Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

How I Unleashed World War II

Original title: Jak rozpetalem druga wojne swiatowa
  • 1970
  • 3h 44m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
4K
YOUR RATING
How I Unleashed World War II (1970)
AdventureComedyWar

The adventures of unlucky Polish soldier Franek Dolas during world war II. In September he escapes from Stalag and goes to France. After that he fights in Africa and Europe.The adventures of unlucky Polish soldier Franek Dolas during world war II. In September he escapes from Stalag and goes to France. After that he fights in Africa and Europe.The adventures of unlucky Polish soldier Franek Dolas during world war II. In September he escapes from Stalag and goes to France. After that he fights in Africa and Europe.

  • Director
    • Tadeusz Chmielewski
  • Writer
    • Tadeusz Chmielewski
  • Stars
    • Marian Kociniak
    • Janina Boronska
    • Adam Cyprian
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tadeusz Chmielewski
    • Writer
      • Tadeusz Chmielewski
    • Stars
      • Marian Kociniak
      • Janina Boronska
      • Adam Cyprian
    • 11User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 5
    View Poster

    Top cast62

    Edit
    Marian Kociniak
    Marian Kociniak
    • Pvt. Franek Dolas
    Janina Boronska
    • Elzbieta
    Adam Cyprian
    • Gulke
    Wirgiliusz Gryn
    Wirgiliusz Gryn
    • Józek Kryska
    Zdzislaw Kuzniar
    Zdzislaw Kuzniar
    • Dimo Stojadinovic
    Józef Lodynski
    Józef Lodynski
    • Stoker
    Jaroslaw Skulski
    • Colonel
    Tomasz Zaliwski
    Tomasz Zaliwski
    • Yugoslavian Officer
    Elzbieta Starostecka
    Elzbieta Starostecka
    • Singer
    Andrzej Gawronski
    Andrzej Gawronski
    • Helmut
    Emil Karewicz
    Emil Karewicz
    • Gestapo Officer
    Henryk Lapinski
    Henryk Lapinski
    • Wladyslaw Wachocki
    Stanislaw Milski
    Stanislaw Milski
    • German General
    Kazimierz Talarczyk
    Kazimierz Talarczyk
    • Woydyllo
    Janusz Ziejewski
    • Feldfebel
    Krystyna Borowicz
    Krystyna Borowicz
    • Prostitute
    Anna Gebicka
    • Dancer
    Piotr Fronczewski
    Piotr Fronczewski
    • Italian Soldier
    • Director
      • Tadeusz Chmielewski
    • Writer
      • Tadeusz Chmielewski
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    8.04K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    9APtoThe

    Great WW2 adventure/comedy

    As a Polish speaker and fan of WW2 films, this movie ticks all the boxes you would want from a WW2 adventure/comedy. One may describe the film as a cross between 'The Great Escape' (1964) and 'Forrest Gump' (1994). A simple mans comedic journey through a tumultuous time period in history, driven by his impassioned will to fight for his country.
    10pmaleszewski

    One of, if not the greatest Polish movie ever.

    Contrary to what that one comment on the bottom says, there are so many moments during this movie that are so hilarious that you can hardly contain yourself. Its funny, and yet gives you a thing to think about. It's a classic and you won't be disappointed. The whole language realism makes it even better. I will say though, it is an especially long movie, consisting of 3 parts, each about an hour, but it is still worth every minute. I have heard people say that there is nothing funny about ww2. Well this exists, and this came out in a rather dark time in Poland's history, and that really goes to show how you can really make something terrible into something enjoyable. The fact that this came out from a communist film studio and that it is better than most modern movies is truly something else.
    9osigotx

    One of the best comedies in the world

    This is one of the best comedies in the world. Very subtle and pleasant humor in such a humor-heavy setting like war. In terms of mood and light style, the film can be compared to "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" and Taika Waititi's films.
    9pibwl

    Polish classic World War II comedy

    The film is one of classic Polish comedies, often aired in Polish TV, and I like it quite much. The main hero is Polish soldier Private Franek Dolas, a charming wangler, who is convinced, that he had started World War Two with his accidental shot (it is a bravura life role of Marian Kociniak). He escapes from a POW camp, and then desperately tries to join the Polish Army, being organized in Great Britain. The film is quite long three-part trilogy, but we follow adventures of Private Dolas from 1 September 1939 towards the end of the war, across Nazi occupied Europe, Middle East and North Africa. And there is also a romance plot in last part.

    The whole story is inspired by fates and stories of many Polish soldiers, who escaped from occupied country and got to French or British allies to continue fighting. It was truly a difficult task during the war, because they had to travel illegally through neutral or Nazi-allied countries, avoiding imprisonment or internment. Many of them found themselves eventually in North Africa, where Polish units fought on British side in 1941-1942 against Germans and Italians. One patrol even captured Italian military bordello indeed...

    Since Franek Dolas travels through different countries, a humour mainly explores national stereotypes and cultural clashes, but in rather gentle and non-derogatory way. So, the Germans are unable to write down an overcomplicated fake Polish name (Brzeczyszczykiewicz), the Yugoslavians are hospitable, while the British are stiff and care about nothing during a tea time (it also was an experience of Polish soldiers, raised in different culture). On the other hand, the Poles, personalized by the main hero, are reckless and always get into trouble. In fact, Private Dolas succeeds in many things only by accident. French captain is always drunk on wine and wants to fight for Marshall Petain - but on the other hand, his soldiers join the Free French to continue fighting. The Italians try to surrender, or they fight only for their women - but we also see brave Italian commandos. A great and remarkable thing in this film is, that all characters speak their own languages, what makes language barriers obvious, and increases reality feeling.

    The film was made as black and white, but gained much thanks to a digital colorization.
    hoax1

    this is amazing movie , hmm the whole trylogy is superb

    this film is so funny and show so much of 2ww in parodic way .

    i love it for this and i love the lead hero who is playing with german soldiers :D

    its 1 of my most favorite movies . u must watch it :)

    More like this

    Our Folks
    7.9
    Our Folks
    Teddy Bear
    8.2
    Teddy Bear
    Man - Woman Wanted
    7.5
    Man - Woman Wanted
    Kiler
    7.5
    Kiler
    Sexmission
    7.5
    Sexmission
    Day of the Wacko
    8.1
    Day of the Wacko
    Boys Don't Cry
    7.6
    Boys Don't Cry
    I Hate Mondays
    7.5
    I Hate Mondays
    Killer 2
    6.7
    Killer 2
    Vabank
    7.8
    Vabank
    Psy
    7.6
    Psy
    The Quack
    7.8
    The Quack

    Related interests

    Still frame
    Adventure
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Band of Brothers (2001)
    War

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film is unique in terms of language realism: members of each nationality, encountered by a main hero on his way, speak their own language (German, Serbo-Croatian, French, Italian, English), what makes his adventures and communication problems more realistic.
    • Goofs
      When the film was colorized in 2000, the Yugoslav flag was miscolored, with green in the place of blue.
    • Quotes

      Pvt. Franek Dolas: B-but our place is in the Polish army! We must fight for Poland!

      Sgt. Kiedros: And for which Poland do you want to fight for?

    • Alternate versions
      Also shown in computer colorized version. This version was prepared by "Dynacs Digital" and has never been released theatrically. It was first shown by TV Polsat.
    • Connections
      Referenced in I Hate Mondays (1971)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ13

    • How long is How I Unleashed World War II?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 2, 1970 (Poland)
    • Country of origin
      • Poland
    • Languages
      • Polish
      • Serbo-Croatian
      • Italian
      • German
      • French
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Приключения канонира Доласа
    • Filming locations
      • Zgierz, Lódzkie, Poland(POW camp)
    • Production company
      • Przedsiebiorstwo Realizacji Filmów "Zespoly Filmowe"
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 3h 44m(224 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.