Sturdy as a Rock

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1943

Production year

1943

Premiere

17 March 1944

Runtime

88 min

Category

film

Genre

drama

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Skalní plemeno

Czech title

Skalní plemeno

English title

Sturdy as a Rock

Parallel title

Ein Mann aus Granit

Synopsis

Explosives manager Petr Pangrác is well respected for his abilities by all the quarrymen at the granite quarry. Only master Hurt does not like him. Anka Halíková has fallen in love with Petr, but since Hurt recommended her as canteen-keeper at the quarry he expects some gratitude from her. In an argument proud Petr is offended and leaves the quarry. He buys himself a plot of land called Borovičko on the other bank of the river. Petr is the only one who believes there is granite there. If granite were found near the river, a stone bridge could be built. Standa, the unmanly son of the mayor and innkeeper Zadák, secretly visits Anka. The girl just laughs at him and she complains about him to his sister, the teacher Pavlína. After many days' hard work Petr finds granite in his mine. Standa surprises Anka in a deserted place and violently tries to have his way with her, but she falls off the cliff. Petr is arrested on suspicion of murder. But Pavlína intervenes and Standa confesses the truth to the officers of the law.

Cast

Otomar Korbelář

střelmistr Petr Pangrác

Jaroslav Vojta

Petrův otec

Terezie Brzková

Petrova matka

Gustav Hilmar

starosta a hospodský Zadák

Anna Prchalová

starostova žena

Vladimír Šmeral

Standa, syn Zadákových

Blanka Waleská

učitelka Pavlína, dcera Zadákových

Otto Rubík

mistr v lomu Hurt

Dana Medřická

kantýnská Anka Halíková

Jaroslav Šára

opilec Halík, Ančin bratr

Jindřich Plachta

polír Kedles

Jaroslav Průcha

lamač Váňa

Jiří Dohnal

kameník Vosmík

Vítězslav Havel

malý Pepík Bartoš

Jarmila Švabíková

švadlena Bartošová, Pepíkova matka

Karel Beníško

pomocník střelmistra

Vojta Novák

ředitel panských lomů

Gabriel Hart

pan řídící

Jaroslav Seník

stavební rada Rous

Karel Fořt

druhý pomocník střelmistra

Věkoslav Satoria

vyslýchající úředník

Karel Šmíd

strážmistr

Fráňa Vajner

strážmistr

Crew and creators

Based on

Jan Morávek (Skalní plemeno – román)

Screenplay

Karel Steklý

Director of Photography

Jaroslav Tuzar

Camera Operator

Jaromír Holpuch

Production Designer

Ferdinand Fiala

Set Designer

Oldřich Novotný

Film Editor

Jan Kohout

Sound Designer

Stanislav Vondraš

Production Manager

Václav Dražil, Karel Feix (ředitel výroby)

Consultant

J. M. Gottlieb (umělecký poradce), Miroslav Haller (jazykový poradce)

Cooperation

Willy Ströminger (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Jaroslav Křička

Music Performed by

Orchestr Pragfilmu

Production info

Original Title

Skalní plemeno

Czech Title

Skalní plemeno

English Title

Sturdy as a Rock

Parallel Title

Ein Mann aus Granit

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1943

Production Year

1943

Production specifications

start of filming 10 August 1943
end of filming 10 December 1943
date of censorship 4 March 1944 (predikáty „umělecky hodnotný film“ a „film pro Den hrdinů“)
projection approval 07/1945 (konec povolení k promítání 14. 6. 1947)

Premiere

premiere 17 March 1944 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Adria /3 týdny/, Kapitol /3 týdny/ a Lucerna /3 týdny/, Praha)
renewed premiere 20 July 1945 /unsuitable for youths/

Production

Nationalfilm

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Nationalfilm (původní 1944), Státní půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1945)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

88 min

Original length in metres

2 502 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