Colonel Wolodyjowski

1969 [POLISH]

Adventure / Drama / History / War

3
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 74%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 74% · 50 ratings
IMDb Rating 7.2/10 10 1907 1.9K

Plot summary

In 1668 Polish colonel Michał Wołodyjowski, who recently retired to a monastery, is recalled to active duty and takes charge of Poland's eastern frontier defenses against invading Tatar hordes and Ottoman armies.

Director

Jerzy Hoffman Photo
Jerzy Hoffman

Top cast

Barbara Brylska Photo
Barbara Brylska as Krzysia Drohojowska
Daniel Olbrychski Photo
Daniel Olbrychski as Azja Tuhaj-Bejowicz
Jan Tesarz Photo
Jan Tesarz
Bogusz Bilewski Photo
Bogusz Bilewski as Officer
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
1.33 GB
1280*544
Polish 2.0
NR
Subtitles pl  
25 fps
2 hr 28 min
Seeds 2
2.48 GB
1920*816
Polish 2.0
NR
Subtitles pl  
25 fps
2 hr 28 min
Seeds 3

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by ricardojorgeramalho 6 / 10

A Polish Epic

This is the last film in a trilogy made up of With Fire and Sword, The Deluge and Colonel Wolodyjovski, based on the novels of the same name by Henryk Sienkiewicz published between 1884 and 1887, which are historically located in the second half 17th century, as part of the war between Poles and Turks.Michal Wolodyjowski is thus a fictional national hero, partially inspired by a historical character, a Polish nobleman from the Korczak clan, called Jerzy Wolodyjowski.This film adaptation of the third volume of the trilogy is a super production, reminiscent of the great historical productions of the 50s, produced by Hollywood, but also by the Soviets and even the Italians, these with smaller budget versions, intended only to take advantage of the fashion of historical films.As in all these productions, historical accuracy is scarce, compensated by the grandeur of the sets, the multitude of extras, Technicolor (or its Soviet and Italian versions) and CinemaScope, that is, the panoramic screen.The plot is romanticized and focused on the romantic plot rather than the political-military one, the color and wardrobe are excessive, taking away the credibility of the reenactment (as if someone were going to war in a ball gown at court). There is, however, an attempt at rigor in the weaponry used, in some real scenarios and in battle techniques, although sometimes giving in to the temptation to use everything at the same time, without logic, to increase the spectacularity of the battle scenes.I cannot resist citing an absurd example, as it is clearly ideological. The nobleman who headed the city about to be besieged, in the face of the imminent Turkish invasion, insists on collective leadership, from the council of nobles, instead of appointing a general to head the defense. A collectivist anachronism introduced in a plot that takes place in the 17th century.The pomp with which the Turks advance against the castle walls, to the beat of large drums, reminiscent of those of Roman galleys, carrying bunches of straw, which the besieged will purposely set on fire, causing the besiegers to flee, is also ridiculous.Today it is essentially a curiosity for anyone interested in the history of epic cinema, especially because it is an example from communist Poland, and therefore little known in the West.
Reviewed by david-rickman 8 / 10

Not the greatest historical epic, but definitely much to impress.

"Pan Wolodyjowski" does not rank with some of the great film epics, such as "Lawerence of Arabia," but there is definitely much to impress the lover of historical films. This is especially true if, like me, you have grown tired of all the usual times and places that make it repeatedly into film and wish to discover a new realm of barbaric splendor and excitement. In the late-1600s, while colonists in America were struggling to defend their western frontier, there was another borderland - a "Wild East" if you will - between Europe and Asia. The frontier between the Ottoman Empire and Europe lay through Poland, Ukraine, and southeastern Europe, and each side was trying to invade the other's. This was a world of Tatars and Turks, Cossacks and Polish "winged hussars," scimitars and lances, fur caps and feathers everywhere.This film adaptation of the last of Henryk Sienkiewicz' historical trilogy is a bit dated in its looks - women with big hair and bangs, the colors a bit too bright - but with a cast of thousands the story the film tells is compelling and filled with enough pitched battles, chases, explosions, hair's-breadth escapes, love stories, strong male and female characters, rapes, murders, impalings and suicides to keep all but the most special-effects dazed teenager entertained. But more than that, this film is a gateway into forgotten realms. Can anyone watch this or the other two episodes in the trilogy ("The Deluge," and "With Fire and Sword") and ever listen to another "dumb Polack" joke again? I don't think so.
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