Imagine this: lights blaze. Cameras roll. Action! You are standing in Barrandov, Prague’s very own “Little Hollywood”.
Barrandov film studios and the Barrandov district are connected. This area was conceived by Vaclav Havel. He was the father of the former president Havel. He got the idea from a residential area in Berkeley California. Havel wanted to build something similar in Prague.
Built in the 1930s, Barrandov was a place where actors and directors lived. Film producers also lived in villas near the film studios. Today, the villas remain. Wealthy Praguers have replaced the film stars. Barrandov now includes the old villa quarter and New Barrandov. New Barrandov has mainly high-rise buildings.
Old Barrandov includes the villa district and the Barrandov Terraces. It also has Barrandov Studios. New Barrandov was built in the 1980s. It lies west of the old part. Tram 15 connects Barrandov to Prague’s center. Barrandov sits on a rocky plateau above the Vltava River in southwest Prague.
The name Barrandov comes from French geologist Joachim Barrande. He studied the fossil-rich rocks here. The district was named for him in 1928.
Barrandov Studios is the Czech Republic’s largest film studio. It is one of Europe’s largest. Many Hollywood productions have filmed here. These include Mission Impossible and Casino Royale. Also filmed here were The Chronicles of Narnia and The Zookeeper’s Wife.
Milos Havel founded the A-B Joint Stock Company in 1921. Initially, the A-B studios were in a Vinohrady brewery garden. In the early 1930s, Havel’s brother planned a residential complex. It was to be on a hill outside Prague. Milos suggested including a film studio in the development.
Construction began in 1931. It finished in 1933. One year later, Barrandov’s first Czech film was shot. It was Murder on Ostrovni Street. The studio quickly grew. Barrandov had 300 employees. It made 80 films a year. Foreign producers were attracted to Barrandov. It was the best-equipped studio in Central Europe.
During World War II, the Nazis expanded Barrandov. They wanted it to rival studios in Berlin and Munich. They planned three large stages. These stages still attract filmmakers.
After the war, Barrandov was nationalized. It remained state-owned until the 1990s. During this time, new film laboratories were built. Also added was a special effects stage.
In the 1960s, Czech films gained global attention. Milos Forman and Jiri Menzel worked at Barrandov. Vera Chytilova and Jan Nemec also worked here.
Barrandov continued to produce films in the 1970s and 1980s. It made comedies and fairy tales. In the 1980s, American productions came to Barrandov. These included Barbra Streisand’s Yentl and Milos Forman’s Amadeus.
Barrandov was privatized after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The studio almost closed in 2000. But foreign productions increased. Czech television also used the facilities.
In 2006, Barrandov Studios opened a large sound stage. It aimed to attract bigger productions. It became the largest in Europe. It measures 4,000 square metres.
The Filmpoint exhibition showcases Barrandov Studios’ history. Costumes and props are on display. These are from legendary Barrandov projects. You can find costumes from “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella”. Also, you can see rings and crown jewels from the TV series “Arabela”. Filmpoint offers a look behind the scenes. You can see a studio, a make-up room, and a dressing room. You can even try on hats and accessories.
Barrandov’s canteen is open to everyone. It is perfect for breakfast or lunch.
Barrandov Terraces were a meeting place for film stars. They were popular until World War II. Renovation has been ongoing for years.
Today, Barrandov flourishes. Foreign productions keep coming because Prague resembles other major cities. Also, filming here is cheaper than building film sets.
As you leave Barrandov, remember the magic created here. The stories told. The stars who walked these streets. This is more than just a studio. It is a legacy.