Person
Karel Zeman
Ostromer u Nové Paky, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]
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 i…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2015
Film Adventurer Karel Zeman
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2015
La magie Karel Zeman
Movie Director
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2001
Sindbad
Movie Scenario Writer
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1980
The Tale of John and Mary
Movie Director
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1980
Karel Zeman for Children
Movie Self
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1978
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Movie Director
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1974
Tales of 1,001 Nights
Movie Director
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1970
On the Comet
Movie Director
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1967
The Stolen Airship
Movie Director
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1964
The Jester's Tale
Movie Director
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1962
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
Movie Director
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1962
The Magic World of Karel Zeman
Movie Himself
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1960
Laterna magika II
Movie Director
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1959
Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat
Movie Writer
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1958
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
Movie Director
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1957
Mr. Prokouk, Detective
Movie Screenplay
More credits
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1956
Black diamond
Movie Story
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1955
Strakonický dudák
Movie Special Effects
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1955
Journey to the Beginning of Time
Movie Director
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1955
Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover
Movie Director
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1953
The Treasure of Bird Island
Movie Animation
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1952
110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery
Movie Director
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1952
One Hundred and Ten Years of the Pilsen Brewery
Movie Director
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1951
King Lavra
Movie Director
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1949
Inspiration
Movie Glass Blower
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1949
Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor
Movie Screenplay
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1948
Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker
Movie Screenplay
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1947
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
Movie Story
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1947
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
Movie Director
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1947
Mr. Prokouk in Temptation
Movie Director
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1946
Cukr
Movie Special Effects
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1946
The Hamster
Movie Director
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1946
Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck
Movie Director
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1945
A Christmas Dream
Movie Director
