Karel Zeman

Directing·Nov 3, 1910·Ostromer u Nové Paky, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]

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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.

Film	Credit
Film Adventurer Karel Zeman2015 · Self (archive footage)	Self (archive footage)
La magie Karel Zeman2015 · Director	Director
The Tale of John and Mary1980 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Karel Zeman for Children1980 · Self, Director	Self, Director
The Sorcerer's Apprentice1978 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
A Thousand and One Nights1974 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
On the Comet1970 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Stolen Airship1967 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Jester's Tale1964 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen1962 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
TThe Magic World of Karel Zeman1962 · Himself	Himself
Laterna magika II1960 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat1959 · Writer	Writer
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne1958 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
MMr. Prokouk, Detective1957 · Screenplay	Screenplay
BBlack diamond1956 · Screenplay	Screenplay
Journey to the Beginning of Time1955 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover1955 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Treasure of Bird Island1953 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery1952 · Director, Director of Photography	Director, Director of Photography
OOne Hundred and Ten Years of the Pilsen Brewery1952 · Director	Director
King Lavra1951 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Inspiration1949 · Glass Blower, Director, Writer	Glass Blower, Director, Writer
Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor1949 · Screenplay, Director	Screenplay, Director
Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker1948 · Screenplay, Director	Screenplay, Director
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer1947 · Screenplay, Director	Screenplay, Director
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk1947 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk in Temptation1947 · Director	Director
The Hamster1946 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck1946 · Director, Screenplay, Director of Photography	Director, Screenplay, Director of Photography
A Christmas Dream1945 · Director	Director