Na komete (1970)

When a comet passes the earth very closely, it pulls a small part of North Africa with it. Carried along is a bunch of people. Among them Angelika, who just escaped from a ruthless weapon ... See full summary »

Director:

Karel Zeman

Writers:

Jan Procházka, Jules Verne (novel)

Stars:

Magda Vásáryová, Emil Horváth, Frantisek Filipovský

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Magda Vásáryová	...	Angelika
Emil Horváth	...	Porucík Servadac (as Emil Horváth ml.)
Frantisek Filipovský	...	plukovník Picard
Cestmír Randa	...	Spanelský konzul
Josef Vetrovec	...	Sejk
Jirina Jirásková	...	Ester
Vladimír Mensík	...	Silberman
Miroslav Holub	...	Hikmet
Karel Effa	...	Kaprál Ben
Josef Hlinomaz	...	kapitán Lacoste
Jaroslav Mares	...	Kaprál Lafitte
Eduard Kohout	...	Murphy
Zdena Bronislavská	...	Tanecnice v kavárne
Steva Marsálek	...	Muhdí (as Stevo Marsálek)
Karel Pavlík	...	Oliphant

Storyline

When a comet passes the earth very closely, it pulls a small part of North Africa with it. Carried along is a bunch of people. Among them Angelika, who just escaped from a ruthless weapon dealer's ship, and her two brothers, who are searching her. Then there's a group of natives, who plan a rebellion against the French colonists. All these conflicts become secondary when the people finally realize that they are doomed to live together on an alien planet. However this time of peace and world-happiness won't last for long...

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Plot Keywords:

czech science fiction | ship | north africa | comet | gun | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

9 October 1970 (Czechoslovakia)

Also Known As:

Hector Servadac's Ark

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmové Studio Gottwaldov, Filmové studio Barrandov, Krátký Film Praha

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Valley of the Dragons (1961)

User Reviews

Pretty good Zeman film but not his best work

I'm a huge fan of Karel Zeman's films so it's hard for me to say which one I think is best, although I have a real weakness for BARON PRASIL and JOURNEY TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME. I finally got to see this and it has good characters and it seems to anticipate the kind of comedy that Monte Python would later end up doing. Based on Verne's story, it involves factions fighting one another who end up on a comet joining forces to survive. As someone else said, the comet looks enough like Earth that if they didn't tell you they were on a comet and the comet didn't have dinosaurs, you'd think they were still back on Earth. When the dinosaurs finally show up, they come in herds and they look pretty good. It's some fine stop-motion animation but it seems kind of tacked on. Photography and music score as usual are top drawer and even the characters are likable if somewhat silly. Overall, there is just no tension or suspense. It's a comedy pretty much so you never really believe anyone is in danger. The animation is excellent as it always is in Zeman's films but this is definitely not his best work. I still think his best work is BARON PRASIL.