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Fairy tales, cookies and carp for the holidays By Raymond Johnston Staff Writer, The Prague Post (December 23, 2003) Holidays used to be a time for storytelling by the fireplace. Now the electronic fireplace, also known as the television, has taken up that task. Along with a live carp in the bathtub, fresh sugary cookies and other traditions, Czech fairy tales -- or pohadky -- have an honored place in Christmas tradition. They (the fairy tales, not the carp) return to the airwaves this week in large numbers. Most of the better selections this year are on TV Nova. None of the films have subtitles, but the basics are easy to grasp. Usually there's a prince or princess and ... well, watch and find out. Tale of St. John's Night (Pohadka svatojanske noci)--CR, 1981. Zdenek Zydron, director. Vaclav Postranecky, Karel Vochoc, Julius Satinsky star. When things start to go incredibly badly, even soup made from an axe might be an improvement. Nova, Dec. 24 at 6:55 a.m. The Emperor's Baker and the Golem (Cisaruv pekar)--CR, 1951. Martin Fric, director. Jan Werich, Natasa Gollova, Marie Vasova star. Popular comedic tale of a baker in the court of Rudolf II, the Golem and the search for the elixir of youth. Nova, Dec. 24 at 10 a.m. The Uppity Princess (Pysna princezna)--CR, 1952. Borivoj Zeman, director. Alena Vranova, Vladimir Raz, Stanislav Neumann star. Based on a Bozena Nemcova story. A handsome prince from the neighboring kingdom helps to straighten out a self-involved princess and other problems. CT1, Dec. 24 at 10 a.m. The Firebird (Ptak ohnivak)--CR, 2000. Vaclav Vorlicek, director. Tina Rulandova, Horst Buchholz, Karel Roden star. Based on a Brothers Grimm story. Prince Afron brings a gift to the castle of King Jorgen: a beautiful firebird that can bring love and scare away death. On the way, Prince Afron falls in love with a beautiful woman who turns out to be Princess Elena. Prince Afron has to make a dangerous trip to free his love from the dark magic of a sorcerer. Nova, Dec. 24 at 4:10 p.m. Princess With a Golden Star (Princezna se zlatou hvezdou)--CR, 1959. Martin Fric, director. Frantisek Smolik, Martin Ruzek star. A classic film version of the famous folk story. The father of a princess whose forehead sports a gold star is a well-intentioned but weak ruler. The evil King Kazisvet demands the princess' hand in marriage. A clever nanny and wise Prince Radovan help the princess to escape by using a magic coat. Nova, Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. Once Upon a Time There Was a King (Byl jednou jeden kral)--CR, 1952. Borivoj Zeman, director. Jan Werich, Vlasta Burian, Milena Dvorska star. A classic that stars one of the greatest Czech actors, Jan Werich, in a somewhat humorous rendition of the Bozena Nemcova story Salt Over Gold. A king asks his three daughters to tell him how much they each love him. Two say they love him as much as expensive jewelry; the third says she loves him as much as salt. The king angrily sends the third one away. When there is a shortage of salt, many people become ill. She returns with salt and her father understands what she meant. Nova, Dec. 24 at 7:20 p.m. The Magic Club From the Sack (Obusku, z pytle ven)--CR, 1955. Jaromir Pleskot, director. Ladislav Pesek, Josef Beyvl. Frantisek Smolik star. A tale of a poor musician and a magical old man with a club that pops out of his sack to hit people. Based on a tale by K.J. Erben. Prima, Dec. 25 at 4 p.m. Prince Bajaja (Princ Bajaja)--CR, 1971. Antonin Kachlich, director. Ivan Paluch, Magda Vasaryova, Frantisek Velecky star. An adaptation of a well-known Bozena Nemcova story. Nova, Dec. 26 at 9:40 a.m. The Royal Promise (Kralovsky slib)--CR, 2001. Krystof Hanzlik, director. Maros Kramar, David Kraus, Klara Issova star. Two kings plan to unite their realms through the marriage of their children, but the kids have other ideas. CT1, Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. Fearless (Nebojsa)--CR, 1988. Julius Matula, director. Jan Kroner Jr., Ondrej Vetchy, Zuzana Skopalova star. Fairy tales often feature young men sent to journey far from their native villages in search of riches or a princess. In this tale, a boy with no fear is sent to learn about the world because his curious gift causes more trouble than it is worth. With a cowardly thief as a companion, the boy experiences adventures in a devil's mill and a dark forest before he learns about a magic kingdom. Prima, Dec. 26 at 7:55 p.m.; Dec. 26 at 8 a.m. Kathy and the Ghosts (Kacenka a strasidla)--CR, Germany, 1992. Jindrich Polak, director. Helena Votovska, Svatopluk Benes, Eva Vejmelkova star. Unusual fairy tale about a girl whose family inherits a haunted house. Nova, Dec. 27 at 10:30 a.m. Kathy and the Ghosts Again (Kacenka a zase ta strasidla)--CR, Germany, 1992. Helena Votovska, Svatopluk Benes, Jirina Bohdalova star. The story of the girl and the haunted house continues. Nova, Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. The Emperor and the Drummer (Cisar a tambor)--CR, 1954. Vaclav Kristek, director. Ondrej Vetchy, Petr Rajchert, Anna Vesela star. The emperor goes to live among the people disguised as a commoner. He pairs up with a young man who is in love, but false accusations lead them into trouble -- and possibly to their unwarranted execution. But this is a fairy tale, so bad things shouldn't happen. CT1, Dec. 31 at 9:50 a.m. Jack Frost (Mrazik)--Russia, 1964. Aleksandr Rou, director. Aleksandr Khvyvlya, Natalya Sedykh, Eduard Izotov star. One of the most in-demand holiday films, this Russian offering is far from subtle. The characters include a handsome but vain Ivan; a saccharine heroine, Nastenka, who constantly flutters her large eyes; an evil stepmother; her ugly daughter Marfusa; forest bandits; and Mrazik, known in English as Jack Frost. When the evil characters send kindhearted Nastenka to die in the cold of the forest, Mrazik, the emperor of snowstorms, intervenes. Well-known characters from other fairy tales make guest appearances. Nova, Dec. 31 at 10:15 a.m.
Raymond Johnston can be reached at
rjohnston@praguepost.com
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