Otakar Vávra directed this compelling psychological drama, using his own screenplay based on the eponymous novel by K. J. Beneš. The protagonist is a young woman suffering from memory loss after a plane crash, who finds shelter in the household of the Balvín family. The stranger’s presence stirs turmoil into the settled existence of her hosts and triggers amorous feelings in both the unstable Vilém and his perceptive brother Martin... Vávra cast Adina Mandlová as the woman searching for both her past and a new future. Under his stewardship she renders what amounts to the most weighty and complex character of her acting career. The trio of female hosts are played by the distinguished stage actresses Růžena Nasková, Leopolda Dostalová and Terezie Brzková, while Eduard Kohout and Vávra’s favourite actor, Zdeněk Štěpánek, appear in the male roles.
The pampered daughter of a prominent industrialist, Marie, is the sole survivor of a plane crash. On the roadway amid the Moravian forests Vilém Balvín finds her and transports her to his home, in which reside three generations of his family. The girl awakens from her unconsciousness with an utter loss of memory. She remains in the enchanted home to which, however, she has brought disquiet and agitation. Vilém, afflicted by a head injury incurred in the war, hangs himself out of unhappiness and his carefully concealed love for Marie. Yet between Marie and the younger brother of Vilem's, the teacher Martin, there soon arises a tender amorous affection. Together they search for Marie's identity. Seven weeks later a fairground magician returns to Marie her memory under hypnosis. At this moment, however, from a congenial and amiable girl she becomes an aloof dame who wants nothing to do with Martin and insists that her father will come and take her away. At the last moment she in the end recalls the happiness she knew in the enchanted home, and she returns to Martin.
Marie Ungrová
Vilemína Balvínová
teta Hedvika Balvínová
teta Anna Balvínová
Martin Balvín, syn Vilemíny
Vilém Balvín, syn Vilemíny
Rosa
kouzelník Caligari
Rudolf Unger, generální ředitel železáren, otec Marie
JUDr. Alfred Urban, Ungerův právník
Lariš, snoubenec Marie
lékař
Otradovec
Penc
hospodyně Barbora
čeledín
čeledín
prodavačka
pouliční fotograf
asistent kouzelníka
návštěvnice kouzelnického představení
K. J. Beneš (Kouzelný dům – román)
Willy Ströminger (fotograf)
Antonín Dvořák (Milostná píseň)
Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by František Škvor)
Kouzelný dům
Kouzelný dům
The Magic House
Das Zauberhaus
film
featuretheatrical distribution
drama, psychological
Czechoslovakia
1939
1939
start of filming 09/1939
end of filming 10/1939
date of censorship 11/1939
end of filming 5 November 1939 (ateliéry)
date of censorship 18 June 1943 (predikáty „uznáníhodný film“ a „film pro Den hrdinů“)
withdrawal from distribution 11/1944
projection approval 02/1969
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1990
premiere 21 November 1939 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Na Příkopě /1½ týdne/ a Světozor /2½ týdne/, Praha)
renewed premiere 20 March 1969 /unsuitable for youths/
Elekta (původní 1939), Ústřední půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1969)
feature film
109 min
3 100 meters
35mm
1:1,37
black & white
sound
Tobis – Klang
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech
Event: Anketa deníku Večer – O nejlepší český film roku 1939 a o nejoblíbenější českou filmovou herečku a herce
1940
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Růžena Nasková
Event: Anketa deníku Večer – O nejlepší český film roku 1939 a o nejoblíbenější českou filmovou herečku a herce
1940
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Event: Anketa deníku Večer – O nejlepší český film roku 1939 a o nejoblíbenější českou filmovou herečku a herce
1940
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Adina Mandlová
Event: Anketa deníku Večer – O nejlepší český film roku 1939 a o nejoblíbenější českou filmovou herečku a herce
1940
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Terezie Brzková