Nocturnal Butterfly
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1941Production year
1941Premiere
10 October 1941Runtime
89 minDirector
František ČápCategory
filmGenre
melodramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Noční motýlCzech title
Noční motýlEnglish title
Nocturnal ButterflyProtectorate parallel title
Der NachtfalterSummary
Romantic drama Nocturnal Butterfly, which takes place in the last years of the Austrian monarchy, was made by the twenty-eight-year-old František Čáp based on a script he co-wrote with Václav Krška. Together, they upgraded a simple melodramatic story into a cinematic work of an exceptional quality. Besides to the top cast of film stars (Hana Vítová, Adina Mandlová, Rudolf Hrušínský, Svatopluk Beneš, Gustav Nezval, Marie Glázrová, Eduard Kohout, Anna Steimarová), the film draws attention with its huge production design and erotic sparkle. Not only due to this element of the film was Noční motýl banned by the communist censors.
Synopsis
Marta Dekasová works as a governess for a family living in a garrison town. The officers are attracted by her charm, in particular lieutenant Kala, but the girl is in love with the gloomy first lieutenant Varga. She cannot keep her feelings a secret even when she discovers he is married. Marta's declaration of love is rejected since Varga loves his wife, the actress Helena. The unhappy girl then succumbs to Kala's passions. Marta's jealous employer sacks her. Marta has to leave and subsequently meets her friend Anča in the capital; in her dishonourable profession, Anča is known as Kiki. Marta moves in with her and becomes a singer in a winebar. There the young student Michal falls hopelessly in love with her. During a New Year's Eve celebration Varga, his wife and Kala visit the bar. Marta still longs for the first lieutenant. She runs out into the street after him and begs him to embrace her. Michal sees them together and shoots the girl and mortally wounds her. Standing over her dead body Varga realises how strong her love for him was.
Note
The first performance of the film was held on the 1st of August 1941 on festival Filmové žně in Zlín. The film was presented at the 9th Venice Film Festival, 1941. The German speaking copy combined print 2 238,0 metres is also preserved in National Film Archive Prague.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Hana Vítová
Marta Dekasová
Svatopluk Beneš
poručík královské gardy Rudolf Kala
Gustav Nezval
nadporučík královské gardy Varga
Marie Glázrová
herečka Helena, Vargova žena
Adina Mandlová
prostitutka Anča zvaná Kiki
Rudolf Hrušínský
student filozofie Michal Lary
Jaroslav Marvan
Martin zaměstnavatel
Elena Hálková
milostivá, Martina zaměstnavatelka
Renée Lavecká
Mášenka, dcera zaměstnavatelů
Marie Blažková
Katynka, hospodyně zaměstnavatelů
Eduard Kohout
světák Leopold
Anna Steimarová
madame z baru
Anna Gabrielová
animírka Soňa
Čeněk Šlégl
šéf baru
Vladimír Štros
vrátný v baru
Elsa Vetešníková
animírka
Bobina Prošková
animírka
Majva Červená
animírka
Václav Pecián
host v baru
Josef Oliak
host v baru
Jan W. Speerger
posluha v hotelu
Jiří Vondrovič
vojenský sluha
Fráňa Vajner
zahradník
Josef Kotapiš
mladý důstojník ve vlaku
Marie Holanová
květinářka
Ada Karlovský
vrchní číšník v kavárně
Lola Skrbková
pokladní na nádraží
Helena Hradecká
garderobiérka Heleny Vargové
Darja Hajská
host na večírku
František V. Kučera
host na večírku
Ema Kreutzerová
host na večírku, přítelkyně milostivé paní
Vasil Truchlý
houslista
Luděk Marold
mladík u stolu
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Based on
Karel Novák (Stáša z novely Medvědi a tanečnice – povídka)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Oldřich Papež, Karel Šilhánek, Vilém Brož (ředitel výroby)
Consultant
Milan Maralík (jazykový poradce)
Cooperation
Jaroslav Balzar (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Johann Strauss ml. (Císařský valčík)
Music Performed by
Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Otakar Pařík)
Songs
Mámení /Zdá se mi/
Song Composer Roman Blahník
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Míla Spazierová-Hezká
Noční motýl (valčík)
Song Composer Johann Strauss ml.Roman Blahník /úprava/
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Míla Spazierová-Hezkásbor
Production info
Original Title
Noční motýl
Czech Title
Noční motýl
English Title
Nocturnal Butterfly
Protectorate Parallel Title
Der Nachtfalter
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
melodrama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1941
Production Year
1941
Production specifications
start of filming 13 February 1941
end of filming 9 April 1941
date of censorship 12 July 1941 (kulturně-výchovný)
date of censorship 28 December 1942 (kulturně-výchovný /16mm verze/)
date of censorship 12 April 1943 (německy dabovaná jazyková mutace)
date of censorship 1943 (predikáty „uznáníhodný film“ a „film pro Den hrdinů“ /německy dabovaná jazyková mutace/)
date of censorship 1943 (predikáty „uznáníhodný film“ a „film pro Den hrdinů“ /35mm a 16mm verze/)
withdrawal from distribution 18 May 1945
withdrawal from distribution 31 May 1993
Premiere
festival premiere 1 August 1941 (2. Filmové žně 1941 Zlín)
premiere 10 October 1941 /inaccessible for youths/ (kina Aleš /3 týdny/ a Lucerna /3 týdny/, Praha)
renewed premiere 01/1943 /inaccessible for youths/ (16mm verze)
renewed premiere 28 May 1943 /inaccessible for youths/ (kino Passage/1 týden/, Praha /německy dabovaná jazyková mutace/)
renewed premiere 26 June 1964 /inaccessible for youths/
Production
With support
Copyright Holders
Studio
Laboratories
Distribution
Lucernafilm (původní 1941 a obnovená 1943), ČMÚ (obnvoená 1943 /16mm verze/), Ústřední půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1964)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
89 min
Original length in metres
2 543 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
Tobis – Klang
Versions
Czech, German
Dialogue languages
Czech, German
Subtitles languages
Czech, without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech, German
Awards
Vítěz
Event: Národní ceny umělecké
1942
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Adina Mandlová
Vítěz
Event: Národní ceny za umění filmové
1941
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jan Zázvorka
Vítěz
Festival: 2. Filmové žně 1941 Zlín
1941
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Lucernafilm s.r.o.
Vítěz
Event: Národní ceny za umění filmové
1941
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Ferdinand Pečenka
Vítěz
Event: Národní ceny za umění filmové
1941
Praha / Czechoslovakia
František Čáp
Vítěz
Festival: 9. mezinárodní filmový festival Benátky
1941
Benátky / Italy
Vítěz
Event: Ceny ministra průmyslu, obchodu a živností
1941
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Lucernafilm s.r.o.
