
Acting
Josef Laufer
Born — Died
1939-08-11 — 2024-04-20
Place of birth
Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendée, France
Known for
Acting
Credits
56 titles
Known for
The ZDF-Hitparade, or Hitparade for short was one of the most popular and most well-known music television series presenting mostly German Schlager.
Die ZDF-Hitparade
1969
The show was meant to compete with those on West German television. To this end it was fairly successful even attracting a following in parts of West Germany which could receive Eastern TV. Its production values were high. Apart from song and dance numbers and appearances from East German celebrities, almost every broadcast featured well-known stars from the west, often after their popularity had peaked in their home countries.
Ein Kessel Buntes
1972
7.5No synopsis available yet.
We love Czechia
2013
5.0No synopsis available yet.
Ohnivý kuře
2016
7.6Set in Czechoslovakia, the drama follows the lives of its characters against the backdrop of real historical events that shape their personal stories. To evoke period atmosphere, the series intersperses authentic clips from vintage Czechoslovak film newsreels, using their original commentaries or newly recorded historical voice-overs by Vladimír Fišer. A narrator, initially voiced by Vojtěch Kotek and later by Matěj Hádek, provides continuity and reflection, guiding viewers through changing times. Under the guidance of screenwriter Rudolf Merkner, each episode’s script weaves family and individual dramas into key moments of Czech and Slovak history: political shifts, cultural trends, and social transformations from the 1960s onward.
Vyprávěj
2009
7.7No synopsis available yet.
Zirkus Humberto
1988
Film credits
2010s · 3 titles
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Věčná Slavia
2016
3.0Students from the Prague Conservatory leave for a workshop in the picturesque South Bohemian countryside, where they are placed before a demanding task, from which only some of them will emerge successful and they will then continue in their dream to be famous. Each of them will find their true path to happiness.
The Musical, or The Way to Happiness
2016
3.5Ten years later, the people of Kamenákov are still stirring up trouble, including Pepa, who is now mayor and trying to establish a police force.
Bad Joke 4
2013
2000s · 4 titles
A young king is expected to visit a country estate. The haughty countess would like to win his heart, so she longs for a dress made from the most beautiful fabric. After a long search, she finds a special shimmering silk at the mysterious White Old Woman's. However, the old woman warns her. The silk belongs to Lady Storm, and whoever wears a dress made from it will be cursed. The countess takes the fabric anyway and has a dress made by the village tailor. His daughter Anička cannot resist and secretly tries on the beautiful gown and veil. A young man named Lukáš sees her in the open doorway and cannot take his eyes off her. Suddenly, however, a wind blows and the girl disappears before his eyes, along with her veil. Lukáš decides to find Anička, whom he cannot forget, at any cost...
Zvon Lukáš
2002
2.6In Kamenákov, the arrival of a Romany family becomes a problem for police chief Pepa and ignites an intense soccer rivalry.
Bad Joke 3
2005
4.0The story of Zdeněk Troška's new comedy, which was inspired by countless stone jokes, takes us to a peaceful South Bohemian town. A whole range of typically Czech characters and prototype families live here with their unchanging rhythm. For example, the Nováks. Pepa's father is a captain of the city police, his wife Vilma is a teacher, his daughter Julia is studying health, and nine-year-old Pepíček comments in an unspeakable way on everything that is happening around. The boy literally starts to have eyes on top of his head when a noble couple arrives in Kameňákov from England, to whom the local castle was returned as part of the restitution. Nothing is hidden in a small town, and soon everyone knows that the lord has come here to look for his father's treasure. Such news will bring the whole of Kameňákov to its feet and literally keep three local mafia members, the rich Kohn, the handsome chief of police and the experienced criminal, awake. And then things start to happen...
Bad Joke
2003
2.7Kameňák 2, inspired again by well-known and less well-known stone jokes (director Zdeněk Tročko received an incredible sixty thousand of them from the audience!) directly follows the first part, which ends with the gushing of a blue erectile spring from the rock at the Kameňákov castle. The miraculous effect of the blue spring on potency causes an unprecedented uproar in the town, and even old Kropáčková experiences its beneficial power. However, as suddenly as the spring appeared, it also disappeared. But did it really disappear? And where? The insidious granny Kropáčková knows this best, who in the second part becomes a terror to the young men in the town. The disappearance of the blue spring of a lucrative business has not let even the local mafia sleep. All traces lead unmistakably to the Kropáčková house in the manor house...
Bad Joke 2
2004
1990s · 4 titles
5.8Stage mime Antoine Moreau is compelled by the Gestapo to put on a performance for the children of Terezin, a "model" concentration camp, to convince the Red Cross observers that the camp is truly what it seems. Reluctant at first, Moreau slowly learns the true nature of the camp, including the meaning of the "transports" on which people leave. With a world-class orchestra (made up of people interned in the camp) and a cast of children, Moreau stages a show to end all shows.
The Last Butterfly
1991
3.6On a trip to Europe, a woman gets abducted and soon finds herself in a training facility for female mercenaries...
Dangerous Prey
1995
No synopsis available yet.
Tři Alberti a slečna Matylda
1994
On one side stands an evil sorcerer, on the other a good Old Man. Between them, the unhappy Janek struggles for his happiness, Princess Alina for her love, and the unhappy king searches for self-respect. The miraculous stone that Janek has received from the Old Man can bring happiness, wealth, success, but only for Janek himself. With the help of the stone, he wins for himself a princess from the hands of a cruel sorcerer. Janek finally has his love, but the Wizard takes revenge and takes the land's water. The young man's happiness is too lonely, the people of the land are facing misery and suffering. What will Janek do?
Tajomstvo šťastia
1995
1980s · 4 titles
No synopsis available yet.
Štěstí
1985
Josef Laufer portrays Egon Erwin Kisch in two daring journalistic adventures: in “Zuřivý reportér,” Kisch goes undercover in a poverty lodging house, uncovers a tattoo’s dark backstory and deciphers a secret telegram hinting at war via the legend of the black rose; in “Lovci senzací,” he pursues sensational leads and exposes hidden truths, proving why he was rightly called “the raging reporter.”
Zuřivý reportér
1988
5.0No synopsis available yet.
20 let Olympicu
1983
10.0Journalist E. E. Kisch tells crime stories from old Prague, which he himself experienced in the years before World War I and recorded in his reports and stories: he participated in the discovery of the real murderer of a rich innkeeper, attended the wedding of a beggar's son with the daughter of a complacent rich man, and witnessed the mysterious murder of a money-changer's uncle.
Lovec senzací
1989
1970s · 11 titles
6.9Czechoslovakia, 1942. Three brave Czech patriots risk everything to rid their country of its brutal Nazi leader, SS-General Reinhard Heydrich.
Operation: Daybreak
1975
5.7After their young daughter dies suddenly from a viral infection, Marie and Petr struggle to cope with the silence and emptiness left in their apartment. The couple drifts apart as Marie sinks into deep isolation while Petr attempts to distract himself through work and social interactions. Eventually, they decide to try for another child in an effort to move forward and rebuild their fractured relationship.
Day for My Love
1977
7.5Julie, the youngest daughter of a bankrupt merchant, sacrifices her life in order to save her father. She goes to an enchanted castle in the woods and meets Netvor, a bird-like monster. As Netvor begins to fall in love with Julie, he must suppress his beastly urge to kill her.
Beauty and the Beast
1979
6.8Three friends - Tomás, Hubert and Jozka - are boys growing up in a little town. Tomás lives with his aunt Apolena and uncle Václav. Tomás is a boy with lots of ideas that often end up getting him into trouble not only with his teachers and aunt, but with the other inhabitants of the town as well. He has a crush on his schoolmate Blanka and for her sake he decides to try to get the prize for the best pupil in the school.
Boys Will Be Boys
1976
No synopsis available yet.
Znojemský sen
1972
No synopsis available yet.
Silvestr je za dveřmi
1974
6.0In 1900, Stepha, the vivacious 30 year old daughter of a wealthy couple, agrees to marry her cousin Paul, who has accumulated large debts as an Austrian army officer. Paul refuses to work or to consummate the marriage, and then his health steadily declines.
Oil Lamps
1971
7.6No Woman is allowed into Karlstejn Castle! Yet the enamoured Daniele Kolářová and the equally enamoured Jana Brejchová manage to spend one night in disguise in the Castle despite the strict royal ban.
A Night at Karlstein
1974
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Slečna ze spořitelny
1974
A certain Mr. Mlácen is brought to the asylum, wanting to sell two church bells. He first offers them to merchants in an inn. He claims that he received them as an inheritance from his uncle, but he doesn't know what to do with them. But no one wants to buy them. Because of this, he first finds himself in a commissary and is eventually sent to an asylum. The professor (L. Kopřiva), who believes that Mr. Mlácen suffers from some kind of fixed idea and is mentally ill, promises him that he will buy his two bells back...
Zvony pana Mlácena
1973
Rambling Engelbert: 1973 Czechoslovakian T.V. movie musical
Rambling Engelbert
1973
1960s · 10 titles
6.3The exemplary accountant Antonín Safránek lives his orderly life as a citizen of a small town. His wife Eliska brings up their three children and desperately tries to get by on her husband's low salary every month. At the same time, she sadly watches the luxurious life of their neighbor and other people like him who have no qualms about improving their standard of living by cheating. One day, the infallible Safránek makes a mistake in the cash clearance and there are nine one-hundred Crown bills left in the safe. An unexpected company control carried out the next day passes without problems and the account is closed. The temptation is too strong. The insufficient control enables Safránek to gradually steal one million Crowns.
Jak se krade milión
1967
4.0A man boards on a tram together with a naked boy. Somebody has stolen the boy's clothes when he was out bathing, leaving him with not even change for the tram. The man has taken care of him and is taking him home. At first nobody notices them but as soon as the people realize they are seeing something out of the ordinary they begin to react to the situation. Some are content with the simple explanation as to why the boy is naked. Others are agitated, for they see the whole situation as something unseemly. An ordinary incident, which might have been passed over in silence, results in a heated argument that turns into a fight. More and more people join in the fight until the police are forced to intervene.
Adventures with a Naked Boy
1965
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Gentlemani
1969
4.5Pavlata, the director of an educational institution for juvenile offenders, will push for the early release of Pepík Adamec, whom he respects for his sincere efforts and good work record. However, the boy bears the dishonest and dishonourable behaviour of adults in his new job and in his family.
Škola hříšníků
1966
No synopsis available yet.
Madam a sedm loupežníků
1969
7.0A biographical film about the Slovak nationalist Ľudovít Štúr. It captures the revolutionary events of 1848 in Austria-Hungary, when Štúr, as a member of the Diet, led the fight for the national rights of the Slovak people.
Niet inej cesty
1968
6.0Working on the hops fields gathering hops for beer, Filip catches a glimpse of fellow worker/comrade Hanka and falls for her. Trying to keep their love secret from the field owners,fellow worker Honza becomes jealous of Filip having a romance with Hanka, which leads to Honza deciding that he will feed the hop field owners Hanka and Filip's secret romantic hops.
The Hop-Pickers
1964
Three stories (Gabriela, Eda and Jana), two of which are dedicated to girls. They share a common motif of disillusionment when the protagonists encounter scorn and disinterest.
Strakatí andělé
1965
No synopsis available yet.
Hrozné děti
1969
No synopsis available yet.
Komediantská historie
1969
Series credits
The ZDF-Hitparade, or Hitparade for short was one of the most popular and most well-known music television series presenting mostly German Schlager.
Die ZDF-Hitparade
1969
The show was meant to compete with those on West German television. To this end it was fairly successful even attracting a following in parts of West Germany which could receive Eastern TV. Its production values were high. Apart from song and dance numbers and appearances from East German celebrities, almost every broadcast featured well-known stars from the west, often after their popularity had peaked in their home countries.
Ein Kessel Buntes
1972
7.5No synopsis available yet.
We love Czechia
2013
5.0No synopsis available yet.
Ohnivý kuře
2016
7.6Set in Czechoslovakia, the drama follows the lives of its characters against the backdrop of real historical events that shape their personal stories. To evoke period atmosphere, the series intersperses authentic clips from vintage Czechoslovak film newsreels, using their original commentaries or newly recorded historical voice-overs by Vladimír Fišer. A narrator, initially voiced by Vojtěch Kotek and later by Matěj Hádek, provides continuity and reflection, guiding viewers through changing times. Under the guidance of screenwriter Rudolf Merkner, each episode’s script weaves family and individual dramas into key moments of Czech and Slovak history: political shifts, cultural trends, and social transformations from the 1960s onward.
Vyprávěj
2009
7.7No synopsis available yet.
Zirkus Humberto
1988
No synopsis available yet.
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
1966
6.5No synopsis available yet.
Dobrá čtvrť
2005
No synopsis available yet.
Europarty
1967
No synopsis available yet.
Night-Club
1968
7.7No synopsis available yet.
Možná přijde i kouzelník
1983
6.0No synopsis available yet.
Píseň pro Rudolfa III.
1967
NRInženýrská odysea is a Czechoslovak/Czech TV series about three young students and their lives.
Inženýrská odysea
1980
NRA short stories about two brothers whose parents own a car shop.
Bubu and Filip
1996
No synopsis available yet.
Cesta za hvězdným prachem
1987
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Karel je Gott
2019
10.0No synopsis available yet.
Marktplatz der Sensationen
1985
No synopsis available yet.
Bailando, tanec pre teba
2007
