A Philosophical Story
Typology
featureCzech title
Filosofská historieRuntime
91Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1937Production year
1937Premiere
05.11.1937Language version
CzechDirector
Otakar VávraScreenplay
Otakar VávraSummary
Adapted by director Otakar Vávra from a classic 1877 historical novel by Alois Jirásek, this film serves as a prelude to Vávra’s later classic “Hussite trilogy” (Jan Hus, Jan Žižka and Proti všem [Against Everybody]) made between 1954–56. A 1937 effort, Filosofská historie was also sensitively adapted for the screen by Vávra. Set in the revolutionary year of 1848, a rebellious mood is in the air in the student community in the old city of Litomyšl. Ignoring a ban issued by Austrian Chancellor Klemens von Metternich, the students organise a maypole festival, resulting in severe reprimands. But asides from being fired up by politics, the tenants at the home of spinster maid Elis – Frýbort (Jan Pivec), Vavřena (Ladislav Boháč), Špína (Vladimír Hlavatý) and Zelenka (Stanislav Neumann) – also deal with issues closer to the heart. While barricades in Prague are erected in protest against Austrian absolutism, the hopes of our heroes are gradually dashed. The film carries a patriotic tone that is evident in many of Vávra’s works.
Synopsis
Miss Elis has in her lodgings students from Litomyšl: the philosophers Frýbort, Vavřena, Špína, and Zelenka. The aggressive Frýbort and the quiet Špína are in love with Márinka, the daughter of landlady Krupková. Špína is unable to make clear his feelings for Márinka and he suffers from her lack of interest. Vavřena is in love with Lenka, the ward of Actuary Roubínek. But the Roubíneks would rather see him give his preference to their daughter Lotty. By order of Metternich, the philosopher's May Festival is cancelled as a purely Czech festival. But the students celebrate the festival anyway with the participation of the whole town. The tenants of Miss Elis are subjected to school detention as punishment. Špína, unsuccessful in his final exams and in his relationship with Márinka, leaves to the Prague monastery The Brothers of Mercy. The year 1848 brings through the establishment of a constitution new life even to tranquil Litomyšl. Frýbort and Vavřena become officers of the student's legion which sets off to assist Prague tevolting against Austrian absolutism. On the barricades opposing the Windischgrätz units is even Špína, as a priest. After the defeat of the revolution Frýbort and Vavřena flee for home. Špína, however, falls in the battle. After a time the students return to Litomyšl. Frýbort proposes to Márinka and Vavřena becomes engaged to Lenka.
Note
The première outside Prague was held already on the 22nd of September 1937 in Litomyšl. The film was presented at the 6th Venice Film Festival, 1938.
Photos
Cast
Jan Pivec
filozof Václav Frýbort
Ladislav Boháč
filozof Vavřena
Vladimír Hlavatý
filozof Špína
Stanislav Neumann
filozof Zelenka
Helena Friedlová
bytná studentů slečna Elis
Jindřich Plachta
aktuár Roubínek
Zdeňka Gräfová
Roubínkova manželka Tereza
Ela Poznerová
Lotty, dcera Roubínkových
Karla Oličová
Lenka, neteř Roubínkových
Zdeňka Baldová
paní domácí Krupková
Elena Hálková
Márinka, dcera Krupkové
Anna Steimarová
Rollerová, bývalá purkmistrová
Jára Kohout
policajt Koníček
František Kreuzmann
katecheta
Svatopluk Beneš
student
Viktor Dintr
student
M. Šebor
student
Alois Dvorský
školník Mouček
Eman Fiala
domácí učitel Brož
Alois Peterka
Frýbortův otec
Otto Rubík
hrabě Georg
František Hlavatý
profesor
Karel Jičínský
profesor
Václav Menger
profesor
Jaroslav Průcha
profesor
Václav Švec
profesor
Jan W. Speerger
rakouský důstojník
Jarmila Švabíková
bojovnice na barikádě
František Beranský
člen městské gardy
Milada Smolíková
zákaznice u řezníka
Milka Balek-Brodská
zákaznice u řezníka
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Based on
Alois Jirásek (Filosofská historie – novela)
Screenplay
Camera
Production Designer
Costume Designer
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Cooperation
Music
Music Composed by
Jan Branberger (úprava)
Selected Music
Bedřich Smetana (Pochod studentských legií)
Music Performed by
Music Conducted by
Václav Smetáček (Orchestr F.O.K.)
Songs
Když jsem svou Márinku, Píseň společná, Gaudeamus igitur, Jarní, Již zlaté sluníčko zašlo, Jak se ten měsíček za lesíkem bělá, Studentská píseň
Songwriter
Jan Branberger (Když jsem svou Márinku), František Škroup (Píseň společná), Josef Vašák (Jarní), Václav Rosenkranc (Již zlaté sluníčko zašlo), Jan Branberger (Studentská píseň)
Writer of Lyrics
Václav Hanka (Když jsem svou Márinku), Karel Havlíček Borovský (Píseň společná), František Ladislav Čelakovský (Jarní), J. G. Marek (Již zlaté sluníčko zašlo)
Singer
Jan Pivec (Když jsem svou Márinku), Jan Pivec (Píseň společná), mužský sbor (Píseň společná), sbor (Gaudeamus igitur), dětský sbor (Jarní), Jan Pivec (Již zlaté sluníčko zašlo), mužský sbor (Již zlaté sluníčko zašlo), Elena Hálková (Jak se ten měsíček za lesíkem bělá), sbor (Studentská píseň)
Choreographer
Production info
Original Title
Filosofská historie
English Title
A Philosophical Story
Copyright
1937
Production Year
1937
Premiere
05.11.1937
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Technical info
Versions
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Event: Odměny ministra průmyslu, obchodu a živností
1937
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Event: Ceny ministra průmyslu, obchodu a živností
1937
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Otakar Vávra