The Town in the Palm of His Hand
Typology
featureCzech title
Městečko na dlaniRuntime
98Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1942Production year
1941 – 1942Premiere
18.09.1942Language version
CzechDirector
Václav BinovecSynopsis
František Buzek, the mayor of a hamlet called Rukapáně, was always a good administrator of the community's affairs. Unfortunately, his health is being ruined by an excessive intake of wine. The coal-miner and poacher Matěj Řezáč shoots a deer and, excited by his catch, forgets his knife at the scene. Councillor Zimmerheier comes by this proof of guilt and goes down the mine in search of him. A dynamite explosion causes part of the mine to cave in and one miner is killed. All the others are rescued except Matěj and the councillor. Matěj manages to save the life of his badly wounded superior and brings him to the surface after two days in the mine. Václav, the son of the rich farmer Trantinec, has seduced Ančka, the daughter of a poor rafter. He wants to marry her but his proud father drives him out of the house with a whip. The village idiot, Janek, is given an ocarina by his former mining friends which they bought at a fair but they mock him for having been abandoned by his wife. Janek's flight to the church tower ends with his tragic fall. As Buzek approaches his final days, he recommends Trantinec as his successor but the local inhabitants condemn him for his behaviour towards Václav. After Buzek's death he recognises that his pride caused him to act unreasonably and he becomes reconciled with his son.
Note
The première outside Prague was held already on the 4th of September 1942 in Ronov nad Doubravou.
Photos
Cast
František Smolík
starosta a bednář František Buzek
Gustav Hilmar
sedlák Jan Trantinec
Marie Blažková
Trantincova žena
Ladislav Boháč
Václav, syn Trantincových
Marie Glázrová
Ančka Karasová
Vladimír Řepa
vorař Karas, Ančin otec
Jaroslav Průcha
havíř Matěj Řezáč
Blanka Waleská
Pepča, Řezáčova žena
Jaroslav Marvan
důlní rada Rudolf Zimmerheier
Jindřich Plachta
obecní blázen Janek Pudeš
Anna Letenská
Marie, bláznova bývalá žena
Ferenc Futurista
obecní strážník Pazdušek
František Filipovský
čepičář Stýblo
František Černý
MUDr. Rozum
Jan W. Speerger
hajný Valenta
Antonín Holzinger
radní
Jára Kohout
radní
Josef Pleskot
radní
F. X. Mlejnek
radní
Bolek Prchal
radní
Josef Steigl
radní
Jan Černý
radní
Karel Šanda
radní
Jindřich Láznička
radní
Viktor Nejedlý
radní
Josef Loskot
radní
Václav Menger
radní
Alois Dvorský
soused
František Lašek
zraněný havíř
Hermína Vojtová
vdova Hošinská
Milka Balek-Brodská
manželka havíře
Marie Oliaková
manželka havíře
Marie Nademlejnská
manželka havíře
Marie Hodrová
manželka havíře
Eliška Jílková
manželka havíře
Ella Nollová
manželka pohodného
Gabriel Hart
trhovec s hračkami
Eman Fiala
trhovec se šátky
Ladislav Hemmer
důlní
Ota Motyčka
zřízenec na obecním úřadě
Miloš Nedbal
anděl
František Paul
planetář
Fráňa Vajner
důlní
Josef Waltner
hospodský
Josef Kemr
bednářský učeň
Emil Bolek
lesník
Antonín Jirsa
silák
Jindřich Fiala
chasník
Ladislav Janeček
chasník
Vladimír Smíchovský
chasník
Ada Dohnal
chasník
Karel Veverka
farář
Filip Balek-Brodský
muž v kostele
Emanuel Hříbal
muž v kostele
Josef Oliak
muž v kostele
Frank Rose-Růžička
host v hospodě
Karolína Vávrová
žena na trhu
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
František Urbánek, Josef Zezulka
Based on
Jan Drda (Městečko na dlani – román)
Screenplay
Camera
Production Designer
Set Designer
V. Kliment
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Josef Zezulka, František Urbánek
Consultant
Music
Music Composed by
Songs
Jeden chudej bednář, Proto tedy připijme hornickému stavu, K Závisti cestička ušlapaná
Singer
mužský sbor (Jeden chudej bednář), mužský sbor (Proto tedy připijme hornickému stavu), ženský sbor (K Závisti cestička ušlapaná)
Production info
Original Title
Městečko na dlani
English Title
The Town in the Palm of His Hand
Copyright
1942
Production Year
1941 – 1942
Premiere
18.09.1942
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Technical info
Versions
Czech