THE KNIGHTS OF THE TEUTONIC ORDER [1960]
year:
- 1960
release date:
- 2 IX 1960
runtime:
- 166 min
directed by:
- Aleksander Ford
written by:
- Jerzy Stefan Stawiński, Aleksander Ford based on the novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz
director of photography:
- Mieczysław Jahoda
cast:
- Mieczysław Kalenik [Zbyszko of Bogdaniec], Urszula Modrzyńska [Jagienka], Grażyna Staniszewska [Danusia], Aleksander Fogiel [Maćko of Bogdaniec], Andrzej Szalawski [Jurand of Spychów], Emil Karewicz [Władysław II Jagiełło], Henryk Borowski [Zygfryd de Lowe], Tadeusz Kosudarski [brother Rotgier], Lucyna Winnicka [Duchess Anna Danuta], Tadeusz Białoszczyński [Janusz I Mazowiecki], Mieczysław Voit [Kuno von Lichtenstein], Janusz Strachocki [Konrad von Jungingen]
edited by:
- Mirosława Garlicka, Alina Faflik
music by:
- Kazimierz Serocki
production design:
- Roman Mann
produced by:
- Zespół Filmowy „Studio
executive producer:
- Zygmunt Król
awards:
-
- Golden Duck 1960
- Award of the Minister of Culture and Art of the 1st degree 1962 for Aleksander Ford and Mieczysław Jahoda
About the film
A faithful adaptation of one of the most widely read novels, consistent with the spirit of Polish politics of the early sixties; it was the first such large-scale historical film in Polish cinematography, made on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the victory at Grunwald.
The story of Zbyszko and his beloved Danusia, whose kidnapping pushes the young knight and Jurand of Spychów (the girl's father) along with a handful of their noble friends to wage a private war against the Teutonic Order. At the same time, a conflict develops between Jurand and Komtur from Szczytno − Siegfried de Lowe − against the backdrop of the historical Polish-Teutonic clash heading towards the military confrontation at Grunwald.
Jan Słodowski, Leksykon polskich filmów fabularnych, Warszawa 1996
