Karel Zeman
Directing
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.
Known for
Directing26
movieLa magie Karel Zeman
2015
Director
movieOn the Comet
1970
Director
movieThe Stolen Airship
1967
Director
movieThe Jester's Tale
1964
Director
movieLaterna magika II
1960
Director
movieKing Lavra
1951
Director
movieInspiration
1949
Director
movieThe Hamster
1946
Director
movieA Christmas Dream
1945
Director
Writing24
movieSindbad
2001
Scenario Writer
movieThe Sorcerer's Apprentice
1978
Screenplay
movieA Thousand and One Nights
1974
Screenplay
movieOn the Comet
1970
Screenplay
movieThe Stolen Airship
1967
Screenplay
movieThe Jester's Tale
1964
Screenplay, Story
movieThe Fabulous Baron Munchausen
1962
Story, Screenplay
movieThe Fabulous World of Jules Verne
1958
Screenplay, Screenstory
Mr. Prokouk, Detective
1957
Screenplay, Story
Black diamond
1956
Story, Screenplay
movieJourney to the Beginning of Time
1955
Screenplay, Story
movieThe Treasure of Bird Island
1953
Screenplay
movieKing Lavra
1951
Screenplay, Adaptation
movieInspiration
1949
Writer
movieMr. Prokouk, The Inventor
1949
Screenplay, Story
movieMr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker
1948
Screenplay, Story
movieMr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
1947
Story, Screenplay
movieMr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
1947
Screenplay
movieThe Hamster
1946
Screenplay
movieMr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck
1946
Screenplay, Story
Art10
movieThe Tale of John and Mary
1980
Art Direction
movieThe Sorcerer's Apprentice
1978
Art Direction
movieA Thousand and One Nights
1974
Art Direction
movieOn the Comet
1970
Art Direction
movieThe Stolen Airship
1967
Art Direction
movieThe Fabulous Baron Munchausen
1962
Art Designer
movieMr. Prokouk, The Acrobat
1959
Set Decoration
movieThe Fabulous World of Jules Verne
1958
Production Design, Art Designer
movieJourney to the Beginning of Time
1955
Art Designer
movieA Christmas Dream
1945
Art Designer
Crew5
movieThe Fabulous World of Jules Verne
1958
Special Effects
Mr. Prokouk, Detective
1957
Animatronics Designer
movieStrakonický dudák
1955
Special Effects
movieJourney to the Beginning of Time
1955
Special Effects
Cukr
1946
Special Effects
Visual Effects5
movieThe Tale of John and Mary
1980
Animation
movieThe Treasure of Bird Island
1953
Animation
movieMr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
1947
Animation
movieA Christmas Dream
1945
Animation
Acting4
movieFilm Adventurer Karel Zeman
2015
Self (archive footage)
movieInspiration
1949
Glass Blower
Camera2
movie110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery
1952
Director of Photography
movieMr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck
1946
Director of Photography