Atentát (The Assassination) is a 1964 Czechoslovak war film directed by Jiři Sequens.
It follows the World War II Allied plot involving several Czechoslovak operatives sent to assassinate the Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich in German-occupied Prague.
See also and compare Hangmen Also Die! (1943), Hitler's Madman (1943), Operation Daybreak (1975), Anthropoid (2016) and The Man with the Iron Heart (2017).
Tropes:
- Artistic License – History: During the assassination "Strnad" (Josef Gabčík) runs in front of the car. In reality Gabčík tried to shoot at Heydrich from the side of the road.
- Bodybag Trick: La Résistance planned to invert this. The plan was for paratroopers to leave church hideout in coffins.
- Cigarette of Anxiety: Occurs among paratroopers as they listen to announcement of the assassination.
- Convenient Misfire: During the assassination "Strnad's" Sten-gun jams while he stands right before car with Heydrich.
- Code Name: The Paratroopers are only refered to by such.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Discussed as the members of La Résistance are worried that the assassination would lead to more arresting and more executions.
- Dirty Coward: Vrbas (Karel Čurda).
- La Résistance: Main support for the paratroopers.
- Leitmotif: The reoccurring piece of soundtrack is originally Czech polka Škoda lásky
known in Anglophone sphere as Beer Barrel Polka - Price on Their Heads: Ten million crownsnote for any information leading to capturing the assassins of Heydrich.
- Right Hand Versus Left Hand: Heydrich vs Admiral and leader of Abwehr Wilhelm Canaris
- Tempting Fate: Heydrich "crown himself" with crown of saint Wenceslas which is believed to be cursed for anyone but rightful ruler of Bohemian lands. Guess how things turned for him.
- Translation Convention: Averted. German language sounds from loudspeakers and among German officers, English is spoken by English.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: What else would you except among the soldiers.
