Svejk v civilu

"The Good Soldier Svejk" is probably one of the most popular books in Czech 'German' literature. Most of Herr Franz Kafka's published oeuvres were written in German because in those times, the German language was the language of the elite and the Czech language was not very appreciated, spoken by common folks only.

Written by Herr Jaroslav Hasek, who had an incredible and thrilling life equal to Herr Svejk's adventures, the book was his most accomplished literary work, finally giving him both fame and money (although the author died before finishing his oeuvre).

The book tells the story of Herr Svejk, a common, simple minded (but certainly not stupid) man. Discharged from military service due to his not being very bright, he worked as a dealer in stolen dogs in civilian life. He would later join the army again, bringing trouble to anyone around him, living through situations from which he always succeeds.

So, having in mind the popular and funny story of Herr Hasek's book, it was just a question of time before this would be adapted to the silent screen. Herr Gustav Machaty was the third one who did so when he directed "Svejk v Civilu" ( Svejk In Civilian Life ) in the silent year of 1927.

It must be said that Herr Svejk was simply the motivation for Herr Machaty's film adaptation; our clumsy hero is not precisely the principal character of that picture. The story in the film is an original one which doesn't exist in the book. Herr Svejk will simply be the link connecting the four different characters; Frau Lo, a modern rich and whimsical fraulein who has an old admirer, the Baron Camera; Herr Pavel, working as chauffeur for Frau Lo, the latter trying to seduce him but the chauffeur prefers the seamstress Frau Anna who lives in Herr Svejk neighborhood; and last but not least, there is a dog named "Hero" which will involve everyone with each other.

These four will be the principal characters of this funny and stylish comedy in where Herr Svejk has a secondary although important role due to his clumsiness and misunderstandings.

Herr Machaty differentiates the scenes depending on the characters involved; on one hand we have an elegant comedy with a subtle eroticism regarding the "ménage à quatre" and on the other one, the common and funny situations of Herr Svejk and his business partners, a motley bunch of common people inspired by their everyday life and packed with puns and sarcasm.

"Svejk v Civilu" is a very remarkable film, a skillful and rhythmic comedy in which Herr Machaty develops gags in a classical way for a film where the literary background is loosely adapted for the sake of cinematic interests, a fact that certainly is what really matters, that is to say, an inventive silent film, and not a faithful book transcription.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must avoid meeting a Teutonic rich heiress in order to prevent unexpected problems.

Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/

This is not exactly a film version of Jaroslav Hašek Dobrý voják Švejk although it is obviously inspired by it. The film version of the novel itself had appeared he previous year directed by Karel Lamač with Karl Noll in the title-role. There were two further sequels based on the continuation of Hašek's unfinished masterpiece, written almost immediately after his death in 1923 by humorist Karel Vaněk, Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka v ruském zajetí (Švejk on the Russian Front). These two films, again directed by Lamač with Karl Noll were called Švejk na frontě and Švejk v ruském zajetí.

This third instalment appeared in 1927. Unlike the previous sequels this was a Czech-Austrian co-production and a version in German was released in 1928. Given the year's difference it was probably reshot with different actors in the minor roles, a common practice with co-productions at this time. Unlike the others, this also appears to be an original scenario although it is quite possible that Karel Vaněk was also involved and it does not have a wartime setting. Švejk has supposedly returned to his civilian activities as a dog-catcher/dog-seller, his profession before the war.

It is an elegant and sophisticated comedy but Noll's Švejk is no longer at the centre of things as the civil life does not quite suit his peculiar genius in the way that the absurdities of war and the Austro-Hungarian military machine do. So my preference is still for the 1926 Lamač film which survives although in IMDb it has got confused with a 1931 sound remake by Martin Frič. Noll's performance here is excellent and it is altogether a very commendable version) of the original Hašek novel even if it lacks something of the splendour of the later classic 1956 version.

The Frič seems to have sunk without trace and evidently did not enjoy the success of its silent predecessor. As I have pointed out on ther occasions, sound remakes of silent films, contrary to people's preconceptions, are rarely as good as the silent versions unless or until, as in the case of the 1956 remake, they start from scratch once more and make an entirely new film.

Comedy is not really Machaty's forte and this film is not nearly as good as his superb version of The Kreutzer Sonata produced in the same year which gives him better scope for his particularly sensuous style or as the later films, Erotikon and Extasie (with Hedy Kiesler (the future Hedy Lamarr), which brought him such notoriety.