SIBRO is an acronym for Sisters and
Brothers Productions, and was the
company formed in France to film
and produce this movie. Jo Wenger
was the Executive in Charge of
Production and Max Wiedmer was
the Production Manager. Also seen
in this photo is Harry Thompson,
Production Designer and Art
Director, and Robert A. Nowotny,
Producer. The other person is
unknown.
SIBRO
Executive Producer -
D. Michael Hostetler
Producer -
Robert A. Nowotny
Associate Producer -
Liza Vann
Producers
The Radicals was a low budget
production and could have never
been completed if it were not for
the countless volunteers that
gave of their time and talent so
this movie could be made. They
sewed costumes, provided
horses, built extensive props --
even a complete movie crane --
and all for no pay. The full story
on these wonderful people is
presented in the tribute book.
Volunteers
Jo Wenger, Robert A. Nowotny and D. Michael Hostetler on the set of The Radicals in
France.
A Sisters and Brothers Production
One of Producer Robert A. Nowotny’s first comments about this film was
When a Frenchman says, “No problem!” there is always a problem...
Robert also said, “Sixteen volunteer cooks traveled with production to feed the cast
and crew. They all took vacation time to do this. And, despite the terrific food
prepared by the volunteers, the predominately Texas crew was especially thrilled when
we had salsa and tortilla chips sent over from the Lone Star State about half-way into
principal photography!”
The original music by Tim Simonec was performed under his direction by an orchestra
of 67 musicians, 45 of which were members of the Indianapolis Symphony.
The entire cast and crew remarked on the cold temperatures. Most of the filming was
done outdoors in below-freezing weather.
Countess von Zollern’s (Liza Vann) Gown
Costume Designer Maryna Gargonne,
worked with the theater and local
museum to provide some of the more
elaborate costumes and gowns featured
in the film.
Liza Vann (Countess von Zollern and
Associate Producer) is seen here wearing an authentic period
piece gown from a local Alsacian museum in Mulhouse. They
agreed to let the production team use the gown for one day
provided they insured it for $100,000 and that no alternations
were made to the gown. Luckily the gown fit Liza perfectly. The
stills of this gown do not do it justice!
The Battle Scene
The battle scenes were
shot in the Jura
mountains in three-foot
snow drifts, with over 30
horses and 700 extras,
all in costumes made
especially for The
Radicals by volunteers.
In terms of overall scope
-- manpower, cast, crew,
equipment -- officials
stated that these scenes
were the largest in Swiss
cinema history.
French theatrical designer, Maryna
Gargonne, designed and coordinated
the costumes used in this film. She
supervised and worked with the
volunteer women from the Alsace and
Switzerland. These volunteers produced
these elaborate costumes for no pay
because they wanted to be part of this
production -- one which they believed
had great substance.
The Props
Josue Hirschler was one
of the volunteer carpenters
who worked on the various
period piece items that
were used in the movie,
such as the printing press.
A very talented craftsman,
Chuy Carrerra, who was
the Set Construction
Supervisor for this movie,
and who is the brother of
Director Raul Carerra,
made a working weaving
loom -- and did it faster
than he could down two
six-packs, according to
producer Robert A.
Nowotny!
The Trial Scene
Screenplay writer Joel Kauffmann said
that the courtroom scene is pretty much
verbatim from the recorded account in the
Martyrs Mirror, a book that has been
around since 1660.
New information also came from a
research book published shortly before The Radicals that brought
much new info into light about Michael Sattler and the Radical
Reformation, one tidbit of which was the revelation of Michael’s
wife’s name and background for the first time: Margaretha.
The Impaled Woman
Renee Lecuyer is seen here with
Producer Robert A. Nowotny between
shots. Renee played
the impaled woman
who was found by
Eberhard Hoffmann
and King Ferdinand
as they were
surveying all of the damage and
destruction done by the Turks.
Find more movie trivia, production information and interesting facts in
“The Radicals 20th Anniversary Tribute”
Links and more on The Tribute Page!
Thanks to Producer Robert A. Nowotny
for providing many of the movie stills
and images used on this page.
Check out his movie review site --
NeedToVent. Along with many others,
The Radicals is one of his featured movies.
Buy the DVD from Vision Video: