Mailbox

This week we find out the name of June’s mystery Czech and also the name of the lucky winner. Listeners quoted: Richard Cooke, Xiu-Ping Qian, Chun-Quan Meng, S. J. Agboola, Hans Verner Lollike, Colin Law, Harold Yeglin, Constantin Liviu Viorel, David Eldridge, Charles Konecny.

Miloš Forman

Hello and thanks for tuning in to Mailbox. As promised, today we find out the name of last month’s mystery Czech as well as the name of the winner who will receive Radio Prague goodies for his or her correct answer. So let’s hear at least some of them:

Richard Cooke writes from England:

“The Czech film director Miloš Forman is considered one of the most significant film directors in the world today. He received two Oscars for his films ‘One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and ‘Amadeus’.”

Xiu-Ping Qian lives in China:

“Honestly speaking, I've not yet watched Mr. Forman's films. I plan to watch one or two of his prize-winning films in the near future. Interestingly, my father was also born in 1932, and retired in 1992. I pray for Mr. Forman and his family. I wish he would be of a good condition and have a chance to visit Xi'an. If possible, please convey my greetings and best wishes to Mr. Forman. Have a good summer season!”

Also from China Chun-Quan Meng writes:

“Miloš Forman is great, and his films are very attractive to global viewers! Both Czechs and Americans love him. Of course, I also love him very much! I know his parents were killed in Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. If they were alive today, they would be proud of their pioneering and hardworking son! I wish Mr. Forman would make more Oscar-winning films in the future.”

S. J. Agboola listens to Radio Prague in Nigeria:

'Hoří, má panenko'

“The answer is: Jan Tomáš Forman, popularly known as Miloš Forman. He was an actor, a screen-writer, a director and a professor. He was born in February 18, 1932. His life was full of struggle because his youthful age coincided with one of the most terrible periods in human history. It is on record that he lost both parents before reaching the age of 14. Yet, despite all the odds, he produced about 15 reputable films. Indeed, he is one of the best things to happen to the film industry.”

Hans Verner Lollike from Denmark included a question in his answer:

“This month you made it really easy for us. The name of the film director is Miloš Forman. During my first visit to Prague after the fall of the wall I was in a travel group and the local guide told us that the guards at the president’s office at Prague Castle wore uniforms designed by Miloš Forman. Is that the case?”

Not quite. After Václav Havel first became president, he ordered new uniforms for the castle guard. He approached Theodor Pištěk, Miloš Forman’s favourite costume designer, who received an Oscar for Best Costume Design for Amadeus.

Ian Morrison writes from China:

“Born on February 18, 1932 in Čáslav, his parents both died in Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. An asteroid, 11333 Forman, is named in his honour.”

Colin Law from New Zealand sent us many details about Miloš Forman’s life and career:

“His father was Rudolf Forman, a Jewish professor of Education, and his mother Anna, was a Protestant. During the war his father was arrested by the Nazis for distributing banned books and later died in Buchenwald in 1944. His mother, although a Protestant, was also arrested by the Nazis and died in Auschwitz in 1943.Miloš and his two older brothers, Blahoslav and Pavel, were raised by uncles and friends of the family. Miloš was educated at King George College, a boarding school in Poděbrady, where one of his fellow students was Václav Havel

“Forman joined the Prague Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in 1951 and Czech television employed him as a director and screen writer after he graduated. He directed ‘Černý Petr’ (1963; Black Peter), and ‘Lásky jedné plavovlásky’ (1965; Loves of a Blonde). Both were well received and gained the Grand International Prize from the French Film Academy. However, Forman’s third film, ‘Hoří, má panenko’ (1967; The Firemen's Ball), caused forty-thousand Czechoslovakian firemen to walk off the job. Forman had to apologise and explain that the film was a political allegory not intended as a slur against the firemen.

“In 1968 when the Soviet tanks invaded Prague, Forman was on location in Paris and chose to emigrate to America rather than return to Czechoslovakia.

“Miloš is father to twin brothers Matěj and Petr Forman (mother Věra Křesadlová) who are both active in the film industry as actors, directors, and writers. Forman is married to Martina Zbořilová-Forman and they have twin sons, Jim and Andy.”

Harold Yeglin writes from Virginia:

“I was made aware of ‘The Fireman's Ball’ in 1991 when I married my Czech-born wife, the late Miloslava (Milka) Yeglin, who was then already a long-time American citizen and resident. When we subsequently began our trips back to Pilsen, Prague, etc., to visit her family and friends I came to know and appreciate all the more the characters and the humor of ‘The Fireman's Ball.’

“By then ‘Cuckoo's Nest’ and ‘Amadeus’ were already classics and Forman was world-famous. So buying a copy of ‘The Fireman's Ball’ – a VCR cassette in that pre-DVD day – was a delightful reach into his Czech film history about which the public beyond Czechoslovakia's borders (and the Iron Curtain) knew little.”

Constantin Liviu Viorel writes from Romania:

“In 1968, when the Soviet Union and its allies invaded Czechoslovakia he left the country for the USA. There, he directed the film ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ based on the novel by Ken Kesey, in 1975 and won five Academy Awards. In 1984 he won eight Academy Awards with Amadeus. In 1997 Forman received the Crystal Globe For his artistic contribution to world cinema at the Karlovy Vary International Film festival.”

David Eldridge from England shared his tastes as regards Forman’s films:

“I enjoyed his 1965 film ‘A Blonde in Love’, (known as ‘Loves of a Blonde’ in the USA) and I think it captures the atmosphere of the era very well. I’ve seen it twice. On the second occasion, in a commercial cinema, an extremely worn print with very poor sound was screened. Just when the waiter hilariously retrieved wine from two ladies he had mistakenly served, a film splice of just about one second was enough to completely spoil the humorous effect of the episode. What a pity they weren’t screening a digitally restored copy.

Miloš Forman (right)

“Two of his more modern movies in the Hollywood style, ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest’ and ‘Amadeus’, though lavishly produced, are not to my taste. I do not appreciate Hollywood expressionism.”

Charles Konecny from the US also has a preferred movie:

“Miloš is a very successful film director, but my favorite was his humorous small budget film, ‘The Fireman's Ball’. All scenes took place inside the town hall (except at the end), used mostly non-actors, and it still made an Academy Award nomination. Almost as funny as the film was the reaction of a large number of Czech fireman and communist authorities to the film. I guess they couldn't see the humor. Anyway, Forman was another Czech who rose above the turmoil of WW2 and the heavy hand of the communists to rise to the top of his profession.”

Thank you very much once again for your time and effort and it is my pleasure to announce that the lucky winner this time is Harold Yeglin from the United States. Congratulations and your parcel is in the post. Our competition is still running and who knows, it may be you next time who will be picked out of the hat.

“All you need to do is send us the name of the 19th century Czech-born American missionary and bishop who was canonized in 1977.”

Please send us your answers by the end of July to [email protected] or Radio Prague, 12099 Prague, Czech Republic. I’ll be back next week with a regular edition of Mailbox. Until then, happy listening.