Nocturnal Butterfly

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1941

Production year

1941

Premiere

10 October 1941

Runtime

89 min

Category

film

Genre

melodrama

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Noční motýl

Czech title

Noční motýl

English title

Nocturnal Butterfly

Parallel title

Der Nachtfalter

Summary

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 German speaking copy KK-N 2238,0 m is preserved in National Film Archive. 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.

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 paní, Martina zaměstnavatelka

Renée Lavecká

Mášenka, dcera zaměstnavatelů

Marie Blažková

Katynka, hospodyně zaměstnavatelů

Eduard Kohout

světák pan Leopold

Anna Steimarová

madame z baru

Anna Gabrielová

animírka Soňa

Čeněk Šlégl

šéf baru

Vladimír Štros

vrátný v baru

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 v kavárně

Lola Skrbková

pokladní na nádraží

Helena Hradecká

garderobiérka Heleny Vargové

Darja Hajská

host na večírku

František V. Kučera

host na večírku

Luděk Marold

mladík u stolu

Crew and creators

Assistant Director

František Milič

Based on

Karel Novák (Medvědi a tanečnice – novela)

Director of Photography

Ferdinand Pečenka

Camera Operator

Jaromír Holpuch

Production Designer

Jan Zázvorka

Set Designer

Ferdinand Kliment

Costume Designer

Fernand Vácha

Film Editor

Antonín Zelenka

Production Manager

Oldřich Papež, Karel Šilhánek, Vilém Brož (ředitel výroby)

Consultant

Milan Maralík (jazykový poradce)

Cooperation

Jaroslav Balzar (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Roman Blahník

Selected Music

Johann Strauss ml. (Císařský valčík)

Music Performed by

Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Otakar Pařík)

Songs

Mámení

Song Composer Roman Blahník
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Míla Spazierová-Hezká

Noční motýl

Song Composer Johann Strauss ml.
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

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 12 April 1943 (predikáty „uznáníhodný film“ a „film pro Den hrdinů“ /německy dabovaná jazyková mutace/)

Premiere

festival premiere 1 August 1941 (2. Filmové žně 1941 Zlín)
premiere 10 October 1941 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Aleš /3 týdny/ a Lucerna /3 týdny/, Praha)
renewed premiere 28 May 1943 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Passage/1 týden/, Praha /německy dabovaná jazyková mutace/)
renewed premiere 26 June 1964 /unsuitable for youths/

Production

Lucernafilm

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Lucernafilm (původní 1941 a obnovená 1943), 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

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
Národní cena
Jan Zázvorka

Vítěz

Festival: 2. Filmové žně 1941 Zlín

1941
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Lucernafilm

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