''Na kometě'' (literally ''On the Comet'') is a 1970 Czech film directed by

Karel Zeman Karel Zeman (3 November 1910 – 5 April 1989) was a Czech film director, artist, production designer and animator. He is best known for directing fantasy films combining live-action footage with animation, including '' Journey to the Beginning ...

, based on

Jules Verne Jules Gabriel Verne (;''Longman Pronunciation Dictionary''. ; 8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the ''Voyages extraor ...

's 1877 novel '' Off on a Comet''. The film is a combination of animated and live action film. Animation is based on illustrations for Verne's novels. The story is presented in grotesque way, especially conflicts between British and French soldiers. Zeman added a romantic plot that includes Hector Servadac and Angelica.

Plot

In a French colony of

Northern Africa North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...

, Captain Hector Servadac works as a cartographer for the French army. He falls into the sea while mapping the area and is saved by the beautiful Angelica, a young woman on the run from Spanish captors. The Spaniards are helping the Arabian king, who is leading an uprising in the colony. While the French and Arabian army are preparing to battle, a comet touches Earth's surface and carries the territory away. French, Spaniards and Arabians are trapped together on the comet, but are still intent on continuing to fight. Hector returns to his commander, who orders all non-French people arrested. This includes the Spaniards as well as Angelica's brothers, who, unaware of her escape, are trying to save her. Angelica herself is hidden away by shopkeepers in a town that was carried away with the soldiers. The Arabians, who lost their weapons during the comet's impact, are waiting for the opportunity to get armed. The colony is attacked by a group of

dinosaur Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic Geological period, period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago (mya), although the exact origin and timing of the #Evolutio ...

s, and the French general orders Hector to lead a counterattack. It is unsuccessful, and Hector has to run for his life. He meets Angelica in the town, where she is helping shopkeepers pack their metal pots in a carriage. He tries to convince her to run away with him but the horses are scared by the noise of falling pots and run towards the dinosaurs. Hector tries to catch up with the carriage, but the dinosaurs run away when they hear the noise made by the pots. The French general, seeing the dinosaurs retreat, decides to replace his army's weapons with pots. The Arabians take advantage of this decision, stocking up on the weapons the French throw away. The Arabian army then attacks the French, but before they can defeat it, planet Mars appears in the sky. Both armies decide to stop the conflict, as they believe that the comet will hit the planet and that everyone will die in the impact. This prediction proves untrue as the comet misses Mars. Hector convinces them to keep the peace and start a new peaceful society on the comet. Their happiness is interrupted by Angelica's brothers who, believing Hector is her kidnapper, ambush him. They kidnap Angelica and set off homeward, unaware that they have left Earth. The Spaniards offer their ship to save Angelica and Hector goes after her. During the sea voyage, the Spanish ship comes across what seems to be a coast. It is revealed to be a giant serpent. The Spaniards and Hector are shocked, but are able to scare it off with pots. They also come across an island full of prehistoric creatures, and witness life evolving from the sea. Hector eventually finds Angelica and they plan to get married. Earth appears in the sky during the wedding which leads everybody to return to their old conflicts. When the comet touches Earth, everybody starts fighting again. The French and Spaniards are defeated by Arabs, and Angelica is once again kidnapped by her brothers. Hector runs after them but falls to the sea. Hector wakes up on the coast, saved by his adjutant, who reveals that the adventure was all a dream.

Cast

Magda Vášáryová Magda may refer to: * Magda (given name), a feminine given name (including a list of persons with the name) * Marinko Magda (born 1963), Serbian mass murderer * Magda, São Paulo Magda is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The ...

as Angelika * Emil Horváth as Lt. Servadac *

František Filipovský František Filipovský (23 September 1907 – 26 October 1993) was a Czechoslovak stage, television, and film actor. Life and career Early life and theatre Filipovský was born on 23 September 1907 in the Czech town of Přelouč, then part of ...

as Col. Picard *

Čestmír Řanda Čestmír Řanda (5 December 1923 – 31 August 1986) was a Czechoslovak film actor. He appeared in over 65 films and television shows between 1960 and 1986. Selected filmography * '' Bílá spona'' (1960) * '' Hvězda zvaná Pelyněk'' (19 ...

as Spanish consul * Josef Větrovec as Sheikh *

Jiřina Jirásková Jiřina Jirásková (17 February 1931 – 7 January 2013) was a Czechoslovakia, Czech actress. She was born and died in Prague, Czech Republic. Biography She studied at the Prague Conservatory and later at Faculty of Theatre (Prague), DAMU. Afte ...

as Ester *

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 Silberman *

Miloslav Holub :''Miloslav Holub should not be confused with the Czech poet Miroslav Holub.'' Miloslav Holub (27 February 191512 March 1999) was a Czech actor, perhaps best known for his appearances (ranging from leads to cameo roles) in five films by Karel Z ...

as Hikmet *

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 Cprl. Ben *

Josef Hlinomaz Josef Hlinomaz (9 October 1914 – 8 August 1978) was a Czech film actor, journalist and painter. He appeared in more than 150 films and television shows between 1948 and 1978. Selected filmography * '' Old Ironside'' (1948) * ''Komedianti'' ...

as Capt. Lacoste * Jaroslav Mareš as Cprl. Lafitte *

Eduard Kohout František Eduard Kohout (6 March 1889 – 25 October 1976) was a Czech stage, film actor and television actor.Mitchell p.57 Selected filmography * ''Battalion'' (1937) * '' The Magic House'' (1939) * '' Nocturnal Butterfly'' (1941) * '' The Danc ...

as Murphy * Zdena Bronislavská as Tavern dancer * Steva Maršálek as Mahdi * Karel Pavlík as Oliphant * Jaroslav Štercl as Sailor with keys * Jiří Lír as Cannoneer Ali * Miloš Nesvatba as Husein * Jan Bor as Luigi * Pavel Libovický as Antonio * Jaroslav Klouda as Pepino

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:On the Comet 1970 films Czechoslovak science fiction adventure films 1970s Czech-language films Films directed by Karel Zeman Films based on French novels Films based on works by Jules Verne Czech science fiction adventure films 1970s science fiction adventure films Films about dinosaurs Films with screenplays by Karel Zeman Films with live action and animation Comets in film Films scored by Luboš Fišer 1970 science fiction films

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links