Biography
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 directed was 1937's Panenství. His 1938 film The Merry Wives was praised in Variety for "first-rate direction, a salty yarn and elaborate production effort", even though it had undergone certain cuts because it was considered too "ribald" by American censors. Vávra was a member of the Communist Party from 1945 to 1989. After the Communists seized power in 1948, Vávra adapted quickly to the new political climate and produced films praising the current regime and supporting the new, official interpretation of the past. In the 1950s he filmed the "Hussite Trilogy", one of his most famous works, consisting of Jan Hus (1954), Jan Žižka (1955) and Against All (1957).[2] In the 1960s, Vávra made his most celebrated films Zlatá reneta (1965), Romance for Bugle (1966) and Witchhammer (1969). Romance for Bugle was entered into the 5th Moscow International Film Festival where it won the Special Silver Prize. In the 1970s Vávra produced his "War Trilogy" consisting of semi-documentary movies Dny zrady, Sokolovo and Osvobození Prahy, all being heavily influenced by communist propaganda. The film Dny zrady (Days of Betrayal, 1973) was entered into the 8th Moscow International Film Festival where it won a Diploma. In 1979 he was a member of the jury at the 11th Moscow International Film Festival. Since the 1950s Vávra taught film direction at Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Among his students were several directors of the "Czech New Wave".
Directed 40
1980s
- 1986
Veronika
Director
- 1985
Oldrich and Bozena
Director
- 1984
Komediant
Director
- 1983
Putování Jana Amose
Director
- 1980
Dark Sun
Director
1970s
- 1978
A Story of Love and Honor
Director
- 1977
The Liberation of Prague
Director
- 1975
- 1973
Days of Betrayal
Director
- 1970
1960s
- 1969
The Thirteenth Chamber
Director
- 1967
Romance for Bugle
Director
- 1965
Golden Queen
Director
- 1961
The Night Guest
Director
August Sunday
Director
Policejní hodina
Director
- 1960
První parta
Director
1950s
- 1959
Občan Brych
Director
- 1957
Against All
Director
- 1956
Jan Žižka
Director
- 1955
Jan Hus
Director
1940s
- 1949
Silent Barricade
Director
- 1948
Krakatit
Director
- 1946
The Adventurous Bachelor
Director
- 1945
Rozina the Love Child
Director
- 1943
Happy Journey
Director
- 1942
Přijdu hned
Director
Okouzlená
Director
- 1941
Turbina
Director
- 1940
May Fairy Tale
Director
The Masked Lover
Director
Pacientka dr. Hegla
Director
The Girl in Blue
Director
1930s
- 1939
The Magic House
Director
Humoreska
Director
- 1938
The Merry Wives
Director
- 1937
History of Philosophy
Director
Virginity
Director
Camel Through The Eye Of A Needle
Director
- 1931
Wrote 56
1980s
- 1986
Veronika
Screenplay
- 1985
Oldrich and Bozena
Screenplay
- 1984
Komediant
Screenplay
- 1983
Putování Jana Amose
Screenplay, Story
- 1980
Dark Sun
Screenplay
1970s
- 1978
A Story of Love and Honor
Screenplay
- 1977
The Liberation of Prague
Screenplay, Story
- 1975
- 1973
Days of Betrayal
Story, Screenplay
- 1970
1960s
- 1969
The Thirteenth Chamber
Screenplay
- 1967
Romance for Bugle
Screenplay
- 1965
Golden Queen
Screenplay
- 1961
The Night Guest
Screenplay
August Sunday
Screenplay
Policejní hodina
Screenplay
- 1960
První parta
Screenplay
1950s
- 1959
Občan Brych
Screenplay
- 1957
Against All
Creative Producer, Screenplay
- 1956
Jan Žižka
Screenplay, Creative Producer, Story
- 1955
Jan Hus
Story, Screenplay
- 1954
Shoesmachine
Screenplay
- 1951
Posel úsvitu
Creative Producer
- 1950
Racek Is Late
Creative Producer
1940s
- 1949
Rodinné trampoty oficiála Tříšky
Creative Producer
Hostinec „U kamenného stolu“
Story, Screenplay, Creative Producer
Silent Barricade
Creative Producer, Screenplay
Na dobré stopě
Creative Producer
- 1948
Krakatit
Creative Producer, Screenplay
- 1946
The Adventurous Bachelor
Screenplay
- 1945
Rozina the Love Child
Screenplay
- 1943
Happy Journey
Screenplay
- 1942
Přijdu hned
Screenplay
Okouzlená
Screenplay
- 1941
Turbina
Screenplay
- 1940
May Fairy Tale
Screenplay
The Masked Lover
Screenplay
Pacientka dr. Hegla
Screenplay
The Girl in Blue
Screenplay
1930s
- 1939
The Magic House
Screenplay
Humoreska
Screenplay
- 1938
The Merry Wives
Screenplay
Její pastorkyně
Screenplay
- 1937
Hlídač č. 47
Screenplay
History of Philosophy
Screenplay
Virginity
Screenplay
Morality Above All Else
Screenplay
Camel Through The Eye Of A Needle
Screenplay
- 1936
A Little Street in Paradise
Writer
Uličnice
Screenplay
Passage in the Paradise
Screenplay, Story
Three Men in the Snow
Screenplay
- 1935
Bezdětná
Screenplay
The Eleventh Commandment
Screenplay
Maryša
Screenplay
- 1931
Acted in 1
1980s
- 1987
The Great Movie Robbery
Movie
Edited 1
1930s
- 1931
Appearances3
2010s
- 2018
CzechMate: In Search of Jiří Menzel
Self
2000s
- 2005
Searching for Ester
Himself
1950s
- 1958
A Box of Film
Self