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Jan Werich

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Name
  
Jan Werich


Role
  
Actor

Jan Werich image2findagravecomphotos250photos200732523

Born
  
February 6, 1905 (
1905-02-06
)

Occupation
  
actor, playwright and writer

Died
  
October 31, 1980, Czechoslovakia

Spouse
  
Zdena Werichova (m. 1929–1980)

Movies
  
Fimfarum Jana Wericha, The Emperor and the G, Fimfarum 2, Once Upon a Time - There Wa, The Three Veterans

Jan werich t i veter ni


Jan Werich ( [ˈjan ˈvɛrɪx]; 6 February 1905 – 31 October 1980) was a Czech actor, playwright and writer.

Contents

Jan Werich Jan Werich idovsk anekdoty 2 1966 YouTube

B-complex ft Jan Werich - Past Lessons For The Future


Early life

Jan Werich Moudr klaun Jan Werich rozdval radost a drdil

Between 1916 and 1924, Werich attended "reálné gymnasium" (equivalent to high school) in Křemencová Street in Prague (where his future partner, Jiří Voskovec, also studied). He studied law at the Charles University Law School from 1924 to 1927, from which he made an early departure to begin his artistic career and forge one of the most important partnerships of his life.

Theater

Jan Werich Jan Werich Fotogalerie FDbcz

His collaboration with Jiří Voskovec and Jaroslav Ježek lasted for more than 10 years. Their partnership was a platform for their numerous left-wing political satires. The trio's work took inspiration from Dada, with its love of the absurd, a reaction against bourgeois values and the horrors of World War I.

Jan Werich Jan Werich A pioneer in Czech theatre and film Prague Blog

In the years leading up to World War II and the closure of Czechoslovak theatres, Werich, Voskovec and Ježek were forced into exile in the United States in 1938, where Voskovec and Ježek remained for the rest of their lives. Werich returned to his homeland five years later, and started a partnership with Miroslav Horníček. He also worked with famous puppeteer Jiří Trnka to write modern fairy tales. With his new partner Miroslav Horníček at his side, he re-staged many of the plays he had created with Voskovec in the 1930s but set them in the political content specific to the time.

Film

Jan Werich appeared in such films as Byl jednou jeden král (English: Once Upon a Time There Was a King), which was released in 1955, and made many political compromises to appease the Communist censors. The 1960s were a peak in Werich's career. From the creation of the ABC Theatre he moved to the City Theatres of Prague and then to the Musical Theatre of Karlin and Nusle.

Werich was originally cast by producer Harry Saltzman to play Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice. Upon his arrival at the Pinewood set, both producer Albert R. Broccoli and director Lewis Gilbert felt that he was a poor choice, resembling a "poor, benevolent Santa Claus". Nonetheless, in an attempt to make the casting work, Gilbert continued filming. After several days, both Gilbert and Broccoli determined that Werich was not menacing enough, and recast Blofeld with Donald Pleasence in the role.

Politics

Jan Werich signed the pro-reform manifesto 2000 Words in 1968. After the Soviet invasion of 1968, he and his wife immediately fled to Vienna along with many other Czechs at the time. After long deliberations he realized he had to go back, saying that his "home was his castle" and realizing that if he stayed abroad he would never work again. He returned to Czechoslovakia in early 1969. Werich met with Voskovec for the very last time in Vienna, Austria in 1974. He had limited opportunities to perform in public until his death in 1980. His last public appearance was in Prague's Lucerna in 1977.

He did not sign the Charter 77 proclamation, organized by Václav Havel, but in the end he succumbed to pressure from the Communist authorities and in order to be able to work again, publicly proclaimed his full loyalty to the regime, by attending "Anti-charta77" meetings and even signing a petition denouncing Charter 77. He later claimed he was tricked into signing and that he did not really know what his signature was for, as the original attendance document signed open entry was potentially substituted for a later "declaration of faith".

Death

Werich died on 31 October 1980 at the age of 75.

Theatre

(in cooperation with Jiří Voskovec)

  • Vest Pocket Revue - 1927
  • Smoking Revue - 1928
  • Si pořádně zařádit (Having a Spree) - 1928; based upon Nestroy's Einen Jux will er sich machen
  • Gorilla ex Machina - 1928
  • Kostky jsou vrženy (The Dice are Cast) - 1929
  • Premiéra skafandr (The Diving Suit) - 1929
  • Líčení se odročuje (The Trial is Adjourned) - 1929
  • Fata Morgana - 1929
  • Ostrov Dynamit (Dynamite Island) - 1930
  • Sever proti Jihu (North Against South) - 1930
  • Don Juan and Co. - 1931
  • Golem - 1931
  • Caesar – 1932
  • Robin zbojník (Robin Hood) - 1932
  • Svět za mřížemi (A World Behind Bars) - 1933 (script collaboration also with Adolf Hoffmeister)
  • Osel a stín (Ass and Shadow) - 1933
  • Slaměný klobouk (The Straw Hat) - 1933; based upon Labiche's The Italian Straw Hat
  • Kat a blázen (Executioner and Fool) - 1934; an anti-fascist work and critique (the German Embassy protested that this play insulted their head of state, and as a result, Werich and Voskovec were expelled from the theatre "U Nováků")
  • Vždy s úsměvem (Keep Smiling) - 1934
  • Panoptikum (The Wax Museum) - 1935
  • Balada z hadrů – (Rag Ballad) - 1935; draws from the works of François Villon.
  • Nebe na Zemi (Heaven on Earth) - 1936; based on Fletcher's The Spanish Curate
  • Rub a líc (Heads or Tails) - 1936; later made into the Svět patří nám film
  • Panorama - 1937
  • Těžká Barbora – (Heavy Barbora) - 1937; depicts a conflict between two fictional nations, Eidamští ("Edams") and Yberlandští ("Yberlanders"), the latter attacking the former, the former then employ two soldiers (Werich and Voskovec), that build a cheese canon (Těžká Barbora)
  • Pěst na oko – (A Fist in the Eye) - 1938; humans refuse to take a lesson from history and constantly repeat the same mistake
  • Divotvorný hrnec - (The Wondermaking Pot) - 1946; a musical comedy based on Finian's Rainbow by 'Yip' Harburg and Fred Saidy

  • Literary works

  • Fimfárum - fairy tales not only for children
  • Italské prázdniny (Italian Holliday)
  • Potlach
  • Falstaffovo babí léto
  • Lincoln 1933
  • Povídky nejen o psech - published posthumunously, a revival of his former wish to write a story book about dogs. There were not enough stories however and so it was renamed and other stories were added - some of them has been previously published and some are originals, from manuscripts and letters.
  • Filmography

    Actor
    1972
    Pan Tau (TV Series) as
    Pan Viola / Mr. Viola
    - Pan Tau a tisíc kouzel (1972) - Pan Viola
    - Pan Tau a taxikár (1972) - Mr. Viola
    - Hledá se pan Tau (1972) - Mr. Viola
    - Pan Tau v cirkusu (1972) - Pan Viola
    - Pan Tau to zarídí (1972) - Pan Viola
    - Pan Tau a cesta kolem sveta (1972) - Mr. Viola
    - Pan Tau a Claudie (1972) - Pan Viola
    1969
    Nedele 1969 (Short) as
    Narrator (voice)
    1968
    Klapzubova jedenáctka (TV Series) as
    Vypravec
    - To chce klid (1968)
    - Jde se na to (1968) - Vypravec
    1968
    Assignment K as
    Dr. Spiegler
    1967
    Král a zena (TV Movie) as
    King Henry VIII
    1967
    The 25th Hour as
    Sgt. Constantin
    1965
    Magnetické vlny lécí (TV Movie) as
    Jeff Peters
    1964
    Drahý zesnulý (TV Movie) as
    Dedecek
    1964
    Krik as
    Narrator (voice)
    1963
    Usporená libra (TV Movie) as
    Sam
    1963
    When the Cat Comes as
    kastelán Oliva / kouzelník
    1963
    Slzy, které svet nevidí (Short) as
    Lieutenant Colonel Fedor Rebrotesov
    1962
    Kocár nejsvetejsí svátosti (TV Movie) as
    Don Andrés de Ribera - Viceroy of Peru
    1962
    The Fabulous Baron Munchausen as
    Ship's Captain
    1961
    Medved (Short) as
    Grigori Stepanovich Smirnov
    1961
    Italienisches Capriccio as
    Don Marzio
    1960
    Balada z hadru (TV Movie) as
    Holofern
    1960
    Stastný lev (Short) as
    Narrator (voice)
    1960
    Tezká Barbora (TV Movie) as
    Druhý zoldnér
    1958
    Tragédie vodníkova (Short) as
    Singing Narrator (voice)
    1958
    La création du monde as
    Narrator (Czech version)
    1956
    Vzorný kinematograf Haska Jaroslava as
    Storyteller (voice)
    1955
    Hudba z Marsu as
    Nadsený divák
    1955
    Psohlavci as
    rychtár z Pocínovic
    1955
    There Was Once a King... as
    King Já I. ("Myself, First")
    1954
    The Good Soldier Schweik as
    Narrator
    1953
    Two Little Frosts (Short) as
    Nebojacný mrazík (voice)
    1953
    Tajemství krve
    1952
    The Emperor and the Golem as
    Rudolf II / pekar Matej
    1951
    The Golden Fish (Short) as
    Narrator (voice)
    1950
    The Fall of Berlin as
    Hermann Goering (as Y. Verikh)
    1937
    The World Is Ours as
    Camlet
    1934
    U nás v Kocourkove as
    Ferdinand Kaplan - Convict no. 1313
    1934
    Workers, Let's Go as
    Jakub Simonides
    1932
    Powder and Petrol
    1932
    Your Money or Your Life as
    Tonda
    Writer
    2014
    Rehtacky (Short) (short story "Tri sestry a jeden prsten")
    2012
    Voskovec & Werich - paralelní osudy (TV Movie documentary) (letters)
    2011
    Fimfarum: The Third Time Lucky 3D (based on the book by)
    2007
    More, strýcku, proc je slané? (Short)
    2006
    Tri sestry a jeden prsten (Short)
    2006
    Fimfárum 2 (book "Fimfárum")
    2002
    Fimfárum Jana Wericha (book "Fimfárum")
    1997
    Rumplcimprcampr (TV Movie) (story)
    1987
    Lakomá Barka (Short) (story - book "Fimfárum")
    1984
    Kolobezka první (TV Movie) (story)
    1984
    The Three Veterans (book "Fimfárum") / (fairy tale)
    1981
    Královna Kolobezka I. (Short) (short story "Královna Kolobezka I.")
    1981
    Prisel na veceri (TV Movie) (adaptation)
    1972
    Slamený klobouk (play "Helenka je ráda" - uncredited)
    1968
    Prilozte zivotopis (TV Mini Series)
    1967
    Král a zena (TV Movie) (screenplay)
    1963
    Ostrov Dynamit (TV Movie) (play "Ostrov Dynamit") / (teleplay)
    1963
    Tri veteráni (TV Movie) (short story "Tri veteráni")
    1963
    Usporená libra (TV Movie) (dialogue)
    1963
    When the Cat Comes (screenplay and dialogue)
    1962
    Kocár nejsvetejsí svátosti (TV Movie)
    1961
    Zacátek konce (TV Movie)
    1960
    Balada z hadru (TV Movie) (play)
    1960
    Tezká Barbora (TV Movie) (play)
    1958
    Tragédie vodníkova (Short) (song)
    1958
    Helenchen ist glücklich (TV Movie) (writer)
    1957
    Slamený klobouk (TV Movie) (play "Helenka je ráda")
    1955
    There Was Once a King... (screenplay - dialogue)
    1954
    The Good Soldier Schweik (adaptation)
    1953
    Tajemství krve (writer)
    1952
    The Emperor and the Golem (screenplay) / (story)
    1951
    The Golden Fish (Short)
    1937
    The World Is Ours (play) / (screenplay)
    1936
    The Man of Stone (play - as Werich)
    1934
    Workers, Let's Go (screenplay)
    1932
    Powder and Petrol (play)
    1932
    Your Money or Your Life (play) / (screenplay) / (story)
    Miscellaneous
    1967
    You Only Live Twice (body double: Blofeld character - uncredited)
    Soundtrack
    2019
    The End of Dejvice Theatre (TV Mini Series) (lyrics - 1 episode)
    - Smejdi (2019) - (lyrics: "Zivot je jen náhoda")
    2019
    LOVEhunt (lyrics: "Zivot je jen náhoda")
    2017
    Ceny Andel 2016 (TV Special) (lyrics: "Tri strázníci")
    2017
    Zahradnictví: Rodinný prítel (lyrics: "V dome strasí duch", "Proti vetru", "Zakázané ovoce") / (performer: "V dome strasí duch", "Proti vetru")
    -
    Bohéma (TV Mini Series) (lyrics - 2 episodes, 2017) (music - 1 episode, 2017)
    - A prece se tocí (2017) - (music: "Zivot je jen náhoda")
    - Past na svedomí (2017) - (lyrics: "Zivot je jen náhoda")
    - Snad to nebude tak hrozné (2017) - (lyrics: "Zivot je jen náhoda")
    -
    Kovy (TV Series) (lyrics - 1 episode, 2016) (performer - 1 episode, 2016)
    - Týden v Japonsku (2016) - (lyrics: "Saty delaj cloveka") / (performer: "Saty delaj cloveka")
    2014
    Sto dvacet fóru Semaforu (TV Movie documentary) (lyrics: "Nebe na zemi", "Nikdo nic nikdy nemá míti za definitivní", "Klobouk ve kroví")
    2013
    Czech Journal (TV Series documentary) (lyrics - 1 episode)
    - Zivot a smrt v Tanvaldu (2013) - (lyrics: "Nebe na zemi")
    2011
    Nicky's Family (Documentary) (lyrics: "Proti Vetru (Into the Wind)" music by nm0422506)
    2010
    My jsme to nevzdali (TV Movie) (lyrics: "Kat a blázen")
    2003
    Zelary (lyrics: "Zakázané ovoce")
    1999
    Pelísky (lyrics: "Nebe na zemi")
    1991
    Muj prítel d'Artagnan (lyrics: "Holduj tanci pohybu")
    1983
    Fandy, ó Fandy (lyrics: "Svítá")
    1981
    Dneska prisel nový kluk (writer: "Zivot je jen náhoda", "David a Goliás", "Co na svete mám rád")
    1979
    Písnicky z celuloidu (TV Movie) (lyrics: "Vyznání lásky", "Zivot je jen náhoda", "Tragédie vodníkova", "Stonozka", "Saty delaj cloveka", "Nebe na zemi")
    1977
    Silvestr na prání aneb Cí jsou hory Kavcí (TV Movie) (lyrics: "Hej rup!", "Zivot je jen náhoda")
    1975
    Smrt krásných srncu (Short) (lyrics: "Pochod stoprocentních muzu") / (performer: "Pochod stoprocentních muzu")
    1974
    Ruzová sobota (TV Movie) (lyrics: "Kdyz jsem kytici vázala")
    1964
    Audition (Documentary) (lyrics: "Lodnická")
    1937
    The World Is Ours (lyrics: "Stonozka", "Svet patrí nám") / (performer: "Stonozka", "Svet patrí nám")
    1934
    U nás v Kocourkove (lyrics: "Saty delaj' cloveka") / (performer: "Saty delaj' cloveka")
    1932
    Powder and Petrol (lyrics: "Nikdy nic nikdo nemá", "Ezop a brabenec") / (performer: "Nikdy nic nikdo nemá", "Ezop a brabenec")
    1932
    Your Money or Your Life (lyrics: "Peníze nebo zivot", "Zivot je jen náhoda") / (performer: "Peníze nebo zivot")
    Self
    1971
    Pan Tau Nachrichten (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    1971
    Muz, ktery rozdaval smich (Documentary) as
    Self
    1970
    Herecké Vánoce (TV Movie) as
    Self
    1968
    Co tomu ríkáte, pane Werich? (TV Mini Series short) as
    Self
    - Episode #1.9 (1968) - Self
    - Episode #1.8 (1968) - Self
    - Episode #1.7 (1968) - Self
    - Episode #1.5 (1968) - Self
    - Episode #1.4 (1968) - Self
    - Episode #1.3 (1968) - Self
    - Episode #1.2 (1968) - Self
    - Episode #1.6 (1968) - Self
    - Episode #1.1 (1968) - Self
    1968
    NET Festival (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Prague, June 1968: A Summer of Music (1968) - Self
    1968
    Prilozte zivotopis (TV Mini Series) as
    Self
    1965
    Sie filmen an der Moldau - Begegnungen mit Prager Schauspielern (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    1963
    Sest otázek pro Jana Wericha (Documentary short) as
    Self
    1957
    To jsou Bratri v triku (Documentary short) as
    Self
    1939
    Crisis (Documentary) as
    Self
    Archive Footage
    2021
    Jan Werich: If Somebody Already Is (Documentary) as
    Self
    2019
    Jiri Suchy - Tackling Life with Ease (Documentary) as
    Self
    2019
    Prahou s panem Tau a Arabelou (TV Movie documentary)
    2018
    Palmovka (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self (uncredited)
    2017
    Cervená (Documentary)
    2012
    Voskovec & Werich - paralelní osudy (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    2012
    Komici na jednicku (TV Series documentary)
    - Jirí Voskovec a Jan Werich (2012)
    2011
    Fimfarum: The Third Time Lucky 3D as
    Narrator
    2007
    More, strýcku, proc je slané? (Short) as
    Narrator
    2006
    Tri sestry a jeden prsten (Short) as
    Narrator
    2006
    Fimfárum 2 as
    Narrator
    2005
    Tri strázníci (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    2002
    Best Ever Bond (TV Movie documentary) as
    Blofeld (unused Stills from You Only Live Twice) (uncredited)
    2002
    Fimfárum Jana Wericha as
    Narrator
    2002
    Predcasná úmrtí (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Blues samotárky (2002) - Self
    1996
    Usmevy (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Usmevy Jirího Voskovce a Jana Wericha (2001) - Self
    - Usmevy Jana Wericha (1996) - Self
    1995
    Hledání ztraceného casu (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - V+W známí i neznámí 1. cást (1995) - Self
    - V+W známí i neznámí 2. cást (1995) - Self
    - Poslední rozhovor (1995) - Self
    1991
    Az opadá listí z dubu (Short) as
    Narrator
    1987
    Lakomá Barka (Short) as
    Narrator
    1981
    Královna Kolobezka I. (Short) as
    Narrator
    1980
    Muzika pro dva

    References

    Jan Werich Wikipedia


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