The Case of Doctor Kovář

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1949

Production year

1949

Premiere

28 April 1950

Runtime

76 min

Category

film

Genre

drama

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Případ dr. Kováře

Czech title

Případ dr. Kováře

English title

The Case of Doctor Kovář

Working title

Povinnost

Synopsis

A boiler explodes in a small paint factory. Some of the machinery is demolished during the explosion and several workers are injured. The worst affected is Váša who may have to have his hands amputated. He is looked after by doctor Kovář who, despite conflicts with the senior consultant, uses all the medication available in order to help Váša recover. In the meantime, an investigation is under way in the factory. The workers are angry at the factory owner Olbrich who is trying to put the blame on them. Olbrich also has to face the wrath of the sheriff since he tactlessly and untimely releases a quarter of the workforce. Olbrich thus looks for witnesses who would testify to the negligence of the workers. He only manages to bribe young Blahna to support him who needs money to pay for his girlfriend's abortion. The girl, however, leaves him for his disloyalty. The workers call a meeting and threaten to strike. Doctor Kovář has made progress in the hospital and has managed to save Váša's hands. The senior consultant nevertheless forces Kovář to leave the hospital, but in the end he leaves himself to work in a private sanatorium. Kovář stays behind, to the delight of the needy.

Cast

Otomar Krejča

MUDr. Kovář

Jiří Plachý

primář MUDr. Pokorný

František Šlégr

továrník K. Olbrich

Vlasta Vlasáková

Marie Kalčíková

Jaroslav Malík

dělník Kalčík, Mariin otec

Jaroslav Mareš

dělník Antonín Blahna, Mariin snoubenec

Václav Lohniský

dělník Jan Váša

Vladimír Řepa

poslanec Hlávka

Jaroslav Moučka

dělník Alois Velínský

Karel Houska

primářův synovec MUDr. Mráz

Ludmila Burešová

pradlena, Vášova žena

Karel Černoch

Zedníček

Stanislav Langer

hejtman Vrána

Libuše Pospíšilová

zdravotní sestra Helena

Josef Mráz

ošetřovatel Jan, Helenin snoubenec

Josef Najman

starý dělník Kalous

Julie Šafářová

vrchní sestra Anna

Taťána Vavřincová

Pokorná, manželka primáře

Věra Kalendová

zdravotní sestra

František Marek

vrátný v nemocnici

Ota Motyčka

účetní Patera

Viktor Očásek

správní rada Loukota

Oldřich Lukeš

delegát za odbory dělník

Věra Kadlecová

zdravotní sestra

Bohuš Hradil

člen vyšetřovací komise

Karel Hovorka

člen vyšetřovací komise

Jan Holubář

V. Stelzigová

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Věra Ženíšková

Screenstory

Eduard Vondrák, Jaroslav Hulák, Emil Radok

Director of Photography

Rudolf Milič

Camera Operator

Josef Illík

Production Designer

Miloš Třeška

Set Designer

Jan Janda

Costume Designer

Dagmar Berková

Make-Up Artist

Vladimír Černý

Sound Designer

Karel Cajthaml

Production Manager

František Milič, Gustav Rohan

Music

Music Composed by

Jan Rychlík

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by Milivoj Uzelac)

Songs

Ó, Marianno

Internacionála

Song Composer Pierre Degeyter

Production info

Original Title

Případ dr. Kováře

Czech Title

Případ dr. Kováře

English Title

The Case of Doctor Kovář

Working Title

Povinnost

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1949

Production Year

1949

Production specifications

date of censorship 29 March 1950 (konec povolení k promítání 29. 3. 1955)
withdrawal from distribution 29 March 1961
withdrawal from distribution 31 July 1976

Premiere

premiere 28 April 1950 /suitable for youths/ (kino Alfa /4 týdny/, Praha)

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Studio

Hostivař

Creative Group

VI. tvůrčí kolektiv Jiřího Hájka, Jiří Hájek (vedoucí VI. tvůrčího kolektivu)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

76 min

Original length in metres

2 156 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech