The Little False Cat

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1926

Production year

1926

Premiere

24 September 1926

Runtime

115 min

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Falešná kočička

Czech title

Falešná kočička

English title

The Little False Cat

Parallel title

Když si žena umíní

English parallel title

When a Woman Gets Her Own Way

Summary

Svatopluk Innemann's silent comedy The Little False Cat (1926) is interesting mainly because in this film we can see second film role of a well–known comedian Vlasta Burian (his first film, Tutankhamen, from 1923, has not been preserved). The theme explicitly draws inspiration from Shaw's Pygmalion. The dentist Verner wants to raise a bride for himself, who comes from poor conditions. In disguise, he is offered intelligent and energetic Milča. She chooses the vagabond Vendelín Pleticha (Vlasta Burian) as a fictional father, who, apart from his own comedy, also brings traditional elements of the American slapstick into the plot (policemen, bicycle and car rides, costumes, and classic swaps). Sometimes Burian resembles Charlie Chaplin, not only for wearing a similar costume. – The script was written by the humourist Josef Skružný with his sixteen-year-old assistant Elmar Klos. Skružný was a friend of Klos’ family and the young man stayed at his place for some time. They also collaborated on other films by Innemann's team, which, along with Burian, included the director's wife, actress Zdena Kavková. Klos, as an enthusiastic cinephile, added some gags to the film and gave the script final form. – An interesting part in Falešká Kočička film is a very short, red–coloured scene, where Milča appears in a swimsuit to the blush of the young schoolteacher.

Synopsis

Dentist Dr Verner wants to get married but, apart from his housekeeper Amálka, he cannot bear any woman near him. He thinks that he will be able to find a simple girl from a lower social class and then he intends taking her in hand. The first attempts end unsatisfactorily and Verner has to recover in the Karlovy Vary spas. Amálka, however, meets a young girl here, Milča Janotová, whom she once nursed and she tells her about the caprices of Dr Verner. After her return from Prague Milča works out a plan. She meets a tramp in a pub, Vendelín Pleticha and asks him to explain to her the way of life of people who live on the fringe of society. She then goes to see Dr. Verner who is captivated by her to such a degree that he takes her into his care in order to educate her even though his dental practice suffers as a result. Verner falls in love with Milča but when he finally tells her of his feelings, the deception accidentally comes out into the open. The offended Verner throws Milča out of his house. Milča, however, uses her cunning once more and pretends that she is dying and in her "delirium" she tells Verner of her love for him. The film ends with the celebration of two weddings - Milča and Verner finally come together and Pleticha marries his old love Amálka.

Cast

Vlasta Burian

tulák Vendelín Pleticha

Karel Hašler

zubař MUDr. Karel Verner

Zdena Kavková

Janotova dcera Milča Janotová

Jiří Dréman

továrník Janota, Milčin otec

Antonie Nedošinská

Vernernerova hospodyně Amálka Holoubková

Jára Sedláček

pan Chládek

Svatopluk Innemann

domácí učitel

Milka Balek-Brodská

asistentka MUDr. Vernera

Nina Burianová

Milčina přítelkyně

Jaroslav Marvan

strážník

Antonín Frič

strážník

Josef Šváb-Malostranský

účastník průvodu Vltavanů

Alois Charvát

účastník průvodu Vltavanů

Jan Zelenka

výhybkář

Karel Němec

prodavač oříšků

Jindřich Plachta

raněný na nosítkách

Crew and creators

Assistant Director

František Jerhot

Screenstory

Josef Skružný

Director of Photography

Otto Heller

Production Designer

Vilém Rittershain

Cooperation

Willy Ströminger (fotograf)

Production info

Original Title

Falešná kočička

Czech Title

Falešná kočička

English Title

The Little False Cat

Parallel Title

Když si žena umíní

English Parallel Title

When a Woman Gets Her Own Way

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1926

Production Year

1926

Premiere

preview 9 June 1926 (kino Radio, Praha)
premiere 24 September 1926 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Orient /2 týdny/, Radio /2 týdny/ a Světozor /2 týdny/, Praha)

Production

Oceanfilm

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Oceanfilm

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

115 min

Original length in metres

3 279 meters

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