The world war that young George Washington touched off in the backcountry of Pennsylvania in 1754 was a European-wide struggle that pulled in many other powers besides Great Britain and France. Pretty much ALL the Great Powers of Europe, in fact.
An epic feat of arms from that mighty tussle — known in North America as the French & Indian War and in Europe as the Seven Years War — is being immortalized in a film titled Hadik, which looks spectacular. The titular character is an all-time badass Hussar named András Hadik, a career soldier who would rise to the rank of Field Marshal in the armies of the House of Habsburg and the Holy Roman Empire.
From Military Wiki:
Early in the Seven Years’ War (1756 – 1763), Hadik executed the most famous hussar action in history: when the Prussian King Frederick was marching south with his powerful armies, the Hungarian general unexpectedly swung his 5,000 force of mostly hussars around the Prussians and took their capital Berlin. The city was spared for a negotiated ransom of 300,000 thalers, which he distributed among his troops. For this feat, Hadik was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. He was also awarded the Großkreuz of the Maria Theresia Order.
I have no idea whether this film will come Stateside, but I sure hope so. What a vivid presentation of 18th Century warfare…
Hadik’s saber is iconic and there’s a gorgeous reproduction available:
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What would Corb Lund say about all this?
Matthew says
There is something provincial in both names: the Seven Years War and the French and Indian Wars. We Americans fought for around nine years in the Seven Years War but the Europeans call in the Seven Years war because that’s what they fought. Of course, we call it the French and Indian War when there were other groups in it but because those groups were distant from us we don’t think of them.
It was a real World War. All started by George Washington. Though the tensions were high enough it probably would have started with out Washington.
Joe says
I’ve wondered this too, reading about the incident. Would it have probably blown up anyway without Washington? Perhaps in a different form? This film is certainly up my alley. I’d enjoying seeing Hollywood take on the period more, either in North American or Europe, though they haven’t really been interested in much big-budget 18th period pieces lately.
JimC says
No question that the spark would have come somewhere. It’s interesting to note that there were four wars between France and Britain from the 1690s through the 18th century — King William’s War (1688-97); Queen Anne’s War (1702-13); King George’s War (1744-48); and the F&I War (1754-63) — and all of them started in Europe and moved to North America, except the last and biggest.
Quixotic Mainer says
Looks fantastic! This world needs more saddle time and Sabre fencing! Also, the dapple gray the General is riding is an absolute unit.
Thanatos says
Please don’t screw this up… Hungarian historical films made after the fall of Communism tend to be quite bad in terms of plot, casting, funding, effects, costumes, sets, directing. I have no idea, where the budget of the last one I saw (a farcical and insulting WWI film) went. It’s nice to see something, that isn’t set during WWII or one of our failed revolutions nevertheless. But I’m not fond of the powdered wig-hipster beard combo, it looks anachronistic to me. Someone should’ve told Győző Szabó to shave it off.
There’s another film about Hadik in German titled Husaren in Berlin (Hussars in Berlin) from 1971, but it’s a comedy.