The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (aka Baron Prášil) (1962) **** [KZ Triple Feature Pt. 3]

Introduction

Through the use of numerous innovative techniques such as animation, stop-motion, puppetry, miniature models, matte paintings and live action, Karel Zeman created wondrous fantasy/adventure films that embrace a very special cinematic language that is all but lost these days—one in which unreality is not seen as a weakness but rather a cause for celebration. The audience can clearly sense the human interaction (and sometimes even the strings) behind his special effects but that only serves to stimulate the imagination and call attention to the heart, soul, and creativity of these films, as well as the many hours that went into bringing them to life. Many viewers will find the effects dated and laughable but I prefer these methods to the heavy use of CGI any day. There’s something magical about these practical approaches that is important to appreciate and preserve. Zeman’s films are truly delightful works of art, and as an adult viewer, they do an extraordinary job of transporting one back to childhood. Zeman doesn’t receive the same recognition that craftsmen such as Willis O’Brien, Ray Harryhausen, and Georges Méliès do, but he certainly deserves to.

Pivoting back to color after the chiaroscuro beauty of his previous masterwork, Invention For Destruction (1958) (my review here), Zeman dove headlong into romantic adventure for 1962's The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (aka Baron Prášil). Color tinted much in the same way as a silent film, TFBM oftentimes plays much like a silent as well. It also reminded me of a Disney film—minus the trappings of being overly cutesy. 

TFBM pops with a jazzy energy not present in the other two Zeman films that I viewed from the Criterion Collection box set Three Fantastic Journeys By Karel Zeman (which I highly recommend picking up; even the packaging is fun—check out the video on that linked page). This is in part thanks to the score by Zdenek Liska, which also serves partly as trippy sound design. It’s definitely the most fun and carefree of the three Zeman films I've seen as well. I very much look forward to revisiting this one and it comes highly recommended.