User reviews

There seems to be a certain confusion concerning the various early Czech versions of Dobrý voják Švejk ("shvake" not "svake"). The cast given here is for the 1926 version directed by Karel Lamač ("match" rather than "mats") and starring Karl Noll. Noll played the part in the same year in two sequels directed by Lamač - Švejk na frontě and Švejk v ruském zajetí and in a third, Švejk v civilu, in 1927 directed by Gustav Machatý (this last definitely also available). The sole review that appears at present seems to be of the 1926 version The 1931 version was directed by Martin Frič (Fritsch rather than Fritz)and starred Saša Rašilov but this may well be lost. A copy I found that purported to be of the Frič version was in fact the 1926 version. The 1931 version had sound (there would not have been much point in making it otherwise).

The 1926 version is really not bad at all and Noll is splendid as Švejk but thee film lacks something of the grandeur of the classic 1956-7 version starring the late great Rudolf Hrušínský.