The Miscreant

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1927

Production year

1924—1927

Premiere

30 March 1928

Runtime

104 min

Category

film

Genre

drama

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Nemodlenec

Czech title

Nemodlenec

English title

The Miscreant

Synopsis

A young widowed countess takes in an exhausted pilgrim named Jan, who is fretting over the recent break up with his lover Marie, who had given herself to the wealthy squire, Luhovský in preference to him. Later, pity grows into love and the countess and Jan get married. However, the countesses brother cannot accept the marriage and banishes both Jan and their young daughter, Dalena. Years on, Jan returns to his native land and before he dies, he entrusts the care of his daughter to his former lover Marie Luhovský. Due to Marie's jealousy, Dalena is put to work as a maid. The Luhovský's eldest son, Adam, falls in love with Dalena but she refuses him because she is in love with his younger brother, Michal. Adam, suffering from unrequited love, shoots himself and soon after his mother dies of grief. Squire Luhovský wants to meet the girl that drove his son to suicide. As soon as he catches sight of her he offers her his hand in marriage. Dalena consents, only because she realises the futility of her feelings for Michal. Michal takes care of the countesses niece, Alžběta and before long, strong emotions of love grow between them. Michal takes part in a rebellion against the inequities of the ruling classes and is, as the result of an order from the count, imprisoned. Outraged Dalena goes to the castle to rescue Michal and at the same time she asserts her rights regarding her mother's will. There, she meets Alžběta and realises that she is her real sister. The purity of Alžběta's love for Michal overcomes Dalena's anger. Michal is released and no-one now will keep Alžběta from her love. (According to promotional material issued at the time the film was made.)

Note

The film was begun in 1924. But due to a lack of financial capital, filming was suspended and the film negative was stored in a laboratory. It was not completed until 1927.

Cast

Marie Černá

tulákova dcera Dalena/komtesa Alžběta/hraběnka

L. H. Struna

tulák Jan

František Havel

zeman Luhovský

Joe Jenčík

starší zemanův syn Adam

Jiří Hron

mladší zemanův syn Michal

Marie Fingerová

zemanka Luhovská

Saša Dobrovolná

hospodyně Veruna

Jan W. Speerger

děda, zemanův otec

Theodor Pištěk

justiciár na zámku

Karel Schleichert

farář Kalina

Frank Argus

šlechtic

Eduard Malý

Alžbětin otec generál Barass

Václav Žichovský

hrabě, majitel panství

Crew and creators

Based on

Karolina Světlá (Nemodlenec – román)

Director of Photography

Jaroslav Fischer

Production Designer

Alois Mecera

Cooperation

Willy Ströminger (fotograf)

Production info

Original Title

Nemodlenec

Czech Title

Nemodlenec

English Title

The Miscreant

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1927

Production Year

1924—1927

Production specifications

date of censorship 2 November 1927

Premiere

premiere 30 March 1928 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Olympic /1 týden/ a Orient /1 týden/, Praha)

Production

Poja Film

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Biografia

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

104 min

Original length in metres

2 950 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