Krakatit (1948)

Based on a novel by Karel Capek, a prominent Czech writer of the early 20th century, who coined the word robot for his play R.U.R., the story revolves around a discovery of Krakatit-a ... See full summary »

Director:

Otakar Vávra

Writers:

Karel Capek (novel), Otakar Vávra (screenplay)

Stars:

Karel Höger, Florence Marly, Eduard Linkers

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Karel Höger	...	Prokop
Florence Marly	...	Princess Wilhelmina Hagen
Eduard Linkers	...	Carson
Jirí Plachý	...	D'Hemon (Daimon)
Natasa Tanská	...	Anci Tomes
Frantisek Smolík	...	Dr. Tomes
Miroslav Homola	...	Jiri Tomes
Vlasta Fabiánová	...	The Veiled Woman / The Revolutionist Woman
Jaroslav Prucha	...	Old Mail Carrier
Jirina Petrovická	...	The Nurse (framing sequences)
Jaroslav Zrotal	...	The Doctor (framing sequences)
Bedrich Vrbský	...	Baron Rohn
Bohus Hradil	...	Holz (as B. Hradil)
Frantisek Vnoucek	...	Agitational Orator [Script Name: Rosse]
Karel Dostal	...	Professor in Dream

Storyline

Based on a novel by Karel Capek, a prominent Czech writer of the early 20th century, who coined the word robot for his play R.U.R., the story revolves around a discovery of Krakatit-a powerful explosive by Prokop, the main character of the movie. After an accidental explosion in the lab, exhausted Prokop slips in and out of dream-like hallucinations. He later realizes that in his altered state of consciousness he had given the formula for making Krakatit to one of his colleagues, and he tries to stop its spread before it is too late. But there are too many dark, powerful forces interested in the ultimate explosive.

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Plot Keywords:

euro noir | czech scientist | czech science fiction | scientific discovery | science gone wrong | 

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Genres:

Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

28 April 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Krakatit - Ingen vil dø

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ceskoslovenská Filmová Spolecnost

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remade as Temné slunce (1980)

User Reviews

Unique Czech drama.

In the brief window of opportunity between the WW2 expulsion of the Nazis and the Communist take over, the Czech cinema produced films which appear to be superior to those done there before or for decades to come. KRAKATIT is the most remarkable of them we know.

It's the work of long time survivor director Vavra and features his regular leading man Hoger and globe trotting leading lady Marly (L'ALIBI, SEALED VERDICT, PLANET OF BLOOD) who has a comparatively small role and it treats a story by Capek, the country's then famous author of "R.U.R" the play that gave the word robot to the world. The original, I'm told, did not contain the A bomb analogy the film uses.

Slipping in and out of hallucination Hoger fantasizes about the ultimate explosive. The black and white imagery and the structure are well on the way to being the most imaginative of it's day. The laboratory scene anticipates one famous American film of the sixties in a way unlikely to be a coincidence. The brooding, damp atmosphere the film communicates lingers in the memory of most people who see it.

Vavra remained the industry's key figure but failed to match this work which should be more widely circulated.