Days of Betrayal 1973

Overview

Days of Betrayal, also known as Dny zrady, is a 1973 Czechoslovak drama film directed by Otakar Vávra. The feature film has a runtime of three hours and forty-seven minutes and focuses on historical events occurring in 1938. The narrative serves as a chronicle detailing the unsuccessful attempts of Czechoslovak president Edvard Benes, played by Jirí Pleskot, along with various politicians and ordinary citizens, to protect the independence and territorial integrity of their state against the encroaching influence of Hitler's Germany. The plot covers the meeting between Hitler, portrayed by Gunnar Möller, and Sudeten German leader Henlein, played by Werner Ehrlicher, on March 29, 1938, where Hitler instructed Henlein to increase pressure on the Czechoslovak government. This eventually led to the Sudeten German Party issuing eight demands in Carlsbad on April 24, 1938. The production was entered into the 8th Moscow International Film Festival, where it received a Diploma. The film features a large cast, with documentation noting the appearance of hundreds of actors throughout the project.