only stops for
six and a half minutes.
Will you order something to eat?
Some years ago they used to
have some very good...
I wish you good success
May I ask you something, please?
A certain Hoffman, it's some years
ago, used to come to me,
and he always stated that these
alarm signals never work,
that they simply don't work well
when you pull on this handle.
To tell the truth, I've never been
interested in such things,
but since I've noticed
the alarm system here,
I'd like to know what I'm up against
If by chance or necessity or sometime...
I was wondering why
the train stopped so suddenly.
It was going and then suddenly,
if you please, it stopped.
It annoys me more than you.
It will cost you twenty crowns.
To this Svejk repeated
that he was honest
and had no interest in
delaying the train
because he was going further on.
But it's worth twenty crowns,
and it's really still cheap.
Once, when His Imperial Majesty
visited Zizkov,
a certain Franta Snor
stopped his carriage
by kneeling before
His Imperial Majesty in the road.
I dutifully report, Lieutenant,
that they're blaming me
for stopping the train.
Then the police commissioner
told Mr Snor with tears in his eyes
that he ought not to have done it
in his district,
but in a street lower down which
belonged to Commissioner Kraus.
He should have stopped
the carriage there.
After that they put Mr Snor in jail!
So let's get going, shall we?
It's not nice when the train is late.
If it were peacetime, for God's sake
but when there's a war, then
everyone should know that there are
military ranks travelling in every train;
Major Generals, Lieutenants
and batmen.
How long have you been
with the railways, Conductor?
Conductor?
I'll hand you over to
the Stationmaster in Tabor.
Good, I like talking to educated people
and I look forward to seeing the
Stationmaster in Tabor.
Years ago, Mr Wagner was the head
of the station in Svitava.
He was a devil to his subordinates,
teasing them wherever he could,
and was most of all down
on the points man Jungwirt,
EXIT
until the poor man drowned
himself in despair in the river.
Before he did that, he wrote a letter
to the station master
saying that he would come and
haunt him in the night.
Dear Mr Chief
And I'm not lying.
He did it.
In the night our good man was
sitting at his telegraph receiver
the bells rang
and he received the
following telegram:
"How are you, you old bastard?
"How are you, you old bastard?
"How are you?
"you old bastard? Jungwirt."
This lasted a whole week and
the station master
began sending official telegrams:
"Forgive me, Jungwirt.
"Forgive me, Jungwirt.
"Forgive me, Jungwirt.
"Forgive me, Jungwirt."
And in the night the receiver
tapped out the following reply:
"Hang yourself on the
signals at the bridge."
"Jungwirt."
And the station master obeyed.
A while later they jailed the
telegraphist from a station to Svitava.
By this you see, there are things
between heaven and earth
of which we have no idea.
Beer!
Hot sausages!
Hot sausages!
Beers! Beers!
They're taking me to the
station master, Sir.
Lieutenant Lukas did not answer.
He was overcome by complete
apathy to everything.
Svejk then addressing the chief,
declared that he was innocent
Folks! I'm innocent!
The crowd accepted this verdict
and one gentleman announced
that he would pay for
Svejk and added:
"Look at him.
You see that he's innocent!"
The good man who believed
in Svejk's innocence
took him to the third-class restaurant
and gave him a fiver for a ticket
to Budovice and beer,
The train to Gorazdjovice is departing!
Ihre Dokumenten!
Your tokuments?
I zee you here zitting,
nicht travelling, zitting, trinking,
keep on trinking, still trinking!
Don't have them, darling,
Lieutenant Lukas,
of regiment No 91, took them with
him and I stayed here at the station.
Wot is this wort "Darlink"?
"Darlink" -
"Darlink", that's like Sergeant-Major
Efrey soldat most haf tokumenten
Vizout tokuments lock him op
at Bahnhofs-Militarkommando,
ze lousy brute; like mad dog! Yes!
I'm innocent and should be in Budejovice
I'm innocent!
so it turned out to be
a dark night outside Tabor.
I am...
I am...
I went out for a little walk
into the green grove...
Benedict, Windischkrez
Two gentleman soldiers
Benedict, Windischkrez
Two gentleman soldiers
When they prayed...
When they prayed...
When they prayed...
They started the war!
Czechoslovakian State Film
The Fortunes of the
Good Soldier Svejk
A Work by National Artist
JOSEF LADA
Read by State Laureate Prizewinner
J. WERICH
Music
Direction and Editing Jiri Trnka
SVEJK'S BUDEJOVICE ANABASIS
Jesus Christ!
I'm back in Putim where
I slept in the haystack!
Where are you going?
I humbly report, to...Budejovice.'
To my regiment,
But you're going away from Budejovice!
Your Budejovice is right behind you,
The Putim gendarmerie sergeant
was known throughout the district
for his very tactful yet sharp way
of conducting business.
He never swore at those he
detained or arrested,
but subjected them to such a
searching cross-examination
that even an innocent man could
do nothing but confess.
'The secret of criminal investigation
lies in shrewdness and good manners,'
the gendarmerie sergeant always said
'Bellowing at anybody doesn't help.'
Welcome here, soldier,
Sit down comfortably and tell us
where you are going.
Svejk repeated that he was going to
Ceske Budejovice to join his regiment
Then you've surely taken a wrong turn,
because you're now going away
from Ceske Budejovice,
Above us hangs a map of Bohemia.
And there you'll see, soldier.
To the south of us is Protivin.
To the south of Protivin is Hluboka
and south of that...
is what?
Ceske Budejovice.
And so you see you're going
away from Budejovice
And yet I'm going to Budejovice.
You know, soldier,
I shall disabuse you of that idea, and
you yourself will come to share
my opinion that every denial only
makes a confession more difficult!
You're absolutely right,
Every denial makes a
confession more difficult,
...and the contrary.
As you'll see yourself, soldier,
Answer me if you would be so kind,
where you were coming from?
Well?
I came from Tabor.
And what were you doing in Tabor?
I was waiting for a train to Budejovice.
Why didn't you take the
train to Budejovice?
Because I didn't have a railway ticket.
Why, as a soldier,
didn't they give you a free ticket?
Because I had no documents on me.
So
that's it!
He's not as stupid as he pretends
He's starting to spin a good line,.
You were at the station in Tabor,
And what did you do there?
I chatted to the soldiers.
And what, for example,
did you chat about?
and what did you ask them?
What regiment they were from
and where they were going.
Excellent.
And you didn't ask them, for instance,
How many men in the regiment and
how they were distributed?
No, I didn't ask that
because I know it by heart for ages.
So!
So you're perfectly informed about
the composition of our army?
Of course, Sergeant.
Do you speak Russian?
No, I don't, I humbly report
Did you hear that?
He doesn't speak Russian!
He's a cunning one!
He's admitted everything
but the most important thing.
Tomorrow we shall send him to
the district officer in Pisek.
Yes, yes
Criminology depends on
cleverness and good manners.
You saw how I drowned him in
a flood of questions?
Who would have thought that of him!
He looks so stupid and idiotic,
but with such people you must
have your wits about you.
Now you search him properly and
I'll go and write a report about it.
And be careful!
The sergeant took from the
cache a secret instruction from
Prague Headquarters with the
usual: "Strictly Confidential!"
So he could read it over to
himself carefully once more:
That "all gendarmerie stations
are strictly enjoined
"to keep exceptionally careful watch
"on all persons passing
through their district.
"according to confidential
reports, a number of
"Russian intelligence agents
have found their way into Bohemia.
"They speak perfect Czech and
appear to be especially dangerous,
"because they can disseminate
treasonable propaganda
"among the Czech population."
"The regional High Command
therefore orders
"first: that all suspicious
elements must be detained,
"secondly: those detained must
be subject to an immediate search"
search...
"And submit to undergo an
immediate search..."
Tell me, why do you have absolutely
nothing on you?
Because I don't need anything.
Well, and how do you like
being in Bohemia?
I like it everywhere in Bohemia.
On my travels I found
good people everywhere.
People are very good and
well behaved here.
A theft or a brawl here or there
Yes, indeed
Yes, in case I forget..
What did you want to do in Budejovice?
Take up my duty in the 91st regiment.
The sergeant wrote:
The spy, having mastery of
the Czech language,
Planned to enlist in Ceske Budejovice
in the 91st infantry regiment
Lance-corporal!
Lance-corporal!
Lance-corporal! Have you given
the enemy officer anything to eat?
By your orders, Sergeant,
we serve food only to those who are
brought in and interrogated
before twelve o'clock.
This is exceptional, a high-ranking
officer, someone from general staff.
You know, the Russians would never
send just anyone here as a spy.
Send to the "Tom Cat"
for some lunch for him.
If they have nothing left
then cook him something
Then make him some tea with rum,
don't say who it's for,
don't mention to anyone at all
who we've got here.
Lance-corporal!
Lance-corporal! It's a military secret!
The sergeant painted
in his mind alluring pictures
his district commander would
pat him on the back and say:
"I congratulate you Sergeant!"
then would come decorations,
promotion to the highest rank,
and need of his criminological skills
Sergeant...
What is it?
Did he get lunch?
Yes, ham, dumplings and cabbage.
There wasn't any soup left.
he's drunk his tea and
wants another cup.
and said "it's cosy and
warm in here,"
Let him have it!
That's very cunning of him,
He acts as though it
didn't concern him.
And yet he knows that he'll be shot.
We must respect a man like that,
even if he's an enemy
A man like that is going
to certain death.
but he sits there calmly and says:
"it's cosy and warm in here."
I don't know how
we would be in his place...
We might perhaps waver or give in,
Well then now. Did you enjoy it?
It wasn't so bad, Sergeant.
I could have done with a
bit more cabbage.
But never mind!
I know you weren't prepared.
The tea with the rum did me good too.
In Russia, is it true
they drink a lot of tea?
Have they got rum there also?
You can find rum all over
the world, Sergeant.
He's avoiding the question, you hear?
Listen, soldier
Are there pretty girls in Russia?
Pretty girls are also all
over the world, Sergeant.
He'd give anything to
get out of this now.
Be careful.
What did you want to do
in the 91st regiment?
I wanted to go with them to the front.
That's true.
That's the best way
of getting to Russia.
This fellow doesn't bat an eyelid.
That's their military training
Have you ever been to Pisek?
In 1910, at the Imperial manoeuvres.
Did you go through all the manoeuvres?
Of course, Sergeant, as an infantryman.
His plan was as follows:
to insinuate himself
into the 91st infantry regiment,
and at the first opportunity get to
Russia, because he noticed,
that the way back would be impossible
owing to the vigilance
of our security organs
That he would have done well
in the 91st infantry regiment
is quite understandable,
because by his own admission
he confessed, upon a further
cross-examination, that,
in 1910, he took part
in all the Imperial manoeuvres
in the region of Pisek
From this it is clear
that he is very able in his profession.
I should like to add that
the indictments which
I have collected are the result of
my own system of interrogation.
Interrogation...
Sergeant,
Sergeant, he wants to go to the...
Fix bayonets! and bring him here.
So you want to...
Isn't there something else behind this?
Honestly, it's just a question of...
Just to make sure...
I shall accompany you
About turn!
Quick march!
Station yourself at the back
and on the right
so that he doesn't dig his way
out through the cess pit.
I hope I wasn't too long inside?
I hope I haven't kept you waiting?
Oh, not at all, not at all,
I wish you good evening.
Pejzlarka, run to the "Tom Cat" for beer
In my opinion,
it's not right to hang spies.
a man who sacrifices himself for his
duty, for his, as they say, homeland,
should be dispatched honourably,
with powder and lead.
What do you think, Lance-corporal?
Certainly he should just be shot
and not hanged,
Let's say that they
sent for me and said:
"Lance-corporal go and find out
how many machine-guns the enemy
have in their detachment."
And then we had
to disguise ourselves and go.
Why would they have to hang me
like some robber and murderer?
I insist
on being shot and buried
with military honours!
I know!
I know...I know must be done
I know must be done
Correct!
The snag is, if he's clever nobody
can prove anything against him.
And they can, And they can!
If they're equally smart.
Who have they got there?
Some suspicious individual.
Just before I left,
they both had their arms around his
neck and the Sergeant was saying:
"My lovely Slavonic boy!"
"My little spy!"
Tell me that in Russia they haven't
got such good Kontusovka as this!
Yes?
Tell me, so I can go to bed in peace!
Confess it like a man!
You've made me happy.
You've confessed.
That's how it should be!
If I'm guilty, why deny it?
No? I still must add...
in addition, that Russian Kontusovka
that the Russian Kontu...
that the Russian Kontusovka
based on Paragraph 56...
Write, write
So, I am! .Amen
Come on!
Thank you, Sergeant,
for everything you've done for me.
When I have the chance
I'll write to you
Come on!
And if I should ever
come round here again,
I'll visit you!
I never thought the way to Budejovice
would involve such difficulties.
It reminds me of the case of
butcher Chaura from Kobylisy.
One time at night he came to
Palacky's monument in Moran
and went round and round it
until morning,
because he thought that
the wall had no end.
He was so desperate, by morning he
couldn't go on and began to shout:
"Help, police!"
When the police came
he asked them the way to Kobylisy
saying that he'd already been
walking around a wall for five hours
and still there was no end to it.
And so they took him with them and
he smashed everything in his cell.
Hey look! A noose!
It must be poachers.
It's poachers,
Nothing but poachers here,.
They wanted to throw the
sergeant into the water.
The water bailiff on the dam
keeps firing shot at their backsides,
but it doesn't help. They wear a
piece of metal in their trousers, see.
The lance-corporal started to
talk about progress,
How quickly people
get on to everything,
and how people cheat each other.
He developed a new theory
that the war was a great
blessing for humanity,
because in the battles not only
good people were shot
but lots of rogues and bastards too.
In any case there are too
many people in the world,
Each one's breathing
down another's neck
and it's awful how humanity breeds...
how they breed! it's terrible.
That's what I say
and I know must be done,
Come on, Mr Guard!
It's blowing a bloody awful wind, eh
Well, how about a glass? I'm saying
a glass won't do us any harm.
Come on and don't tell anybody
I'm taking you to Pisek.
It's a state secret.
It mustn't get out who you are,
Panic.
We mustn't allow panic to spread.
Panic is a very bad thing
in times of war,
You say something and it spreads like
an avalanche over the whole region.
I know what must be done
Well, I shan't spread any panic here,
My brother here,
says we'll be in Pisek in an hour.
And so your brother's got leave?
Today's his last day!
We fooled him all right!
Only, no panic,
it's wartime.
a few drinks can't hurt,
insisted the brave lance-corporal
when he took Sveijk to the pub
He was an optimist; when he had
drunk twelve he he stated quite firmly
that the District Commander
would be at dinner until 8.00,
and that there was no point
in arriving there earlier
and apart from that,
a blizzard was coming up.
There was plenty of time.
As they said in "The Ram",
until 9.00, there was enough time
And it didn't matter whether
they went now or later.
Pisek wouldn't run away.
Let's be glad we're
sitting in a warm place,
In the trenches
they go through more than us
The lance-corporal
declared a contest
inviting the landlord to
keep up with him
accusing him of drinking too little,
which was obvious slander
because he could hardly stand
on his legs and he claimed that
in the night he'd heard
gunfire in the east,
at which the lance-corporal
hissed "Just no panic!"
This is no good.
I could easily lose you.
Have you got handcuffs on you?
Every gendarme
must carry handcuffs
it's our daily bread.
District Police Headquarters
PISEK
Breathe on me!
Now I understand,
Rum, Kontusovka, Cert, Jerabinka,
Orechovka, Visnovka
Breathe again!
...and Vanillkova
Coming here drunk, totally sozzled.
Crawling here like an animal!
Well, what?
He's got a report.
A report on him will go to court!
Lock him up!
Lock him up! Lock him up!
I told you last time, Lance-corporal...
that the biggest bloody fool
I've ever known
is the police Sergeant in Protivin,
but judging by this report here
the sergeant from Putim
has gone one better.
Here he writes such rubbish,
that every little child could see
that he was as drunk
as a Papal prelate.
These people don't know me.
I can be a devil!
Until I've made them shit
with fright three times a day
they seem to think they can
put one over on me!
Which regiment
have you deserted from?
From no regiment.
I serve in the 91st regiment
and not only did I not desert,
but the opposite
So you can't find your regiment?
Let's see,
and where did you look?
Tabor, Milevsko, Kvetov,
Vraz, Malcin, Cizova, Sedlec,
Horazovice, Radomysl, Putim,
Strakonice, Volyn, Dub, Putim,
I'll come at 6 when my husband
goes out. Kiss you, your Kitten