The Minister's Girlfriend

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1940

Production year

1940

Premiere

22 March 1940

Runtime

94 min

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Přítelkyně pana ministra

Czech title

Přítelkyně pana ministra

English title

The Minister's Girlfriend

Parallel title

Die Freudin des Herrn Ministers

Summary

In 1940, actress Adina Mandlová demonstrated her star power with this social comedy, playing a simple typist, who manages to find contentment thanks to a series of fortunate coincidences. One day, Julinka Svobodová shares an elevator with her fellow tenant, trade minister Horák (Jaroslav Marvan). When the minister helps Julinka find a job as a secretary, gossips spread the word that the charming woman is a political mistress. Office boss Jan becomes enamoured by the new secretary – but before love can blossom, he is made to understand that the company’s success is in no way dependent on the supposed influential connections of Julinka. Filmed in 1940 by experienced director Vladimír Slavínský, this light-hearted tale served as a second opportunity for Mandlová to create an on-screen pairing with actor Oldřich Nový – the first being 1939’s Kristian.

Synopsis

Julinka Svobodová works as a clerk with the trade company Hrubý and Son. She lives in a rented flat belonging to Mrs Pokorná, by chance in the same house as the Minister of Trade, Dr Horák. Mrs Pokorná, while with good intentions, spreads a rumour that Julinka is the minister's girlfriend. As a result, Julinka loses the friendship of the jealous suitor Evžen, but this does not seem to worry her too much. The company she works for finds itself in financial difficulties. The young boss, Jan Hrubý, decides to use Julinka's "influence" and promotes her to the position of secretary. Julinka is given a higher salary and she does well in her new position so does not bother explaining the misunderstanding. The firm starts to prosper and everyone believes that credit should go to Julinka and her friendship with the minister. The appointment of Jan Hrubý as councillor only confirms their belief. Jan starts to fall in love with Julinka but it irks him that the minister stands in the way of their love. It is only when he asks her to marry him that he discovers by chance that it was all a question of harmless gossip.

Cast

Adina Mandlová

úřednice Julinka Svobodová

František Paul

majitel dovozní firmy František Hrubý

Zdeňka Baldová

Marie, Hrubého žena

Oldřich Nový

Jan, syn Hrubých

František Kreuzmann

prokurista u firmy Hrubý

Jaroslav Marvan

ministr obchodu dr. Jaroslav Horák

Světla Svozilová

dámská krejčová Pokorná, Julčina bytná

Bedřich Veverka

Mirek Lukeš, Janův kamarád

Raoul Schránil

Karel Hájek, Janův kamarád

Václav Vydra ml.

italský dodavatel R. Rossi-Rosůlek

Vladimír Řepa

druhý bratr G. Rossi-Rosůlek

Jiří Vondrovič

účetní Evžen Lesný

Marie Rosůlková

Helena Koníčková, Janova sestřenice

Jaroslav Sadílek

dr. Koníček, Helenin manžel

Bohuš Záhorský

sekretář ministra Horáka

Antonín Zacpal

zřízenec z ministerstva obchodu

Samko Dudík

dirigent slovácké kapely

Jarmila Holmová

písařka Drobná

Václav Švec

úředník Sláma

Josef Houska

úředník

Jana Romanová

úřednice

Hermína Vojtová

paní domácí

Rudolf Macharovský

člen tanečního tria ve vinárně

Eliška Slancová

členka tanečního tria ve vinárně

Táňa Černá

členka tanečního tria ve vinárně

Ota Motyčka

kočébr

František Černý

vrchní ve vinárně

Majva Červená

gratulantka ve vinárně

Václav Pata

číšník ve vinárně

František Rott

prodavač cigaret

Jaroslav Mach

host ve vinárně

Filip Balek-Brodský

host ve vinárně

Setleři

zpěváci ve vinárně

Orchestr Samko Dudíka

slovácká kapela

Crew and creators

Assistant Director

Josef Zezulka

Director of Photography

Ferdinand Pečenka

Camera Operator

Václav Huňka

Production Designer

Alois Mecera

Set Designer

František Nestler

Film Editor

Jan Kohout

Production Manager

Jan Kubíček

Cooperation

Antonín Frič (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Josef Dobeš, Jiří Mihule

Music Performed by

Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Josef Dobeš)

Songs

Oči čokoládové (slow-fox)

Song Composer Jiří Mihule
Writer of Lyrics František Kudrna
Singer Adina MandlováOldřich Nový

Hej, javor, javor, javor zelený

Singer Setleři

Když ti řídne vlas

Song Composer Josef Dobeš
Writer of Lyrics František Kudrna
Singer Setleři

Na těch panských lukách

Singer Setleři

Tancuj, tancuj, vykrúcaj

Ó Velvary

Išla Marína od Hodonína

Ráda, ráda, můj zlatej Jeníčku

Takú já frajarku mám

Production info

Original Title

Přítelkyně pana ministra

Czech Title

Přítelkyně pana ministra

English Title

The Minister's Girlfriend

Parallel Title

Die Freudin des Herrn Ministers

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1940

Production Year

1940

Production specifications

start of filming 19 February 1940
end of filming 6 March 1940
date of censorship 19 March 1940 (kulturně-výchovný)

Premiere

premiere 22 March 1940 /suitable for youths/ (kina Letka /2 týdny/, Lucerna /3 týdny/ a Máj /3 týdny/, Praha)

Production

Brom

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Brom

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

94 min

Original length in metres

2 665 meters

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

Tobis – Klang

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech, German