Your Money or Your Life

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1932

Production year

1932

Premiere

14 October 1932

Runtime

106 min

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Peníze nebo život

Czech title

Peníze nebo život

English title

Your Money or Your Life

Synopsis

Tonda, a mischief-maker from the outskirts and a character of doubtful existence, is dozing in a ditch. He wakes up to find a thief running past with a stolen necklace but the thief doesn't even notice when he drops the jewellery. Tonda tries to call out to him but the man runs on. The two suddenly become aware of what has happened and the thief starts chasing Tonda to get the necklace back. Tonda decides to bury the necklace in a safe place in the park. There he meets his former schoolmate Pepík who is trying to hang himself after discovering his wife's infidelity. Pepík invites Tonda to his home for a family get-together which also involves a secret policeman who recognises Tonda immediately. Tonda hides the jewellery in a flowerpot on top of a cupboard. Pepík's wife Helena thinks it is a present from her admirer who passes himself off as a member of the nobility, so she leaves with the cavalier. Tonda tells Pepík that his wife has run off and the pair set out on their trail. The suitor has successfully stolen Helena and is trying to escape. Tonda and Pepík take the necklace off him and they then find themselves being pursued by the gang who had originally stolen it. The two men disquise themselves and find cover in a review of sharp-shooters. The presence of the secret policeman forces Tonda to try to get rid of the necklace once more. He decorates the mayor's chest with it and the latter hands it over to the prefect. The policeman showers Tonda with ironic praise for the honesty which had protected him from punishment.

Cast

Ljuba Hermanová

Tondova dívka

Eliška Pleyová

Helena, Pepíkova žena

Theodor Pištěk

fořt, Pepíkův strýček

Theo Amady

Maurice van den Branden

Jaroslav Vojta

Otto, Pepíkův strýc

Jaroslav Hurt

Pepíkův tchán

Marie Grossová

Albína, Pepíkova teta

Vladimír Majer

náčelník lupičů

Emil Bolek

zloděj náhrdelníku

Josef Skřivan

průvodce v muzeu

Miloš Nedbal

policejní prefekt/muž s vázou

Darja Hajská

Pepíkova sestřenice

Květa Horská

Pepíkova sestřenice

Luisa Hanková-Kučerová

zákaznice se psem

Václav Menger

zřízenec v muzeu

Arnold Reimann

majitel obchodu

Ada Karlovský

velitel granátníků

Josef Oliak

člen městské delegace

Luigi Hofman

člen městské delegace

Karel Schleichert

člen městské delegace

Emanuel Hříbal

člen městské delegace

Crew and creators

Director of Photography

Václav Vích

Production Designer

Vilém Rittershain

Film Editor

Antonín Zelenka

Sound Designer

Josef Zora

Music

Music Composed by

Jaroslav Ježek

Songs

Peníze nebo život

Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Writer of Lyrics Jiří VoskovecJan Werich
Singer Jiří VoskovecJan Werich

Rej vážek

Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek

Pochod stoprocentních mužů

Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek

Beguine hydroplane

Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek

Production info

Original Title

Peníze nebo život

Czech Title

Peníze nebo život

English Title

Your Money or Your Life

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1932

Production Year

1932

Production specifications

date of censorship 10/1932
date of censorship 11/1937 (konec povolení k promítání 1942)

Premiere

premiere 14 October 1932 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Fénix /7 týdnů/, Praha)

Production

Lloyd

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Lloyd

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

106 min

Original length in metres

3 010 meters

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,19

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

Tobis – Klang

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech