''Hospital at the End of the City'' () is a Czechoslovak television series first released in 1978 by

Czechoslovak Television Czech Television ( ; abbreviation: ČT) is a public television broadcaster in the Czech Republic, broadcasting six channels. Established after breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1992, it is the successor to Czechoslovak Television founded in 1953. H ...

. It featured an ensemble cast and received much viewer praise in

Central Europe Central Europe is a geographical region of Europe between Eastern Europe, Eastern, Southern Europe, Southern, Western Europe, Western and Northern Europe, Northern Europe. Central Europe is known for its cultural diversity; however, countries in ...

. The series, with a screenplay by

Jaroslav Dietl Jaroslav Dietl (22 May 1929 – 29 June 1985) was a Czech television series writer, film and television screenwriter, and playwright working mainly during the Normalization period. He is known for such works as the coming-of-age drama '' Inžen ...

and directed by

Jaroslav Dudek Jaroslav (also written as Yaroslav or Jarosław in other Slavic languages) is a Czech and Slovak first name, pagan in origin. Its feminine form is Jaroslava. There are several possible origins of the name Jaroslav. It is very likely that origin ...

, ran from 1978 to 1981 for a total of twenty episodes. The show's success inspired the German television series ''

The Black Forest Clinic ''The Black Forest Clinic'' (, ) is a German medical drama television series that was produced by and filmed in West Germany. The series was produced between 1984 and 1988 with the original airing being from October 2, 1985, to March 25, 1989, on ...

''.

Synopsis

The series follows Dr. Sova, head of the orthopedic department at a hospital in the fictional town of Bor, and his colleagues. It focuses both on their work and private lives.

Cast and characters

Ladislav Chudík Ladislav Chudík (27 May 1924 – 29 June 2015) was a Slovak actor. He appeared in more than fifty films. Selected filmography Awards * Czech Lion The Czech Lion Awards () are annual awards that recognize accomplishments in filmmaking a ...

as Dr. Karel Sova *

Josef Abrhám Josef Abrhám (14 December 1939 – 16 May 2022) was a Czech film and theatre actor. Biography He originally began studying acting at Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava and later moved to Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts i ...

as Dr. Arnošt Blažej * Eliška Balzerová as Dr. Alžběta Čeňková *

Ladislav Frej Ladislav Frej (born 26 November 1941) is a Czech actor and Voice acting, voice actor. Selected filmography Film * ''Signum Laudis'' (1980) * ''Ta chvíle, ten okamžik'' (1981) * ''Jára Cimrman Lying, Sleeping'' (1983) * ''The Red Baron (2008 ...

as Dr. Karel Sova Jr. *

Miloš Kopecký Miloš Kopecký (22 August 1922 in Prague – 16 February 1996 in Prague) was a Czech actor, active mainly in the second half of the 20th century. Biography He was born into the family of a furrier; his mother was a hatter. From childhood ...

as Dr. Josef Štrosmajer * Jana Štěpánková as Dr. Dana Králová *

Josef Vinklář Josef Vinklář (10 November 1930, in Podůlší – 18 September 2007, in Prague) was a Czech actor, a member of the National Theatre. He was married to Czech actress Jana Dítětová. Biography Born 10 November 1939, but when in 1946 t ...

as Dr. Cvach *

Iva Janžurová Iva Janžurová (born 19 May 1941) is a Czech actress. She attended school in České Budějovice and in 1963, she graduated from the Faculty of Theatre at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. In 1964, she became the main member of Vinoh ...

as Nurse Marta Huňková, later Pěnkavová *

Ladislav Pešek Ladislav Pešek (4 October 1906 – 13 July 1986) was a Czechoslovak film actor.Oldřich Kaiser Oldřich Kaiser (born 16 May 1955) is a Czech television, film, and stage actor known mostly for his comedic roles. Education and career Kaiser graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague in 1978. He began his acting career with the ...

as Dr. Vojtěch Peterka *

Hana Maciuchová Hana Maciuchová (29 November 1945 – 26 January 2021) was a Czech actress. She often played in TV series. In addition to theatre, television and film, she was also intensively involved in voice acting and acting in radio plays, for which she wa ...

as Alena Blažejová *

Jaroslav Moučka Jaroslav Moučka (9 November 1923 in Studená – 26 December 2009 in Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Pragu ...

as Kovanda, Alena's father *

Daniela Kolářová Daniela Kolářová (born 21 September 1946 in Cheb) is a Czech actress. She has appeared in several Theatre Studio DVA productions. Filmography Film * '' Kawasaki's Rose'' (2009) * ''Empties'' (2007) ... Eliška * ''Dark Blue World'' (2001 ...

as Kateřina Sovová *

Josef Dvořák Josef Dvořák (born 25 April 1942 in Horní Cerekev, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia) is a Czech actor. He started his career in Kadaň from where Pavel Fiala took him to Kladivadlo in Ústí nad Labem. He was an external actor in theatre ...

as Václav Pěnkava *

Vladimír Menšík Vladimír Menšík (9 October 1929 – 29 May 1988) was a Czech actor and entertainer. He is considered one of the greatest Czech comedians, storytellers and improvisers. Life Vladimír Menšík was born on 9 October 1929 in Ivančice, Czechosl ...

as Josef Vandas *

Viktor Preiss Viktor Preiss (born 13 March 1947 in Prague) is a Czech actor. He popularly known for his roles in ''Hospital at the End of the City'' or ''Give the Devil His Due''. He starred in dozens of Czech films and television programs, including the film ...

as Přemysl Rezek *

Zdenka Procházková Zdenka Procházková (4 April 1926 – 25 August 2021) was a Czech actress. She was married to Karel Höger, who she starred with in the 1949 film '' A Dead Man Among the Living.'' They later divorced. Selected filmography *'' Lost in the Subu ...

as Rezková, Přemysl's mother *

Josef Somr Josef Somr (14 April 1934 – 16 October 2022) was a Czech actor. He was noted for starring in the Oscar-winning 1966 film '' Closely Watched Trains'', as well as in '' The Joke''. Early life Somr was born in Vracov, Czechoslovakia, on 14 Ap ...

as hospital director Pekař *

Jiří Kodet Jiří Kodet (6 December 1937 – 25 June 2005) was a Czech actor. He appeared in more than ninety films between 1951 and 2003. His mother Jiřina Steimarová and his daughter Barbora Kodetová are also actresses. Selected filmography Refere ...

as Bohun Bauer *

Kateřina Burianová Kateřina Burianová (born 30 March 1946) is a Czech actress. She won the Alfréd Radok Award for Best Actress in 2009 for her role of ''Violet Weston'' in the play '' August: Osage County'' at the Estates Theatre in Prague. At the 2009 Thalia ...

as the kid sister * Dana Medřická as Dr. Fastová *

Svatopluk Beneš Svatopluk Beneš (24 February 1918 – 27 April 2007) was a Czechoslovak film actor. He appeared in 90 films and television shows between 1934 and 2003. Selected filmography * '' Pacientka Dr. Hegla'' (1940) * '' Pohádka máje'' (1940) * ' ...

as Dr. Fastová's husband *

Dagmar Veškrnová Dagmar may refer to: People * Dagmar (given name), a feminine Scandinavian and German given name * Berthe Dagmar (1884–1934), French film actress * Dagmar (actress) (1921–2001), main stage name of American actress Virginia Ruth Egnor * Dagma ...

as Kabíčková *

Věra Tichánková Věra Tichánková (7 December 1920 – 9 January 2014) was a Czech actress, whose career spanned over seven decades. She married actor and playwright Jan Skopeček. Věra Tichánková died on 9 January 2014, aged 93, in Prague, Czech Rep ...

as Nurse Trochtová *

Stella Zázvorková Stella Zázvorková (14 April 1922 – 18 May 2005) was a Czech actress from Prague. Zázvorková, an alumnus of Prague's theatre school of E.F. Burian, appeared in more than a hundred films and series. She was married to the actor Milo� ...

as Růžena Dobiášova *

Martin Růžek Martin Růžek, born Erhard Martin (23 September 1918 – 18 December 1995) was a Czech actor. He starred in the film ''Poslední propadne peklu'' under director Ludvík Ráža in 1982. Personal life Růžek was born on 23 September 1918 in Če ...

as Dr. Petr Chalaba *

Ota Sklenčka Ota Sklenčka (19 December 1919 in Hradec Králové – 10 October 1993 in Prague) was a Czech actor. He starred in the film ''Poslední propadne peklu'' under director Ludvík Ráža in 1982. Selected filmography * ''Lovers in the Year One' ...

as University dean * Jana Andresíková as Karel Sova's dissertation reviewer *

Květa Fialová Květa Fialová (1 September 1929 – 26 September 2017) was a Czech actress. She was best known for her performance in ''Lemonade Joe ''Lemonade Joe, or the Horse Opera'' () is a 1964 Czechoslovak musical comedy film, directed by Oldřich Lip ...

as the dean's secretary * Antonín Molčík as secretary of the hockey team *

Jiří Adamíra Jiří Adamíra (2 April 1926 in Dobrovice – 14 August 1993 in Prague) was a Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech cultu ...

as associate professor Hybner *

Karel Effa Karel Effa (born Karel Effenberger; 23 May 1922 – 11 June 1993) was a Czechoslovak character actor who appeared in some 65 films. Selected filmography * ''Uloupená hranice'' (1947) - Závodcí * ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1947) * ''Pa ...

as hospital attendant * Zdeněk Dítě as restaurant server

Production and release

Initial filming began in 1976 with

Karel Höger Karel Höger (17 June 1909 – 4 May 1977) was a Czechoslovak film actor. He appeared in nearly 100 films between 1939 and 1977. He was married to the actress Zdenka Procházková, who he starred with in the 1949 film '' A Dead Man Among th ...

in the lead role of Dr. Sova, but the actor died suddenly in 1977, and was replaced by Slovak actor

. The show premiered on 5 November 1978 and was met with great success, both in Czechoslovakia and Germany, after being broadcast in 21 countries. After the first season, which consisted of thirteen episodes, another season was commissioned, for a further seven episodes. In addition to fictionalized portrayals of hospital activity, the series contained footage of authentic surgeries, mainly in the field of orthopedics.

Sequels and parody

A sequel series was developed in 2003, called ''Hospital at the End of the City, Twenty Years On'' (), starring most of the original cast. Thirteen episodes were produced. In 2008, another set of thirteen episodes followed, this time under the title ''Hospital at the End of the City – The New Generation'' (). In 1999, a parody series titled ''Hospital on the Verge of Destruction'' () came out.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hospital At The End Of The City Czechoslovak television series 1970s Czechoslovak television series 1980s Czechoslovak television series 1978 Czechoslovak television series debuts 1981 Czechoslovak television series endings Czech drama television series Medical television series Czech medical television series