Karel Zeman

Karel Zeman

Directing
Born 1910-11-03 Died 1989-04-05 Ostromer u Nové Paky, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic] 34 credits Národní umělec 1

Awards

Won 1 Národní umělec Award

Národní umělec 1 won

  • 1970 Národní umělec Won

Award data from Wikidata (CC0). Coverage may be incomplete.

Read biography
Karel Zeman was a brilliant pioneer of special effects in film. Despite his artistic talent, his parents insisted he study business. At the age of 17, he went to Aix-en-Provence in the south of France, where he studied advertising design. In 1943, the film director Elmar Klos offered him a job at the Bata Film Studios. Zeman often had to struggle against difficult conditions in the technically ill-equipped Kudlov Studios. Many of the workers with whom he started had no particular experience of filming. They, like Zeman himself, had to learn everything on the job. Journey to the Beginning of Time, released in 1955, became Zeman's breakthrough film, his first to combine live action, animation and puppetry. Four years later, Invention for Destruction saw him shoot to world-wide success. Zeman continued to develop his highly successful use of special effects in The Fabulous Baron Munchausen and the two Jules Verne adaptations that followed. In the 70's, Zeman returned to making strictly animated films. In the late 70's Zeman was threatened with the loss of his sight, but he overcame the disease and continued working. In the final stages of his life he suffered from heart problems.
Not enough member ratings yet.
Filmography
Directing 24 credits
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
1958 · ★ 7.2 · Director, Production Design
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
1962 · ★ 7.5 · Director, Screenplay
Journey to the Beginning of Time
Journey to the Beginning of Time
1955 · ★ 7.3 · Screenplay, Director
The Stolen Airship
The Stolen Airship
1967 · Director, Art Direction
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
1978 · Director, Screenplay
On the Comet
On the Comet
1970 · Director, Art Direction
The Jester's Tale
The Jester's Tale
1964 · Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck
Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck
1946 · Director, Screenplay
110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery
110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery
1952 · Director, Director of Photography
A Christmas Dream
A Christmas Dream
1945 · Director, Animation
A Thousand and One Nights
A Thousand and One Nights
1974 · Director, Screenplay
Laterna magika II
Laterna magika II
1960 · Writer, Director
King Lavra
King Lavra
1951 · Director, Screenplay
The Tale of John and Mary
The Tale of John and Mary
1980 · Writer, Director
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
1947 · Director, Animation
Inspiration
Inspiration
1949 · Glass Blower, Director
The Treasure of Bird Island
The Treasure of Bird Island
1953 · Animation, Director
Mr. Prokouk in Temptation
Mr. Prokouk in Temptation
1947 · Director
One Hundred and Ten Years of the Pilsen Brewery
One Hundred and Ten Years of the Pilsen Brewery
1952 · Director
Karel Zeman for Children
Karel Zeman for Children
1980 · Self, Director
The Hamster
The Hamster
1946 · Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
1947 · Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover
Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover
1955 · Director, Writer
La magie Karel Zeman
La magie Karel Zeman
2015 · Director
Writing 17 credits
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
1962 · ★ 7.5 · Director, Screenplay
Journey to the Beginning of Time
Journey to the Beginning of Time
1955 · ★ 7.3 · Screenplay, Director
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
1978 · Director, Screenplay
The Jester's Tale
The Jester's Tale
1964 · Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck
Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck
1946 · Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor
Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor
1949 · Screenplay, Story
A Thousand and One Nights
A Thousand and One Nights
1974 · Director, Screenplay
Laterna magika II
Laterna magika II
1960 · Writer, Director
Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat
Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat
1959 · Set Decoration, Writer
King Lavra
King Lavra
1951 · Director, Screenplay
The Tale of John and Mary
The Tale of John and Mary
1980 · Writer, Director
Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker
Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker
1948 · Screenplay, Story
Mr. Prokouk, Detective
Mr. Prokouk, Detective
1957 · Screenplay, Animatronics Designer
Black diamond
Black diamond
1956 · Screenplay, Story
The Hamster
The Hamster
1946 · Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
1947 · Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover
Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover
1955 · Director, Writer
Acting 12 credits
Film Adventurer Karel Zeman
Film Adventurer Karel Zeman
2015 · Self (archive footage)
Sindbad
Sindbad
2001 · Scenario Writer
A Christmas Dream
A Christmas Dream
1945 · Director, Animation
Strakonický dudák
Strakonický dudák
1955 · Special Effects
Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat
Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat
1959 · Set Decoration, Writer
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
1947 · Director, Animation
Inspiration
Inspiration
1949 · Glass Blower, Director
The Treasure of Bird Island
The Treasure of Bird Island
1953 · Animation, Director
The Magic World of Karel Zeman
The Magic World of Karel Zeman
1962 · Himself
Mr. Prokouk, Detective
Mr. Prokouk, Detective
1957 · Screenplay, Animatronics Designer
Cukr
Cukr
1946 · Special Effects
Karel Zeman for Children
Karel Zeman for Children
1980 · Self, Director
Other credits 4 credits
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
1958 · ★ 7.2 · Director, Production Design
The Stolen Airship
The Stolen Airship
1967 · Director, Art Direction
On the Comet
On the Comet
1970 · Director, Art Direction
110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery
110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery
1952 · Director, Director of Photography
Track what you watch
DuckTrack members see which of these they have already watched, right here on this page.

Comments

0 comments

No comments yet. Sign in to be the first.