The Poacher's Foster Daughter
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1948Production year
1948Premiere
1 April 1949Runtime
109 minDirector
Martin FričCategory
filmGenre
melodrama, parodyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Pytlákova schovanka aneb Šlechetný milionářCzech title
Pytlákova schovanka aneb Šlechetný milionářEnglish title
The Poacher's Foster DaughterWorking title
Srdce v rozpacích / Srdce na rozpacíchSummary
A complex story full of unbelievable coincidences and fateful meetings, this 1949 film sees impoverished beauty Elén (Hana Vítová) arrive in the decadent big city from a simple rural cottage in search of musical fame. But Elén manages to avoid the pitfalls of such seediness thanks to the selfless love of poor violinist Sedloň (Zdeněk Dítě), and the especially warm and empathic art-loving millionaire René Skalský (Oldřich Nový). This legendary film from director Martin Frič parodies the kitsch bourgeoisie entertainment of the 1930s and the Nazi Protectorate era escapist films of the 1940s (and also trashy literature and schematic genre spectacles of all kinds). But the members of the cast and crew mostly had years of experience in such “serious” entertainment. And so the film exudes affectionate empathy for such “criticised” phenomena. With its precise jokes, this sophisticated and intelligent film continues to enthral viewers with its timeless magic. However, the film was also one of the last to emerge in the pre-communist putsch environment – although its premiere came after the events of February 1948. Consequently, it encountered problems with the freshly installed organs of censorship.
Synopsis
On her twenty-first birthday the beautiful Elén discovers that she was born out of wedlock. That same day her step-father Jan Dubský is caught trespassing on private woodland property. Elén is to marry the owner of the estate to save her father punishment. Elén refuses, however, and since she has just received an invitation to a rehearsal at a theatre agency, she runs away from home with her mother's blessing. In the train she enchants the millionaire René Skalský but, when they part, she does not tell him her name. After a time she encounters him in a cosmetic salon where she works as a manicurist. Both are in love with each other. Elén interrupts the romance when she sees René behaving intimately with a well-known actress; she does not realize that this girl is his sister. In her anguish she accepts an offer of marriage from violinist Pavel Sedloň who once looked after her when she was wandering through the alien city. The rejected René falls ill, he loses his wealth and begins to earn a living as a writer of opera librettos. He is unused to working so hard and he is struck down by encephalitis. His loyal servant Bolton tells the sad news to Elén when she and Pavel are leaving the church as newly-weds. Elén rushes to the hospital and with her singing she brings the dying René back to life. The marriage turns out to be invalid and thus nothing can bar René's and Elén's happiness. Fate also rewards those closest to Elén.
Note
The closing of this black-and-white film is in colour.
Photos
Cast
Oldřich Nový
milionář René Skalský
Hana Vítová
Elén Hadrbolcová/Bětuška Hadrbolcová, Elénina matka zamlada
Ella Nollová
Bětuška Hadrbolcová, Elénina matka
Otomar Korbelář
pytlák Jan Dubský, Elénin otčím, hrabě
Theodor Pištěk
továrník Richard Skalský, otec Reného
Zdeněk Dítě
houslista Pavel Sedloň
Bohumil Machník
sluha Bolton
Vítězslav Vejražka
Malhorn, ředitel divadelní agentury
Arnold Flögl
herec Jan Balada, Elénin otec
František Paul
MUDr. Lexa Otok
Marie Blažková
Anita Nováková, Pavlova teta
Eman Fiala
učitel zpěvu Leonardo Bianchini
Jan W. Speerger
lupič Joe Pelíšek
Jarmila Smejkalová
Klára, schovanka Novákové
Irena Bernátová
Zuzana Hromasová, Reného sestra
Mirko Erben
statkář Zadina
Alena Pospíšilová
Yvettka, Sedloňova schovanka
Ilona Kubásková
Polánková, sousedka Hadrbolcových
Marie Kopalová
ošetřovatelka
Ferdinand Jarkovský
úředník z magistrátu
Růžena Lysenková
sekretářka u Malhorna
Felix le Breux
novinář Bob Kirken
Emanuel Kovařík
inspektor Trench
Jindřich Doležal
major
Fanda Mrázek
číšník
Jaroslav Mareš
novinář
Vladimír Řepa
majitel baru
Mirko Čech
inspicient
Josef Hořánek
lodivod
Josef Bělský
šéf kosmetického salonu
Zdeněk Šavrda
průvodčí vlaku
Viktor Nejedlý
komorník Vilém
Viktor Očásek
listonoš
Saša Danešová
panská
Bohuslav Kupšovský
topič na parníku
Marie Hodrová
stará žena ve vlaku
František Voborský
přednosta stanice/Ind
Otto Tutter
myslivec
Dobroslav Čech
myslivec
Miroslav Grác
myslivec
Zdeněk Borovec
myslivec
Jiřina Bílá
koketka
Josef Příhoda
ředitel kočovné divadelní společnosti
Ota Motyčka
biletář
Růžena Jezerská
kadeřnice
František Holar
zloděj
Ludmila Plichtová
uvaděčka v divadle
Antonín Jirsa
námořník
Jan Čapek
zákazník na manikúře
Milivoj Uzelac
dirigent
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Screenstory
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Stanislav Šulc (makety), František Jakubec (makety), Karel Císařovský (stavby)
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Background Painter
Ferdinand Martinásek (malíř pozadí), F. Jelínek (malíř pozadí)
Cooperation
R. Souček (vrchní osvětlovač), Václav Malý (fotograf), Ludvík Sojka (stavební mistr)
Music
Songs
Ztratilo se štěstí někde na rozcestí
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer Oldřich NovýHana Vítová [dab]Vilma Meyerová
Já prostý kvítek Krušných hor
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Vilma Meyerová
Já jsem malý mysliveček
Když bouře burácí
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer Bohuslav Kupšovský
V patách se mi smutek plíží
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Vilma Meyerová
Nebe je čisté bez mráčku
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Vilma Meyerová
Když do srdce chlad zavěje
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Vilma Meyerová
Chci býti tvou
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer Zdeněk Dítě [dab]Hana Vítová [dab]Vilma Meyerová
To láska přichází tak tiše
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer sbor
Po temné noci vzešel jasný den
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer Oldřich NovýHana Vítová [dab]Vilma Meyerová
Já o lásce jsem rozkošný sen snila
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Vilma Meyerová
Jsem láska /opereta Srdce v deliriu/
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Josef NeubergFrantišek Vlček
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Vilma Mayerovásbor
To bylo v háji zeleném
Singer sbor
Láska, Bože, láska
Singer mužský hlas
Production info
Original Title
Pytlákova schovanka aneb Šlechetný milionář
Czech Title
Pytlákova schovanka aneb Šlechetný milionář
English Title
The Poacher's Foster Daughter
Working Title
Srdce v rozpacích / Srdce na rozpacích
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
melodrama, parody
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1948
Production Year
1948
Production specifications
start of filming 2 August 1948
date of censorship 7 March 1949 (konec povolení k promítání 7. 3. 1954)
withdrawal from distribution 31 July 1993
Premiere
premiere 1 April 1949 /inaccessible for youths/ (kina Olympic /1 týden/, Oko /1 týden/ a Hvězda /8 týdnů od 22. 4./, Praha)
renewed premiere 1 February 1983 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Rozdělovna filmů Československého státního filmu (původní 1949), Ústřední půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1983)
Creative Group
III. výrobní skupina Frič – Reimann, Martin Frič (umělecký šéf III. výrobní skupiny), Zdeněk Reimann (produkční šéf III. výrobní skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
109 min
Original length in metres
3 097 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
colour, black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Intertitles languages
Czech
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
