Director
Karel Zeman
115 years · Ostromer u Nové Paky, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic] · 27 films
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.
Best known for
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
1958 · Director, Screenplay
On Criterion Channel
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
1962 · Director, Screenplay
On Criterion Channel
Journey to the Beginning of Time
1955 · Screenplay, Director
On Criterion Channel
Inspiration
1949 · Glass Blower, Director
On Criterion Channel
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
1978 · Director, Screenplay
On the Comet
1970 · Director, Screenplay
Filmography 27
Film Adventurer Karel Zeman
2015 · Self (archive footage)
On DocAlliance Films
La magie Karel Zeman
2015 · Director
The Tale of John and Mary
1980 · Writer, Director
Karel Zeman for Children
1980 · Self, Director
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
1978 · Director, Screenplay
Tales of 1,001 Nights
1974 · Director, Screenplay
On the Comet
1970 · Director, Screenplay
The Stolen Airship
1967 · Director, Screenplay
The Jester's Tale
1964 · Director, Screenplay
On AMC+
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
1962 · Director, Screenplay
On Criterion Channel
Laterna magika II
1960 · Writer, Director
Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat
1959 · Writer
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
1958 · Director, Screenplay
On Criterion Channel
Journey to the Beginning of Time
1955 · Screenplay, Director
On Criterion Channel
Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover
1955 · Director, Writer
The Treasure of Bird Island
1953 · Director, Screenplay
110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery
1952 · Director, Cinematography
King Lavra
1951 · Director, Screenplay
Inspiration
1949 · Glass Blower, Director
On Criterion Channel
Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor
1949 · Screenplay, Director
Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker
1948 · Screenplay, Director
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
1947 · Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
1947 · Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk in Temptation
1947 · Director