Modern Magdalene

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1921

Production year

1921

Premiere

23 December 1921

Director

Boris Orlický, Jan S. Kolár (dokončení)

Category

film

Genre

drama

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Film state

lost film

Original title

Moderní Magdalena

Czech title

Moderní Magdalena

English title

Modern Magdalene

Synopsis

The young scientist Dr. Květ devotes all his interest to his successful scientific work until the moment he falls in love with beautiful Evelina. Evelina reciprocates his feelings but when she realises that his scientific work will always be an obstacle between them she separates from him. She then marries Václav, a forester. With her husband, child and an eccentric father-in-law she lives happily in a forest cottage. Five years later she happens to meet Dr. Květ who is has hardly any strength left in him. Evelina has to choose between the love of her family and the love and sympathy she feels for Dr. Květ. She decides to help Dr. Květ, but her sacrifice is futile. The exhausted scientist commits suicide. Evelina, like a repentant Magdalene, returns to the forest cottage. Her husband has shot himself in desperation, her child is very ill and her father-in-law is bent on revenge. At an opportune moment an old scientist appears, Dr. Květ's, father who manages to reconcile Evelina and her father-in-law. Peace returns to the forest cottage once more. (According to an article appearing in the press at the time the film was made.)

Note

The film was shot with Russian actors, emigrés who left soon afterwards for Paris. Theodor Pištěk took over Šuvalov´s role and shot the missing scenes. Jan S. Kolár completed the film which director Boris Orlický left unfinished. The film materials are believed lost.

Cast

Hugo Svoboda

mladý lékař Jan Květ

Alexandr Šuvalov

starý lesník

Theodor Pištěk

lesmistr/starý lesník

Boris Orlický

Evelynin muž, lesník Václav

Karel Fiala

Květův otec lékař

Jan S. Kolár

asistent lékaře

Crew and creators

Director

Boris Orlický, Jan S. Kolár (dokončení)

Based on

Jakub Arbes (Moderní Magdalena – romaneto)

Screenplay

Jan Reiter

Director of Photography

Otto Heller

Production Designer

Bohuslav Šula

Production info

Original Title

Moderní Magdalena

Czech Title

Moderní Magdalena

English Title

Modern Magdalene

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Film state

lost film

Genre

drama

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1921

Production Year

1921

Premiere

premiere 23 December 1921 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Lucerna, Praha)

Production

AB

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

American

Technical info

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,33

Colour

black & white

Sound

silent

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

without dialogue

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Intertitles languages

Czech

Opening/End credits languages

Czech