Castle of Otranto (film)

Castle of Otranto
Czech title card
Directed by	Jan Švankmajer
Written by	Jan Svankmajer
Produced by	Marta Sichova
Starring	Jaroslav Vozáb, Miroslav Frýba, Karel Chocholin, Xenie Vavreckova (animator)
Cinematography	Jiri Safar
Edited by	Helena Lebduskova
Music by	Zdeněk Liška
Production company	Jiri Trnka Studio
Distributed by	Krátký Film Praha Ustredni Pujcovna Filmu
Release date	1977
Running time	15 minutes
Country	Czechoslovakia
Language	Czech

Castle of Otranto (Template:Lang-cs) is a 1977 Czechoslovak animated short film by Jan Švankmajer. It is based on Horace Walpole's 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto. The film takes the form of a pseudo-documentary live-action story, with an abridged adaptation of the story itself presented in cut-out animation in the style of Gothic art.

Plot

Jaroslav Vozáb decides to find a place where the story of the novel The Castle of Otranto took place, as he believes it is based on a true story. He finds similarities between the ruins of Czech Castle Otrhany and the castle in the novel, which leads him to believe that Otrhany is the castle he is seeking. A television reporter, Miroslav Frýba, makes a reportage with Vozáb, who tells him about his research and the story of book.

The film also features a storyline from the book told through animation done by Xenie Vavreckova. It starts with Conrad, the son of Lord Manfred, being crushed by a giant helmet on his way to his wedding with Isabella. Manfred is devastated by the fact that he has lost his only heir and decides to marry Isabella himself, which horrifies her and she runs away. Manfred pursues her but is stopped by a giant knight and Isabella is then saved by Theodore. Manfred then imprisons Theodore, while Isabella hides.

A knight from another kingdom comes to Otranto Castle wanting to deliver Isabella. Theodore in the meantime is freed by Manfred's daughter Matilda, who loves Theodore and is saddened by the fact that he loves Isabella. Theodore then goes to find Isabela, who hides in a mountain cave. Theodore meets the knight there and they fight for Isabella. Theodore eventually wins the fight but the knight is revealed to be Isabella's father Frederic.

Frederic is healed in Otranto Castle, while Theodore hides in forest. Manfred makes a deal with Frederic that they both will marry each other's daughter. Frederic then goes to propose to Matilda but is stopped by the giant knight and realises his mistake. He decides not to marry Matilda and not to give his daughter to Manfred. Angered, Manfred decides to kill Isabella but accidentally kills his own daughter. The Giant Knight then ruins the castle and kills Manfred in the process. Theodore and Isabella are then seen happily together.

When Vozáb finishes his talk Frýba begins to question the possibility of supernatural elements being part of the story but suddenly grit and pieces of stone start to fall from the castle and the giant knight's hand (Karel Chocholin) is seen on the top of a tower as the film ends.

External links

• Castle of Otranto at IMDb