The Paths of Life

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1940

Production year

1939—1940

Premiere

15 February 1940

Runtime

94 min

Category

film

Genre

drama

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Směry života

Czech title

Směry života

English title

The Paths of Life

Parallel title

Lebensrichtungen

Synopsis

While attending grammar school and university Antonín Černý lives with Mrs Soukupová, a widow. He has known her daughter Boženka since childhood and now she has grown up he has fallen for her. Antonín helps his friend Malík who is suffering as a consequence of leading a high life instead of attending lectures. Boženka becomes a dancer in a theatre. Her beauty spellbinds the director, Mr Červenka, who tries to win her affections by giving her small gifts. Boženka's rock-hard virtue leads him to propose marriage. Mrs Soukupová is enthusiastic and when she tells her daughter of the great future she could have, the superficial Boženka agrees to the marriage. Antonín's parents, having lost all their property in paying for his education, move to Prague. They do not know that he, miserable about Boženka, has taken to the bottle before finishing his studies and has even drunk away the money for their rent. Now it is his friend Malík's turn to repay the favour Antonín did him. He takes up Antonín's parents and talks Antonín round. Boženka rows with her husband soon after the wedding. She goes to Antonín but he spurns her.

Cast

Hana Vítová

Boženka Soukupová

Zdeňka Baldová

matka Boženky

Ladislav Boháč

student práv Antonín Černý

František Kovářík

chalupník Černý, Antonínův otec

Marie Ptáková

Antonínova matka

Jiří Plachý

majitel varieté Orfeum Červenka

Václav Vydra st.

statkář Malík

R. A. Strejka

student medicíny Jaroslav, Malíkův syn

František Filipovský

student Rybička

Ludvík Veverka

knihkupec Hejda

Vlasta Hrubá

Marta, Červenkova milenka

Joe Jenčík

baletní mistr

František Paul

artistický agent Donát

Miluše Dvořáková

zpěvačka

Slávka Rosenbergová

garderobiérka Štrobachová

Jaroslav Orlický

vrchní Josef

Rudolf Vašíček

pianista v baletní škole

Bolek Prchal

starosta Vitásek

Karel Máj

Bedřich, Vitáskův syn

Irina Kladivová

Marie Novotná

Chodská skupina z Mrákova

Chodská skupina ze Starého Klíčova

Crew and creators

Assistant Director

Karel Šilhánek, František Milič, František Rejlek (adept režie)

Based on

F. X. Svoboda (Směry života – divadelní hra)

Screenplay

Karel Steklý

Director of Photography

Josef Střecha, Julius Vegricht

Camera Operator

Jaromír Holpuch

Production Designer

Alois Mecera

Set Designer

Prokop Pěkný

Costume Designer

J. M. Gottlieb

Film Editor

Marie Bourová

Sound Designer

Emanuel Formánek

Production Manager

Karel Feix

Cooperation

Antonín Frič (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Jiří Srnka

Music Performed by

Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Miloš Smatek), Chodská kapela Martina Konopa, Kühnův dětský pěvecký sbor (Music Conducted by Jan Kühn)

Choreographer

Joe Jenčík

Songs

Zpívám měsíci lásku svou /Sám se svou láskou/

Song Composer Jiří Srnka
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Miluše Dvořáková

V zeleném háji slavíček pěje

Singer dívčí sbor

Ach, bože, rozbože, mně se stýská

Singer dívčí sbor

Production info

Original Title

Směry života

Czech Title

Směry života

English Title

The Paths of Life

Parallel Title

Lebensrichtungen

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1940

Production Year

1939—1940

Production specifications

start of filming 22 December 1939
end of filming 20 January 1940
date of censorship 13 February 1940 (kulturně-výchovný)
projection approval 07/1945 (neschváleno do distribuce)
projection approval 14 January 1946 (konec povolení k promítání 14. 1. 1947)

Premiere

premiere 15 February 1940 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Máj /2 týdny/, Metro /1 týden/ a Světozor /1 týden/, Praha)
renewed premiere 8 February 1946 /unsuitable for youths/

Production

Nationalfilm

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Nationalfilm (původní 1940), Státní půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1946)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

94 min

Original length in metres

2 680 meters

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

Visatone

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech, German