7 Classic Polish TV Shows
Decades before there were international streaming platforms, the majority of Poles enjoyed shows aired traditionally on TV in their millions. They followed characters like a superspy known as the Polish James Bond, a Warsaw engineer going through a mid-life crisis, and a woman posing as a male taxi driver. Although they were very much products of their era, these Polish TV shows from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s are considered classics today and part of Poland’s cultural noosphere.
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Still from the series ‘Czterej Pancerni i Pies’ by Konrad Nałęcki, photo: National Film Archive / fototeka.fn.org.pl
We start off with the oldest show on this list, the much loved Czterej Pancerni i Pies (Four Tankmen and a Dog) which premiered in 1966. As the title implies, it’s a war story about a tank crew and their four-legged pet. The 21-episode series was based on a book with the same title by Janusz Przymanowski. The plot presents the adventures of the crew of a Polish tank in WWII named Rudy (Redhead) who help free Poland from the Nazi Germans and travel all the way to Berlin on their quest to defeat the Third Reich. The show, directed by Konrad Nałęcki, was meant to be entertaining rather than realistic:
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You often get the impression that the characters in ‘Four Tankmen’ are having fun during their service, that they don’t take their superiors’ orders entirely seriously, and that fighting the gawky Germans is a piece of cake. Of course, such a depiction of realities made the show highly popular. Compared to the monumental and serious war films of the time, this series was a perfect adventure story, for kids and adolescents too…
Author
From wiadomosci.dziennik.pl, trans. MK
Audiences loved Four Tankmen – its stars, which include talented actors like Janusz Gajos, Roman Wilhelmi and Franciszek Pieczka as the titular soldiers, became household names.
However, one has to add that the show has been criticised for painting a warped portrayal of Polish-Soviet relations. Poland and Soviet Russia are presented as harmonious allies whereas in reality Stalin invaded Poland at the beginning of World War II, which led to horrible atrocities. This fake depiction of international relations was dictated by propaganda reasons. Poland’s Soviet-imposed communist regime which existed from the mid-1940s until 1989 wanted to legitimise its dependency on the Soviet Union, amongst others, through works of cinema such as Four Tankmen. Although the nostalgia for the show is still strong today, it is always with a pinch of salt keeping that context in mind.
Four Tankmen and a Dog was released on DVD with English subtitles.
‘More Than Life at Stake’
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Still from the series ‘Stawka Większa niż Życie’ by Janusz Morgenstern & Andrzej Konic, photo: National Film Archive / fototeka.fn.org.pl
Next up we have another show set during World War II. Stawka Większa niż Życie (More Than Life at Stake) follows Stanisław Kolicki, a Pole who becomes a Soviet spy and under the name Hans Kloss infiltrates the Nazi intelligence services. Kloss has many thrilling and action-packed adventures but always manages to overcome even the most difficult of adversities. His risky activities enable him to obtain plenty of valuable intelligence. Interestingly, even though Kloss is a Soviet spy, his character is said to have been modelled on a Western fictional hero, namely on Commander James Bond:
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Handsome and seductive toward women (which he uses to obtain information), adept at hand-to-hand combat and shooting, he passes unscathed through extravagant dangers – sort of like a certain British commander. Perhaps the idea was to create a rival for him on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
Author
From filmweb.pl, trans. MK
This 18 episode series, which premiered in 1968, went on to become a cult classic. Stanisław Mikulski who played Kloss became a real superstar and Emil Karewicz, who portrayed Kloss’ rival, the vile Nazi military man Brunner, also gained great popularity. Plenty of other noted Polish actors appear in the series as well. More Than Life at Stake was directed by Janusz Morgenstern and Andrzej Konic and its iconic theme tune was composed by Jerzy Matuszkiewicz.
However, More Than Life at Stake isn’t only praised as an entertaining show. Similarly to Four Tankmen it has come under criticism for whitewashing Polish-Soviet relations during World War II and presenting other elements of communist propaganda such as glorifying pro-Soviet sympathies. Such a political tone was, as explained earlier, the result of Poland being under the communist regime at the time of the show’s creation.
It’s worth adding that in 2012 the feature film Hans Kloss: Stawka Większa niż Śmierć (Hans Kloss: More Than Death at Stake) was released as a sequel to More Than Life at Stake. Although it was made four decades later, the picture is set (partially) in the 1970s and includes Mikulski and Karewicz reprising their old roles of Kloss and Brunner.
More Than Life at Stake was released on DVD with English subtitles.
‘Janosik: The Highland Robber’
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Marek Perepeczko in the series Janosik, photo: Romuald Pieńkowski / National Film Archive / fototeka.fn.org.pl
Whereas Hans Kloss is sometimes called the Polish James Bond, the protagonist of our next series, a highlander by the name of Janosik, is sometimes referred to as the Polish Robin Hood. Like the English hero, Janosik takes from the rich and gives to the poor…
Juraj Jánošík was an actual historical figure, a Slovakian outlaw who lived at the turn of the 17th and 18th century. Together with a band of bandits, he committed robberies in the Carpathian Mountains and was eventually sentenced to death for his crimes. His story went on to inspire a number of Slovakian but also Polish folk tales.
The 13-episode Polish series Janosik (Janosik: The Highland Robber) from 1974 is a loose take on the legend of the Slovakian bandit. It’s set in the Polish mountains in the 19th century and revolves around the titular hero, who becomes the head of a group of outlaws:
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Together with the bandits, he has many adventures – the series shows many spectacular fights and duels, kidnappings, traps and horse chases. Also, the robbers regularly raid nearby noblemen’s manors and trade caravans, and give the loot taken from the rich to the peasants. All of this is accompanied by plenty of humour.
Author
From polskieradio.pl, trans. MK
The part of Janosik was played by Marek Perepeczko, who portrayed the ultimate likeable outlaw. Among his co-stars we other noted Polish actors like Anna Dymna and Witold Pyrkosz. The show, which features a marvellous theme tune by the aforementioned Jerzy Matuszkiewicz, went on to become a major hit. It was directed by Jerzy Passendorfer who also used its footage to create a Janosik feature film released in 1974.
It’s worth adding that 2009 saw the premiere of another Polish-directed feature film based on the story of Juraj Jánošík: Janosik: Prawdziwa Historia (Janosik: The True Story). Directed by Oscar-winner Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, the film is very different from the show, but is proof of the folk legend’s continued popularity.
Janosik: The Highland Robber was released on DVD with English subtitles.
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Andrzej Kopiczyński & Anna Seniuk in the series ‘40-latek’ by Jerzy Gruza, photo: Roman Sumik / National Film Archive / fototeka.fn.org.pl
A much different kind of protagonist than Janosik can be found in the comedy series 40-Latek (A 40-Year-Old) directed by Jerzy Gruza. This 21-episode show set in the 1970s is about Stefan Karwowski, a Warsaw engineer who’s passed the forty-year mark, and his family:
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Stefan is a talented and skilled engineer, but nevertheless lacks confidence. Magda is his opposite – she’s a self-assured hydrologist with a very strong personality. The couple have two kids: Marek and Jagoda. The series shows their everyday struggles. Family affairs intertwine with professional ones.
Author
From naekranie.pl, trans. MK
The show, which humorously portrays ordinary issues as well as the protagonist’s mid-life crisis, became a massive success. It features brilliant performances by Andrzej Kopiczyński as Stefan and Anna Seniuk as Magda as well as numerous other memorable appearances by popular Polish actors like Irena Kwiatkowska and Wojciech Pszoniak.
The show’s highly-recognisable theme song Czterdzieści Lat Minęło (Forty Years Have Passed), written by (yet again) Jerzy Matuszkiewicz and Jan Stanisławski, gained immense popularity and became a hit in its own right.
40-Year-Old premiered in 1975 and a year later its spin-off came out, the feature film Motylem Jestem, czyli Romans Czterdziestolatka (I’m a Butterfly, or a 40-Year-Old’s Love Affair). Also, a continuation of the show, titled Czterdziestolatek: 20 Lat Później (A 40-Year-Old: 20 Years Later), appeared in the early 1990s. This series, however, didn’t repeat the success of its parent show.
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Still from the series ‘07 Zgłoś Się’ by Krzysztof Szmagier, Andrzej Piotrowski & Kazimierz Tarnas, photo: National Film Archive / fototeka.fn.org.pl
The mid-1970s saw the premiere of another Polish TV show considered a classic – 07 Zgłoś Się (07 Come In). The first of this crime series’ 21 episodes was aired in 1976.
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Each of the [..] episodes contains a different story and riddle which Borewicz, an ace Citizen's Militia lieutenant, attempts to solve. […] The topics of the particular episodes are highly varied and the mandatory criminal themes (mostly murders and thefts) are usually accompanied by Borewicz’s love encounters. […] The tempo of the action is often amplified by car chases which mainly feature unforgettable cars like the Polonez and Fiat 125p.
Author
From filmweb.pl, trans. MK
At this point, it’s worth explaining that the Citizen’s Militia was the police force in Poland under the communist regime. In the series, Sławomir Borewicz (whose cryptonym is 07, a possible wink at James Bond’s code number of 007) is portrayed as a tough but nevertheless positive character, one who serves and protects. Unsurprisingly, the series has been criticised for legitimising the communist regime’s law enforcement apparatus.
However, 07 Come In has also been praised as a highly entertaining show. It is said to present an intriguing and convincing vision of society in the Poland of its time. Bonisław Cieślak did a great job at playing Borewicz who became an iconic Polish tough guy. The series also includes interesting performances by other famed Polish actors such as Piotr Fronczewski and Barbara Brylska. All but two of 07 Come In’s episodes were directed by Krzysztof Szmagier. Andrzej Piotrowski and Kazimierz Tarnas each directed one of the remaining episodes.
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Still from the series ‘Alternatywy 4’ by Stanisław Bareja, photo: National Film Archive / fototeka.fn.org.pl
The series Alternatywy 4 (4 Alternatywy Street), directed by Stanisław Bareja, was ready for TV in 1983. However, it wasn’t until 1986 that this 9-episode comedy show appeared on screens. This delay was caused by the communist censors who had their doubts about airing a series which mocks everyday life in Poland under the communist regime. Eventually however, the media decision makers decided to air 4 Alternatywy Street, apparently because they didn’t want the money that went into it to go to waste.
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Stanisław Bareja’s series shows the life of the residents of a Warsaw apartment block, which is filled with absurdities characteristic of Poland under the communist regime. The community of residents in the titular 4 Alternatywy Street constitutes a miniature version of Polish society: there’s the street wise Józef Balcerek, the crane operator Zygmunt Kołek and the doctor Zdzisław Kołek. Everything is overlooked by the host of the house, Stanisław Anioł.
Author
From metrowarszawa.gazeta.pl, trans. MK
The aforementioned absurdities, which might seem rather surprising to someone who’s never lived in the Eastern Bloc, include things like long queues for scarce goods in stores, power shortages and entirely inscrutable regulations. The character of Stanisław Anioł, fabulously played by Roman Wilhelmi, spies on his fellow residents and tries to manipulate them; he represents the oppressive apparatus of the communist regime. Wilhelmi is accompanied by a number of other talented Polish actors like Bożena Dykiel and Jan Kobuszewski. The series became an instant hit and in 2005 (after the fall of the communist regime) an actual street in Warsaw was named ‘Alternatywy’ in honour of Bareja’s show. Two years later a continuation of the show appeared titled Dylematu 5 (5 Dylematu Street), but it was cancelled after just three episodes due to poor reviews and viewership.
If you are going to look up the show, we should add that 4 Alternatywy Street includes appearances by a white actor made up to look like a black man, something rather politically incorrect from today’s perspective.
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Still from the series ‘Zmiennicy’ by Stanisław Bareja, photo: Romuald Pieńkowski / National Film Archive / fototeka.fn.org.pl
Another classic Polish TV series directed by the celebrated Stanisław Bareja is Zmiennicy (Subs). This 15-episode comedy show premiered in 1987 and became hugely popular with viewers. One of the show’s main characters is a young woman by the name of Katarzyna Piórecka who wants to become a taxi driver in Warsaw:
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She has a meeting with Łukasik, a personnel manager reluctant to employ women, who sends her away. Katarzyna decides to trick the taxi company by finding employment there as a man. Cunningly she obtains the necessary documents and gets the job after she dresses up as a man. Together with her sub, Jacek […], she drives through Warsaw observing the often grotesque life of its citizens.
Author
From kultura.onet.pl, trans. MK
Naturally, Jacek Żytkiewicz doesn’t know that his sub is a woman posing as a man. Katarzyna fancies Jacek and things get even more complicated when Jacek meets her outside of work and falls in love with her. The intriguing plot also includes a group of drug smugglers and plenty of scenes mocking the illogic of life under the communist regime (the censors blocked the series’ premiere for a year).
The show features some great acting from Ewa Błaszczyk as Katarzyna Piórecka and Mieczysław Hryniewicz as Jacek Żytkiewicz. The Subs cast also includes well-known Polish actors like Krzysztof Kowalewski and Zbigniew Zamachowski. It’s worth adding that some modern viewers find it troubling that in this series a white actor wearing skin-colour-altering makeup plays the role of a Thai student.
Written by Marek Kępa, Dec 21
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