The Respectable Women of Pardubice
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1944Production year
1943—1944Premiere
6 October 1944Runtime
94 minDirector
Martin FričCategory
filmGenre
comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Počestné paní pardubickéCzech title
Počestné paní pardubickéEnglish title
The Respectable Women of PardubiceProtectorate parallel title
Die ehrbaren Frauen von PardubitzSynopsis
The kind and sensitive Pardubice executioner Jiří is trying to get out of his undignified trade. He rarely carries out his duties any more and makes a living with his natural medicines and healing. His request, however, is callously rejected by the aldermen. Their petty-minded wives are jealous of the executioner's wife for her beauty and pretty clothes. The scribe Prokop and the ward of an old countess Aninka meet by chance in the hangman's house. They fall in love with each other at first sight. The countess, however, is forcing Aninka into a marriage with the burgomaster. The baroness Helena has recently come to live with the countess. Count Bořita also arrives in the town who, in return for payments, promises to give rich inhabitants the status of burgher with their own coat-of-arms. The flirtatious Mrs Zvůnková responds to Prokop's rejection by publicly accusing him of rape. In her despair, Aninka consents to a marriage with the burgomaster. The latter is then attacked and robbed of the key to the town's treasury. Prokop is arrested as the perpetrator of the crime. Hangman Jiří, however, has long suspected Bořita. It is discovered that Bořita is a criminal and that baroness Helena is his ally. Both are arrested. Prokop marries Aninka and former executioner Jiří and his wife Rozina are accepted as burghers of the town.
Note
Filming took place in two parts, ethe exterior construction behind the Barrandov studios from July 19 to August 26, 1943, and studio shots from February 1 to March 15, 1944. The première outside Prague was held already on the 5th of October 1944 in Pardubice.
Photos
Cast
František Smolík
kat Jiří Zelinger
Jiřina Štěpničková
Rozina Zelingerová, katova žena
Eman Fiala
Adam, katův pacholek
Ferenc Futurista
Polda, katův pacholek
Terezie Brzková
hraběnka Terezie Ugartová ze Žďáru
Marta Fričová
Aninka Dražická, hraběnčina schovanka
Zita Kabátová
baronesa Helena z Alcantaru, dobrodružka
Jindřich Plachta
rychtář Daniel Pálka, mistr pekařský
Jaroslav Marvan
purkmistr Martin Ignác Kutnohorský
Gustav Nezval
rychtářský písař Prokop Trubka
František Filipovský
perníkář Kryštof Flaška
Jára Kohout
punčochář a konšel Hypolit Kostík
Meda Valentová
Rosalie Kostíková, konšelova žena
Vilém Pfeiffer
hrabě Bořita z Klokočína
František Kreuzmann
konšel Zvůnek
Helena Bušová
Maruška Zvůnková, konšelova žena
Vladimír Řepa
konšel Drobný
Dana Medřická
Drobná, konšelova žena
Blažena Slavíčková
panna Dorlička, dcera rychtáře Pálky
Bolek Prchal
konšel Polívka
Anna Vávrová
Polívková, konšelova žena
Miloš Šubrt
kupec a konšel Jakub Antonín Štross
Emil Bolek
krčmář
Jiří Vondrovič
milenec Marušky Zvůnkové
Karel Šmíd
chirurgus Petr Skato, hraběnčin osobní lékař
Jarmila Švabíková
švadlena
Antonín Soukup
konšel-jedlík Plecitý
Milada Smolíková
Plecitá, konšelova žena
Marie Buddeusová
měšťanka
Karel Beníško
šafář Voborský
Martin Raus
Filip, komorník hraběte Bořity z Klokočína
Marie Ježková
vdova Nebesářka
Jaroslav Orlický
dveřník purkmistrův
Bedřich Bozděch
konšel Koštoval
Ota Motyčka
konšel
Ferdinand Jarkovský
konšel
Emanuel Hříbal
konšel
Karel Šanda
konšel
Václav Trégl
biřic Vobořil
Jan W. Speerger
biřic Malina
Eva Klenová
komorná u hraběnky
Lída Chválová
povětrná žena
Antonín Jirsa
divák při souboji
Jaroslav Seník
herold v úvodu
Dubbing
Vladimír Hlavatý
hlas oddávajícího kněze
Crew and creators
Director
Based on
Karel Krpata (Mistr ostrého meče – divadelní hra)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Václav Dražil, Karel Feix (ředitel výroby)
Unit Production Manager
Consultant
J. M. Gottlieb (umělecký poradce), František Oberpfalzer (jazykový poradce)
Cooperation
Antonín Frič (fotograf), Jan Mikota (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Orchestr Pragfilmu (Music Conducted by Miloš Smatek)
Choreographer
Production info
Original Title
Počestné paní pardubické
Czech Title
Počestné paní pardubické
English Title
The Respectable Women of Pardubice
Protectorate Parallel Title
Die ehrbaren Frauen von Pardubitz
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1944
Production Year
1943—1944
Production specifications
start of filming 19 July 1943
end of filming 15 March 1944
date of censorship 26 September 1944 (predikát „umělecky hodnotný film“)
withdrawal from distribution 18 May 1945
date of censorship 8 June 1945 (konec povolení k promítání 31. 12. 1946)
withdrawal from distribution 15 November 1949
withdrawal from distribution 31 July 1976
Premiere
preview 5 October 1944 (Pardubice)
premiere 6 October 1944 /inaccessible for youths/ (kina Adria /3 týdny/, Kapitol /3 týdny/ a Phönix /3 týdny/, Praha)
renewed premiere 5 June 1945 /inaccessible for youths/
Production
With support
Copyright Holders
Laboratories
Distribution
Nationalfilm (původní 1944), Státní půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1945)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
94 min
Original length in metres
2 671 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, German
