The Good Soldier Schweik

The Good Soldier Schweik (German:Der brave Soldat Schwejk) is a 1960 West German comedy film directed by Axel von Ambesser. Based on the satirical novel The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek it depicts the adventures of a simple Czech soldier during World War I. The film features Heinz Rühmann as the protagonist Schweik, and was nominated for the 1962 Golden Globe Awards. Plot summary Schweik (played by Heinz Rühmann) is an unlucky and simple-minded but resourceful little man who makes a modest living by trading dogs in Prague. He gets charged for lèse-majesté and is supposed to be jailed, but when the court finds him to be dim-witted, he is instead committed to a mental asylum. There, the doctors examine his physical and mental status. When one of the physicians accuses Schweik of being a simulator, Schweik assures him that he is an officially approved imbecile. When World War I breaks out in 1914, Schweik is drafted into the Austro-Hungarian Army as a common soldier. Because he suffers from rheumatism, he is detached as a servant for Lieutenant Lukas (Ernst Stankovski). The latter is busy not getting transferred to the front line, so he can spend his time with gambling and with beautiful ladies. When Lukas loses his entire money and even his servant Schweik to a colonel in a game of cards, Schweik buys himself free with his own money and returns to Lukas.