Powder and Gas
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1931Production year
1931Premiere
15 January 1932Runtime
92 minDirector
Jindřich HonzlCategory
filmGenre
comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Pudr a benzinCzech title
Pudr a benzinEnglish title
Powder and GasSummary
In 1931, the writing duo of Jiří Voskovec and Jan Werich undertook their first joint screenwriting effort. The musical comedy Pudr a benzin (Powder and Gas) was filmed by Jindřich Honzl, who also directed all 20 plays staged by the popular playwrights and leaders of the Osvobozené divadlo (Liberated Theatre). Honzl also directed another V+W film project, the later 1932 comedy Peníze nebo život (Your Money or Your Life). But Pudr a benzin does not seek to hide its theatrical roots, and also offers priceless, authentic performance recordings from the Osvobozené divadlo. Voskovec and Werichem play a quirky pair in the film – a clumsy motor coach driver, and an equally clumsy traffic superintendent – who both fall in love with the charming actress Marta (Ela Šárková). The story, which rides a wave of poeticism and the affinity of the authors for various trashy genres, is unified by an “action” tale pertaining to some cocaine dealers. The film, which was made at the start of the talkie era, was partly filmed in Paris, which had better audio recording equipment at its studios.
Synopsis
At a crossing in Prague being supervised by an incompetent policeman, a sight-seeing bus driven by an equally incompetent driver, crashes into a taxi in which the actress Marta is arguing with her boyfriend, composer Jiří David. The policeman and the driver take a fancy to Marta so they invite her out on an excursion in the bus. The excursion is not too successful but, to make it up to Marta, the two men take the girl to an evening boxing match in the Eden club. Here the policeman and driver cause a great disturbance which ends in a fight between the policeman and the defeated French champion. Jiří has written a grand musical-hall number for Marta which requires two comics. The librettist remembers the two nutty men at the boxing match and recommends that they be included in the cast. Both new comics enjoy great success and, furthermore, contribute to the disposal of a gang of drug dealers whose leader had been blackmailing Marta's brother. It is only in love that they are unsuccessful, however, when they see that Marta prefers her Jiří.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Jiří Voskovec
řidič
Jan Werich
strážník
Ela Šárková
herečka Marta Malá
Bohuš Záhorský
Josef Malý, bratr Marty
Vojta Plachý-Tůma
skladatel Jiří David
Josef Skřivan
libretista Richard/domovník
Joe Jenčík
choreograf Joe Brock
Miloš Nedbal
ředitel Čedoku
Jan Sviták
vůdce bandy Max
Alexander Třebovský
ředitel divadla Marek
Josef Kotalík
policejní inspektor Vodička
Vladimír Majer
řidič Čedoku
Emil Dlesk
řidič Karel
Battling Mathar
černý boxer
Karel Steklý
inspicient
Nina Jirsíková
baletka
Jaroslav Gradwohl
hlasatel
Václav Trégl
člen bandy
Jan Mikota
turista
Josef Kobík
portýr v aréně
Jiří Srnka
dirigent
Jenčíkovy girls
Crew and creators
Director
Screenstory
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Art Director
Costume Designer
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Marcel Wendling, Portier, Karel Smrž
Production Manager
Cooperation
Karel Steklý (klapka), Alexandr Paul (fotograf), František Illek (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Orchestr Osvobozeného divadla (Music Conducted by Jaroslav Ježek)
Songs
Bugatti step
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Nikdy nic nikdo nemá
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Writer of Lyrics Jiří VoskovecJan Werich
Singer Jiří VoskovecJan Werich
Ezop a brabenec
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Writer of Lyrics Jiří VoskovecJan Werich
Singer Jiří VoskovecJan Werich
Production info
Original Title
Pudr a benzin
Czech Title
Pudr a benzin
English Title
Powder and Gas
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1931
Production Year
1931
Production specifications
date of censorship 11 January 1932
Premiere
premiere 15 January 1932 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Gaumont /5 týdnů/ a Passage /2 týdny/, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
92 min
Original length in metres
2 600 meters
Distribution carrier
35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,19
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
Radio-Cinéma Paris
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
