Open Marriage

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1929

Production year

1928—1929

Premiere

11 January 1930

Runtime

112 min

Category

film

Genre

melodrama

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Film state

lost film

Original title

Kamarádské manželství

Second title

Obraz mravů dnešního manželského života

Czech title

Kamarádské manželství

English title

Open Marriage

English second title

A scene of the mores of today's married life

Working title

Problémy manželství / Problém manželství

Synopsis

Jiří and Květa live happily together in a kind of open marriage which does not bear the official stamp of matrimony. Květa's wealthy friend Eva is in love with the student Hanuš and some time later discovers that she is expecting his baby. Despite this, Hanuš still does not want to commit himself to marriage and consequently suggests an open marriage. Eva's family categorically reject this solution and hastily marry her off to the banker Hronek. On the day of the wedding Hronek discovers Eva's pregnant state, nonetheless he goes ahead with the wedding because he wishes to avoid a society scandal, but more importantly, because he loves her. Meanwhile, Jiří and Květa's open marriage is put to the test when Květa loses her job and the young couple only just manage to get by. In the end everything turns out for the best for both couples. Eva falls in love with her lawful husband and rejects Hanuš even though he now has a secure lifestyle and persistently asks her to divorce Hronek and marry him. Květa and Jiří's financial situation improves and they both look forward to the arrival of the child that Květa is expecting. Independently, both couples declare that every kind of marriage is good if the love is mutual. (According to promotional material issued at the time the film was made.)

Note

The film materials are believed lost.

Cast

Jindřich Lhoták

továrník konzul Eduard Rubeš

Suzanne Marwille

Rubešova manželka Marta

Sybill Peach

Rubešova dcera Eva

Ernst Verebes

studující techniky Jiří Havelka

Máňa Ženíšková

švadlenka Květa Zárubová

Olaf Fjord

bankéř Karel Hronek

Theodor Pištěk

Hronkův přítel ředitel Prokop

Václav Norman

dr. Hanuš Bystřický

Jindřich Edl

Hanušův otec profesor Bystřický

Mia Tar

tanečnice Rita

Bronislava Livia

dáma ze společnosti Olga Vyšínová

Dr. Švarc

lékař

Filip Balek-Brodský

senátor Bohuslav

Milka Balek-Brodská

manželka senátora Bohuslava

Břetislav Faltys

správce domu Ferdinand Homolka

Frank Argus

řečník

Leon Ratom

řečník

M. Mayerová

řečník

Marie Oliaková

rozčílená manželka

Crew and creators

Screenstory

Frank Argus

Screenplay

Frank Argus, Jaroslav Menčík (mezititulky)

Director of Photography

Georg Krause

Production Designer

Alois Mecera

Production info

Original Title

Kamarádské manželství

Czech Title

Kamarádské manželství

Second Title

Obraz mravů dnešního manželského života

English Title

Open Marriage

English Second Title

A scene of the mores of today's married life

Working Title

Problémy manželství / Problém manželství

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Film state

lost film

Genre

melodrama

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1929

Production Year

1928—1929

Production specifications

date of censorship 02/1929

Premiere

preview 19 February 1929 (kino Orient, Praha)
premiere 11 January 1930 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Juliš /2 týdny/, Praha)

Production

Starfilm

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Starfilm

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

112 min

Original length in metres

3 200 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