The Good Soldier Švejk (1957): cast, story & where to watch
1957 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 1957, The Good Soldier Švejk is a comedy and war film directed by Karel Steklý, running about 108 minutes.
What it’s about. Good-natured and garrulous, Švejk becomes the Austrian army's most loyal Czech soldier when he is called up on the outbreak of World War I -- although his bumbling attempts to get to the front serve only to prevent him from reaching it. Playing cards and getting drunk, he uses all his cunning and genial subterfuge to deal with the police, clergy, and officers who chivy him toward battle.
Who’s in it. The Good Soldier Švejk stars Rudolf Hrušínský as Josef Švejk, Svatopluk Beneš as nadporučík Lukáš, Eva Svobodová as Müllerová and Josef Hlinomaz as Palivec, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, The Good Soldier Švejk sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Klassiki. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Good Soldier Švejk page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Good Soldier Švejk tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Good Soldier Švejk (1957)?
- In US, The Good Soldier Švejk is available to stream on Klassiki. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Good Soldier Švejk worth watching?
- The Good Soldier Švejk holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and war. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Good Soldier Švejk?
- The Good Soldier Švejk stars Rudolf Hrušínský, Svatopluk Beneš, Eva Svobodová, Josef Hlinomaz and František Filipovský.
- When was The Good Soldier Švejk released?
- The Good Soldier Švejk was released in 1957, with a runtime of about 108 minutes.