Girl In Blue

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1939

Production year

1939

Premiere

26 January 1940

Runtime

83 min

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Dívka v modrém

Czech title

Dívka v modrém

English title

Girl In Blue

Protectorate parallel title

Das Mädchen in Blau

Summary

Otakar Vávra continued his successful directing career even during the era of the Protectorate. The 1939 romantic comedy Dívka v modrém (Girl In Blue) is one of his popular and highly acclaimed features. The protagonist of the film, lawyer Jan Karas, takes an old, “cursed” painting into his custody. The lonely man easily succumbs to the portrait of a beautiful girl. And one day, to his astonishment, the noblewoman steps from the picture frame. She refuses to accept the idea of returning to the painting and eagerly begins complicating her admirer’s life... Vávra’s film is a stylish, popular comedy in the French spirit. Two acting stars put in marvellous performances in the leading roles. The part of Countess Blanka von Blankberg (or student Vlasta who passes as the countess due to the incitement of the protagonist’s larksome friends) is played by Lída Baarová. Karas is portrayed by Oldřich Nový, who also recorded the title song.

Synopsis

Many local dignitaries are gathered at an auction organised by the notary Dr Jan Karas at Lučín castle to sell off the belongings of the late count. Most interest is aroused by a portrait of a beautiful noble girl, but no-one buys it because it is said to be cursed. Until the young count arrives to decide what to do with the portrait, Karas keeps it at home. Fascinated by the beauty of the girl, Karas spends hours in front of the portrait. Then one day he kisses it and the girl comes to life and steps out of the picture. Karas is the more amazed by her accurate use of Old Czech and by her great knowledge of historical circumstances that existed about three centuries earlier. The girl introduces herself as countess Blanka of Blankenberg, and has no intention of getting back into the canvas. Karas, envious of the increasing number of admirers she is attracting, decides to pass her for his niece. But Blanka turns out to be the niece of a friend of his who wanted to play a trick on him. Blanka, whose real name is Vlasta, explains everything to him and does not hide her affection for him. The happy man does not miss his chance but heads straight to the wedding ceremony hall with her.

Note

The performance of the film was held on the 4th of July 1940 on the festival Filmové žně in Zlín.

Film online

Cast

Lída Baarová

studentka Vlasta/komtesa Blanka z Blankenbergu

Oldřich Nový

notář JUDr. Jan Karas

Jindřich Láznička

kancelista Houžvička

Antonie Nedošinská

hospodyně Otylie

Bedřich Veverka

MUDr. Pacovský, strýc Vlasty

František Paul

lesní inženýr Pavel Čádek

Nataša Gollová

vdova Růžena Smutná

Sylva Langová

Slávinka, dcera Smrčínské

Josef Bělský

hrabě Karel Landa

Vladimír Majer

zámecký kastelán Kylián

Jiří Vondrovič

syn lékárníka, ctitel Blanky

František Kreuzmann

básník alias rytíř Argnan, ctitel Blanky

Vladimír Řepa

velkostatkář Kubelka, ctitel Blanky

Eman Fiala

profesor zeměpisu Třasořítka

Miloš Šubrt

drožkář

Václav Pata

komorník na zámku

Eliška Pleyová

Eliška, majitelka módního salonu

Bolek Prchal

zapisovatel na dražbě

Jan W. Speerger

stěhovák

Antonín Jirsa

stěhovák

F. X. Mlejnek

kuchař na zámku

Marie Svobodová

asistentka v módním salonu

Jindra Hermanová

vdova Rosůlková, host u hraběte

Jarmila Holmová

kouřící host u hraběte

Václav Mlčkovský

starosta, host u hraběte

Alois Dvorský

host u hraběte

Karel Veverka

host u hraběte

Hugo Huška

host u hraběte

Jiří Hron

host u hraběte

Josef Oliak

host u hraběte

Antonín Šolc

host u hraběte

Josef Cikán

host u hraběte

Marie Oliaková

host u hraběte

Růžena Kurelová

host u hraběte

Marie Vildová

host u hraběte

Milena Velíšková

host u hraběte

Vladimír Smíchovský

účastník dražby

Bohumil Langer

účastník dražby

František Počta

účastník dražby

František Haller

účastník dražby

Věkoslav Satoria

účastník dražby

Crew and creators

Assistant Director

Rudolf Stahl

Director of Photography

Jan Roth

Production Designer

Jan Zázvorka

Set Designer

František Nestler

Film Editor

Antonín Zelenka

Production Manager

Jan Sinnreich

Consultant

Taťana Kubátová (staročeské dialogy)

Cooperation

Willy Ströminger (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Sláva Eman Nováček

Music Performed by

Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Sláva Eman Nováček)

Songs

Proč obraz tvůj nedá srdci spát /Dívko v modrém/ (fox)

Song Composer Sláva Eman Nováček
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Oldřich Nový

Růže nad mojí mříží

Song Composer Sláva Eman Nováček
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Lída Baarová

Production info

Original Title

Dívka v modrém

Czech Title

Dívka v modrém

English Title

Girl In Blue

Protectorate Parallel Title

Das Mädchen in Blau

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1939

Production Year

1939

Production specifications

start of filming 30 November 1939
end of filming 23 December 1939
date of censorship 23 January 1940 (kulturně-výchovný)
date of censorship 1943 (predikáty „lidově hodnotný film“ a „uznáníhodný film“)
withdrawal from distribution 18 May 1945
projection approval 1968
withdrawal from distribution 15 December 1988

Premiere

premiere 26 January 1940 /suitable for youths/ (kino Lucerna /6 týdnů/, Praha)
festival premiere 4 July 1940 (1. Filmové žně 1940 Zlín)
renewed premiere 3 January 1969 /suitable for youths/

Production

Lucernafilm

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Laboratories

AB

Distribution

Lucernafilm (původní 1940), Ústřední půjčovna filmů (öbnovená 1969)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

83 min

Original length in metres

2 530 meters

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

Tobis – Klang

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Exhibition: 1. Filmové žně 1940 Zlín

1940
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Lucernafilm s.r.o.

Vítěz

Event: Národní ceny za umění filmové

1940
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Lída Baarová