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The Emperor and the Golem

The Emperor and the Golem (, literally "The Emperor′s Baker and Baker′s Emperor") is a two-part Czechoslovak historical fantasy comedy film produced in 1951. The film was shot in color (not common for Czechoslovak films in that period) because of the international release and is set during the reign of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia (1583–1611) and takes place in Late Renaissance (Mannerist) Prague. It is one of the best known films of Jan Werich, who performed the dual roles of Emperor Rudolf and baker Matěj. The movie is still quite popular in Czech society due to its catchy songs and its impressive portrait of the Golem, a mythical anthropomorphic robot-like creature allegedly made from clay by the renowned Rabbi Loew.

Plot

Aging and eccentric Emperor Rudolf II, who is obsessed with finding the Golem, refuses to hear out ambassadors and falls into destructive fits. Later he welcomes Magister Edward Kelley at Prague Castle and shows him his alchemy laboratory. All the alchemists are either charlatans or fools. Rudolf wants an alchemist named Scotta to make him an elixir of youth, and pressures him into performing a magic ritual at night. While performing the ritual, they accidentally stumble upon the Golem. However, the Golem can't be awakened without a little ball called shem.