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Against All
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Wikipedia article
'Against All' is a 1956 Czechoslovak historical drama film directed by Otakar Vvra. It is based on the novel 'Proti vem' by Alois Jirsek. The film's budget was 25 million Ks which made it the most expensive Czech film of the time. Itis the third part of Vvra's cinematic Hussite Revolutionary Trilogy. The plot is set after Jan ika and concludes the entire trilogy. It takes place in 1420. The central motif of the film is the fight between the Hussites and the troops of the First anti-Hussite crusade led by the heir to the Bohemian throne, the Hungarian King and Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg. We also follow the development of Tbor and the disputes between the moderate party of Jan ika and the radical Picarts of Petr Kni.
Cast
* Zdenk tpnek as Jan ika z Trocnova
* Gustav Hilmar as Ctibor z Hvozdna
* Vlasta Matulov as Zdena
* as Provost
* Jan Pivec as Zikmund Lucembursk
* as Jan Bydlinsky
* Vclav Voska as
* Jana Rybov as Marta
* Petr Hanicinec as Ondrej z Hvozdna
* Stanislav Neumann as Sakristian
* Jaroslav Vojta as Simon
* as Oldrich Rozmberk
* as
* Frantiek Hork as Jan elivsk
* Josef Kotapi as Pippo Spano
* Rudolf Hrunsk as Christian of Prachatice
Plot
In the beginning, the Provost of the Louovice monastery along with the local sacristan and young novice Marta are fleeing from a mob of looting Taborites. They find refuge in the fortress of the yeoman Ctibor from Hvozdno, who protects them from their pursuers. The trio escapes and manages to hide in Pbnice castle with the powerful lord Oldich of Romberk. Most of the inhabitants of the village and also the Yeoman's daughter Zdena join the Tborites as they pass through Hvozdno. Villagers reach Tbor and are received there. Zdena is enchanted by one of the Tbor priests, Jan Bydlinsk.
The provost of Louovice persuades the Lord Romberk to side with King Sigismund of Luxembourg, who was just about to invade Bohemia at the head of a crusade. For the promised financial reward, young Romberk agrees to attack the weakened town of Tbor. With this news, the Provost goes to Kutn Hora, where Sigismund and his army are located planning to attacki Prague. Provost meets Ctibor of Hvozdno who heads to Tbor to see his daughter. Dispute begins to grow between the priests of Tbor who demand to defend themselves in the Tbor and the hejtman ika, who recommends coming to the aid of Prague threatened by Sigismund's army. A group of listeners begins to gather around fanatical priests Petr Kni and Jan Bydlinsk, including the Yeoman's daughter Zdena who listens to priests against her father's will.
The Provost of Louovice arrives in Kutn Hora, where the Germans throw the Hussites into the empty shafts of the local silver mines. Here, the provost informs King Sigismund about the position of Oldich of Romberk. A delegation from Prague arrives tonegotiate with Sigismun, desperately trying to beg for mercy from Sigismund. Sigismund declines to negotiate with the Hussite envoys and thus force them to ask for help from the rural Hussites and especially the South Bohemian camps. In Tbor ika's side prevails after hearing news from Prague and most of the local Hussites are getting ready to leave for the threatened Prague. The yeoman Ctibor and his nephew Ondej also leave against their father's will. Zdena decides to stay in the city together with Bydlinsk, Kni and their people.
The lord of Romberk marches against the weakened Tbor with his army supported by the troops of the Austrian Duke Albrecht. In Romberk's army there is also novice Marta, the Provost and sacristan of Louovice. The camp is besieged and barely resists the odds. ika sends cavalry from Prague to the aid of the besieged Tbor. With an unexpected attack, the Hussites manage to defeat the besiegers and save Tbor. AProvost and Sacristan of Louovice are captured and executed by Hussites. Novice Marta and her maid are saved from death by young Ondej of Hvozdno.
After the primary danger has been extinguished, there is a definitive split in Tbor. Radicals led by Kni leave the city for the foothills of the conquered Pbnice castle. Zdena and Jan Bydlinsk also leave together as they fall in love. In Pbnice, Kni seduces his listeners, and these fanatics burn the Zeman's daughter Zdena and Kni's son Bydlinsk alive. Not even Ctibor the yeomancan save his daughter.
In the finale of the entire film, Prague, where Hussites have already arrived, is preparing for an attack by the Crusader troops, who are besieging the capital from three sides. The only supply route to Prague is the path from Posk brna, which leads around Vtkov Hill. ika therefore fortifies this strategic point with very small group. Larrge crusader army attacks Vtkov Hill. ika's group defends it but is vastly outnumbered. Crusaders are eventually defeated when reinforcements from Prague arrive. King Sigismund is defeated and the crusade falls apart. The Hussites celebrate this great victory at the end of film.
Production
The film Against All was shot in 1956 in studios in Barrandov. Exteriors were shot in Radotn. Historians Jan Durdk and Eduard Wagner participated in the production as historical and military advisors. The music was conducted by Ji Srnka and arranged by the Film Symphony Orchestra and Aus-Vt Nejedl Choir conducted by Frantiek Belfn. Ji Trnka also participated in the film as head of the costume section. Filming took place with the participation of units of the Czechoslovak army and clubs of Svazarm, which supplied horses for the filming, and the Institute of Military History. The budget of 25 million Czechoslovak crowns made the film Against All the most expensive film in the history of Czechoslovak film at the time.
Reception
Like other parts of Vvra's Hussite trilogy the film is valued to this day for its monumentality, set, costumes and successful battle scenes. Nevertheless, this film is often criticized for its excessive use of the regime of the 1950s, its schematicity, its constructive enthusiasm and its distortion of history.
References
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