Tadeusz Łomnicki did not want to play in “Pan Wo³odyjowski”. Later, for the role, he lost 10 kg and practiced fencing

On March 28, 1969, the ceremonial premiere of “Mr. Wołodyjowski”, the first screen adaptation of “Trilogy” shot by . The production was record-breakingly expensive for those times, PLN 40 million was spent on the implementation. However, he was a huge success. Almost 11 million viewers watched it in cinemas. What were the beginnings of working on the film like?

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“Pan Wołodyjowski” turns 54. Difficult beginnings on set after March 1968

Jerzy Hoffman started filming the “Trilogy” from the last part. The decision was not accidental. “Mr. Wołodyjowski” was the first part of the “Trilogy” that Hoffman read. The director decided that it would be a simpler film to make and at the same time the cheapest. In addition, the situation in the country was not conducive to this type of film projects, and certainly not conducive to shooting “With Fire and Sword”.

Telewizja Polska initially planned only a series. However, Hoffman wanted to make a feature film. At the same time, Alexander Ford was planning to shoot “The Deluge”, which caused conflict. Priority was given to Ford, who in 1960 made “Teutonic Knights”, the highest-grossing film in the history of Polish cinema, watched by over 32 million viewers. For a long time he claimed that the script was almost ready, then that he lost the only copy in a tram. It was clear that the production of “The Deluge” would be significantly delayed. After all, Ford left Poland after the events of 1968 and never made an adaptation of Sienkiewicz. However, March 1968 also had consequences for Hoffman himself. – I had searches and all-night interrogations, they also tried to rebel my team near Chęciny, what the illuminators prevented – he revealed in an interview. The director was sometimes interrogated until the morning, trying to convince him to leave Poland. Finally, he said that yes, he could leave, but to the USSR. – Then all the visits of sad gentlemen on the set ended – he admitted.

Tadeusz Łomnicki did not want to play Wołodyjowski. Today, we cannot imagine another actor in this role

Hoffman’s stubbornness also affected Tadeusz Łomnicki. The actor initially did not want to play in “Pan Wołodyjowski”. The role seemed risky to him, and he also decided that as an outstanding and popular theater actor, he might not be able to cope with it, especially since it required a lot of physical effort. He did not share his concerns with Hoffman, instead stating that he had to decline due to health issues.

The director did not accept this. – Chytrenko called a council and the doctors pronounced me as fit as a horse – Łomnicki in one of the interviews. For half a year he learned horse riding, a year he practiced fencing under the watchful eye of Andrzej Piątkowski, a saber fencer and three-time Olympic champion, he lost 10 kg. Hoffman’s stubbornness paid off, today we can’t imagine anyone else in the role of Michał Wołodyjowski.

Tadeusz Łomnicki in ‘Kordian’ at the National Theater in Warsaw, 1956 photo. National Digital Archive

Daniel Olbrychski gave the director a hard time. Hoffman decided to teach him a lesson

Daniel Olbrychski appears in all three parts of Hoffman’s “Trilogy”, playing a different character in each. He got the role of Asia Tuhajbejowicz after arm wrestling with Hoffman in the SPATiF club. He agreed, though not without hesitation, and was a real pain on the set. In the end, the director decided to temper him.

He chose the day when the impalement scene of Asia was shot. “He had to sit on a narrow bicycle seat, which was not comfortable at all in the long run. Since this was the period of our disagreements, I couldn’t resist a bit of sadism. Olbrychski sits on the saddle, and I order the lights to be turned off and order a lunch break. No one, including Daniel, uttered a word. However, after watching the movie, he got very drunk and called me in the morning. Jurek, he said, sorry and thank you – Hoffman.