Stavitel chrámu | 1920 | Drama, Historical

Title: Stavitel chrámu | 1920 | Drama, Historical Director: Karel Degl, Antonín Novotný Studio: Bratři Deglové, Lucernafilm Starring: Rudolf Deyl st., Jakub Seifert, Eva Vrchlická, Karel Kolár, Jaroslav Hurt, Rudolf Deyl ml. Based on: Anonymous 14th-century Prague legend (Stavitel chrámu) Release Date: March 5, 1920 (Czechoslovakia) Runtime: 39 Format: 35mm; 1.33:1; silent; tinting and black-and-white; Czech intertitles Country: Czechoslovakia Language: Silent (Czech intertitles) Genres: Drama, Historical (filmovyprehled.cz) --- Summary: Set in medieval Prague, the film dramatizes the legend of architect Petr Parléř, charged by King Charles IV to build a grand Gothic cathedral. As the project nears a critical moment, rival builders spread fear that the structure is the Devil’s work, leading superstitious workers to refuse dismantling the scaffolding. (filmovyprehled.cz) Tormented by doubt and tempted by a demonic bargain, Petr orders the scaffolding burned and flees the city, only to learn the vault has held. The story blends ambition, faith, and envy in a Faustian parable about the price of mastery and the burdens borne by creators. (filmovyprehled.cz) --- Background: Produced by Bratři Deglové in association with Lucernafilm and directed by Karel Degl and Antonín Novotný, Stavitel chrámu is among the early narrative works of the new Czechoslovak cinema. It premiered in Prague at Kino Světozor on March 5, 1920, and runs 39 minutes. Shot on 35mm in the 1.33:1 format with tinting and black-and-white imagery, the production drew on National Theatre workshop resources and presented a stylized vision of medieval Prague. (filmovyprehled.cz) --- Trivia: Jakub Seifert, who portrays King Charles IV, made his only screen appearance in this film. (filmovyprehled.cz) The film was successfully exhibited in France under the title La Cathédrale. (filmovyprehled.cz) Working shots from crowd scenes later appeared in the compilation documentary How the Films Were Made in Our Country, compiled by Bohumil Veselý. (filmovyprehled.cz) The Prague premiere took place at Kino Světozor, ran for two weeks, and carried an “inaccessible for youths” rating from censors. (filmovyprehled.cz) Members of Sokol organizations served as extras, portraying townspeople, stonecutters, monks, and guilds. (filmovyprehled.cz) The original release measured 1,115 meters of 35mm film and combined black-and-white photography with tinting. (filmovyprehled.cz) --- Hashtags: StavitelChramu TheManWhoBuiltTheCathedral SilentFilm 1920sCinema CzechCinema Czechoslovakia Drama Historical PetrParler CharlesIV PublicDomain