Imperial and Royal Field Marshal
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1930Production year
1930Premiere
24 October 1930Runtime
105 minDirector
Karel LamačCategory
filmGenre
comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
C. a k. polní maršálekCzech title
C. a k. polní maršálekEnglish title
Imperial and Royal Field MarshalSummary
This musical comedy from 1930 – recognised as among the films in which Vlasta Burian, who started off in cabarets and the theatre, began fully exerting his comedic abilities – was inspired by Emil Arthur Longen’s theatrical farce. The story’s protagonist is a former Austro-Hungarian army captain, František Procházka, who pines for the military life even after his early retirement. Whilst visiting his nephew Rudi, stationed at a remote garrison, Procházka is mistaken for a dreaded field marshal who is due to come inspect the troops. He relishes playing the role – the mix-up has come following a series of unfortunate events, including Rudi’s wedding – and sings some bouncy ditties by Jára Beneš, including the title song. Director Karel Lamač, in line with the contemporary practice, formed a production company for the original film and German language version (featuring a German cast, apart from Burian in the leading role) called Ondra-Lamac-Film. A year later, he formed another company, Standard, for the French language version (with a French cast).
Synopsis
Captain in the Imperial and Royal Army František Procházka has been prematurely retired because his soldiers were caught singing a prohibited song about the field marshal. Procházka has however remained a soldier body and soul. He decides to visit his nephew Rudi who is serving in Galicia. The remote garrison is commanded by colonel Přecechtěl - or rather by his energetic wife who is anxious to marry off her only daughter Lili off to the worldly cavalry officer Géza von Medák. But Lili prefers the handsome Rudi. The garrison is notified that the field marshal will be making an inspection incognito. Uncle Procházka arrives in search of Rudi. He happens to find a field marshal's uniform in a wardrobe and tries it on out of curiosity. Everybody takes him for the field marshal, and captain Procházka takes to the role marvellously. After the welcoming ceremony he arranges a field exercise, dines with the colonel's wife and spends the remainder of the evening with the officers at the theatre. Cavalry officer Medák is revealed as a long-sought spy. The real field marshal arrives the next day. He takes such a liking to Procházka that he forgives him, promotes him to the rank of major and appoints him his deputy. Rudi then marries Lili.
Photos
Cast
Vlasta Burian
František Procházka, c. k. setník v. v./Napoleon Bonaparte ve snu
Jiří Hron
poručík Rudi Eberle, Procházkův synovec
Theodor Pištěk
velitel pluku plukovník Alois Přecechtěl
Helena Monczáková
baronka Hedvika z Riedesheimů, žena plukovníka Přecechtěla
Máňa Ženíšková
Lili, dcera plukovníka Přecechtěla
Čeněk Šlégl
rytmistr hrabě Géza von Medák
Jan W. Speerger
vojenský sluha Sepl
Jindřich Plachta
kronikář pluku nadporučík Andreas Hofer
Ivo Richard Stuchlý
rytmistr Viktor von Hřebík
Josef Hořánek
pravý c. k. polní maršálek Konrád z Hötzendorfů
Jaroslav Marvan
Matěj, sluha pravého polního maršálka
Milka Balek-Brodská
hospodyně u Procházky
Olga Augustová
kabaretní zpěvačka Pavla Garbo
Eman Fiala
kabaretní zpěvák Gustav Jannings
Josef Rovenský
starosta městečka
Eduard Šlégl
stoletý občan František Fleischhans/návštěvník hospody U kanonu
Josef Kytka
důstojník
Robert Ford
důstojník
Václav Mlčkovský
důstojník
Otto Heller
voják
Felix Kühne
voják
Marie Pinusová
číšnice v hospodě U kanonu
Alois Charvát
návštěvník hospody U kanonu
Jindřich Edl
návštěvník hospody U kanonu
Filip Balek-Brodský
návštěvník hospody U kanonu
Antonín Šolc
lékárník, návštěvník hospody U kanonu/návštěvník kabaretu
Alfred Schlesinger
návštěvník hospody U kanonu/návštěvník kabaretu
Jan Hilbert Vávra
zpěvák v hospodě U kanonu
Emil Dlesk
člen Napoleonovy družiny ve snu/číšník v kabaretu
Karel Schleichert
člen Napoleonovy družiny ve snu
Alexander Třebovský
člen Napoleonovy družiny ve snu
Josef Kotalík
důstojník, pobočník generála Joachima Murata ve snu
Roza Schlesingerová
návštěvnice kabaretu
Eliška Jílková
návštěvnice kabaretu
Růžena Jindrová
návštěvnice kabaretu
Viktor Nejedlý
návštěvník kabaretu
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Based on
Emil Artur Longen (C. k. polní maršálek – divadelní hra)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Cooperation
Jaroslav Krampera (vrchní osvětlovač), Willy Ströminger (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Songs
C. a k. polní maršálek /Náš starý c. k. polní maršálek/ (pochod)
Song Composer Jára Beneš
Writer of Lyrics Emanuel Brožík
Singer Vlasta BurianOlga Augustovásbor
Hospodská /Číš poslední/ (valčík)
Song Composer Jára Beneš
Writer of Lyrics Emanuel Brožík
Singer Jan Hilbert Vávra
Tys láska má
Song Composer Jára Beneš
Writer of Lyrics Emanuel Brožík
Singer Olga AugustováMáňa Ženíšková [dab]mužský sbor
Ve sklepě sedím hlubokém
Singer Vlasta Burian
Castaldo
Song Composer Rudolf Nováček
Production info
Original Title
C. a k. polní maršálek
Czech Title
C. a k. polní maršálek
English Title
Imperial and Royal Field Marshal
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1930
Production Year
1930
Production specifications
date of censorship 10/1930
date of censorship 05/1935 (konec povolení k promítání 1940)
withdrawal from distribution 03/1939
date of censorship 08/1939 (neschváleno do distribuce)
Premiere
gala premiere 23 October 1930 (kino Fénix, Praha)
premiere 24 October 1930 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Adria /9 týdnů/ a Fénix /13 týdnů/, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
105 min
Original length in metres
2 988 meters
Distribution carrier
35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,19
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
Tobis – Klang
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, German
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
