The Devil's Trap

The Devil's Trap (Czech: Ďáblova past) is a 1962 Czechoslovak historical film directed by František Vláčil. It was inspired by Alfréd Technik's novel Mlýn na ponorné řece.[1][2][3] It is considered the first part of a loose trilogy of historical films by Vláčil, the others being Marketa Lazarová and The Valley of the Bees.[4]

The Devil's Trap
Movie poster
Directed byFrantišek Vláčil
Based onMlýn na ponorné řece
by Alfréd Technik
Produced byVěra Kadlecová
StarringVítězslav Vejražka
Miroslav Macháček
Vít Olmer
CinematographyRudolf Milič
Music byZdeněk Liška
Production
company
Distributed byÚstřední půjčovna filmů
Release date
  • 20 April 1962 (1962-04-20)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryCzechoslovakia
LanguageCzech

The film's main theme is the conflict between religion and science. Religion is represented by a fanatical Jesuit priest, while science is represented by an old miller and his son.[5] Vláčil wanted the film to depict the 17th century as authentically as possible.[4]

Plot

The film is set in the early 17th century. The Regent of Valeč dislikes Spálený, the local miller, whom local people greatly respect. Spálený knows the local lands well, but his family is suspected of witchcraft due to an incident that occurred generations before. When Swedish soldiers arrive and plunder the land, they also burn the mill, but Spálený and his family miraculously survive. Probus, a fanatical priest, is invited to investigate Spálený. Probus unsuccessfully tries to turn the local people against Spálený. Probus and the Regent then attempt to capture Spálený, but he disappears into a cave complex under the mill. Probus and the Regent try to find him, but they cause a landslide. Only Spálený's son Jan and his girlfriend Martina survive.[6]

Cast
  • Vítězslav Vejražka as Spálený
  • Miroslav Macháček as Probus
  • Vít Olmer as Jan
  • Čestmír Řanda as a Regent
  • Karla Chadimová as Martina
  • Vlastimil Hašek as Gamekeeper Filip

Reception

Accolades
Date of ceremony Event Award Result Ref(s)
1962 Locarno Festival Special recognition by film press Won [7]
1965 Artistic competition at 20th anniversary of Liberation of Czechoslovakia Main award for feature-length film Won

References
  1. "Ďáblova past (1961)". Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  2. "Rekonstrukce jednoho zjevení". Euro.cz (in Czech). 6 February 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  3. "Ďáblova past (1961)". FDb.cz (in Czech). Filmová databáze s.r.o. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  4. "Out of the past: Frantisek Vlácil". old.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  5. "The 35 Best Czech/Slovak Movies of All Time". Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  6. "Ďáblova past". www.nostalghia.cz. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  7. "Ďáblova past (1961)". Filmový přehled (in Czech). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
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