We’ve noticed increased interest in the DVD Osudy dobreho vojaka Svejka + The Last Bohemian / Osudy dobreho vojaka Svejka + Dobry vojak Svejk - and it makes perfect sense. Švejk is the kind of character that works in any era: when the world feels too serious, he reminds us that humor and stubborn optimism can be a form of survival.
And this release has one more special charm: it takes you back to the time when cinema could tell a story without spoken dialogue - using facial expressions, timing, physical comedy, and brilliantly written intertitles.
What makes this DVD such a great find
This edition is a combined cut of the first three silent Švejk films:
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The Good Soldier Švejk (1926) - directed by Karel Lamač
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Švejk at the Front (1926) - directed by Karel Lamač
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Švejk in Russian Captivity (1926) - directed by Svatopluk Innemann
The lead role is played by Karel Noll, a major star of the time - and his almost pantomime style is exactly what silent cinema needs to shine.
The magic of silent Švejk: intertitles, expressions, and rhythm
You might wonder: how can Švejk work without Hašek’s wordplay and famous lines? That’s the surprise. This version relies on:
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sharp, witty intertitles that deliver the point in just a few sentences
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physical acting and facial expressions that replace dialogue - often making the humor even more direct
It’s a different kind of Švejk than many viewers know from later adaptations, but it has its own charm - the elegance and playful energy of early cinema.
Fun facts for true fans
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Karel Noll’s wife, Ella Nollová, appears in the film as well - and this was their last film together.
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The final silent continuation Švejk in Civilian Life (1927) exists separately, but the surviving copy is unfortunately heavily damaged.
Bonus for book lovers: Švejk on the page (in Czech and in English)
If you want Švejk in your library too, we also stock a newer Czech edition of the novel by Jaroslav Hašek with illustrations by Josef Lada (2023). 
And for English-reading fans, we also have an English edition - a black satire of war and bureaucracy that has been compared to later classics like Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. Jaroslav Hasek: The Good Soldier Svejk And His Fortunes in the World War (english)
The coziest final touch: Švejk as a pillow
If Švejk is one of your favorites, you can even keep him on your couch - we also have a Pillow 25x25 cm Good Soldier Svejk / Polstar Dobry vojak Svejk. 
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