The Proud Princess
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1952Production year
1951—1952Premiere
26 September 1952Runtime
91 minDirector
Bořivoj ZemanCategory
filmGenre
fairytaleTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Pyšná princeznaCzech title
Pyšná princeznaEnglish title
The Proud PrincessWorking title
O pyšné princezněSummary
During the 1950s, director Bořivoj Zeman added two fairytale films to the Czechoslovak treasure chest: the romantic Pyšná princezna (The Proud Princess, 1952), and the fairytale comedy Byl jednou jeden král... (Once Upon a Time, There Was a King, 1954). The Proud Princess, inspired by a story from author Božena Němcová, represents one of the most well-known film fairytales. Capricious and conceited Krasomila (Alena Vránová) spurns a marriage offer from the wise King Miroslav (Vladimír Ráž). He decides to punish the prideful beauty from a neighbouring land, while a new royal gardener becomes entangled in Krasomila’s orbit, providing her with a lecture in humility with the aid of a magical, singing plant. Zeman’s film represents not only an excellent example of the meticulous and imaginative bringing-to-life of a Czech fairytale adventure, but also an instance of a carefully and persuasively-crafted piece of ideological propaganda, in which Miroslav’s flourishing communist-like kingdom fulfils the ideal of a loving “big brother” that serves as a contrast to Krasomila’s decaying feudal land.
Synopsis
Princess Krasomila from the Midnight Kingdom refuses to marry the good and just king Miroslav whom she knows only from a picture. Miroslav, however, does not give up. He sets out for the Midnight Kingdom where the people are troubled with high taxes, their weak king is controlled by dishonest counsellors and even singing is forbidden. Miroslav, in disguise, gets work as the castle gardener. He cultivates a miraculous flower which plays the song sung by the princess' nurse but in the presence of a proud person, it wilts. The capricious Krasomila tries to humiliate the hard-working gardener, however, under his influence and out of desire for the singing flower, her behaviour changes and she finally falls for the handsome young man. The old king's counsellors observe Miroslav with malice and they manage to drive him out of the castle, however, the reformed princess runs away with him. The old king is vexed and seeks advice from the nurse whom he had previously thrown into prison at the instigation of his malicious counsellors. The nurse tells him who Miroslav really is and, on her advice, the king sends messengers to find the runaways, he lowers the taxes and declares that singing is no longer banned. When Krasomila discovers that the gardener is in fact king Miroslav, she is somewhat offended but in the end accepts gladly his offer of marriage. Joy and contentment prevail in the Midnight Kingdom.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Alena Vránová
princezna Krasomila
Vladimír Ráž
král Miroslav
Stanislav Neumann
král Půlnočního království, otec Krasomily
Mária Sýkorová
chůva
Jaroslav Seník
ministr Jakub
Miloš Kopecký
kancléř
Oldřich Dědek
ceremoniář
Karel Effa
strážce pokladu
Gustav Heverle
panoš Vítek
Josef Hlinomaz
královský výběrčí daní
Luděk Mandaus
hlasatel
Bohuslav Čáp
švec
Otomar Korbelář
hospodář
Jarmila Kurandová
hospodyně
Jana Werichová
Madlenka
Vladimír Bejval
Ivánek
František Hanus
uhlíř
Nita Romanečová
uhlířova žena
Terezie Brzková
mlynářka
František Kovářík
mlynář
Branislav Koreň
mleč
Miloš Nesvadba
princ ze Země zacházejícího slunce
Bohuslav Kupšovský
dlouhý zbrojnoš ve vězení
Rudolf Cortés
zpívající dřevorubec
Václav Švec
dvořan u prince
Jaroslav Orlický
posel
Emil Kavan
malíř
Josef Hořánek
sluha
František Kokejl
řezník
Libuše Bokrová
košíkářka
Václav Bečvář
kovář
Jiří Zukal
pomocník kováře
Petr Pánek
syn uhlíře
Pavel Hovorka
syn uhlíře
Helena Kropíková
holčička držící květinu
Miroslav Litvan
kluk oznamující příjezd krále
Jana Bednářová
holčička tančící zlatou bránu
Jaroslav Chlouba
kluk s koláčem
Jana Břínková
copatá holčička s koláčem
Jana Mikišinová
holčička s květinou
Helena Kotoučová
žena na jarmarku
Zdeněk Mošnička
trubač
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Based on
Božena Němcová (Potrestaná pýcha – pohádka)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Production Designer
Set Designer
Franta Novák
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Stanislav Šulc, František Jakubec, Josef Bůžek, Karel Císařovský
Production Manager
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Otakar Pařík),
Songs
Rozvíjej se, poupátko
Songwriter Dalibor C. Vačkář
Writer of Lyrics František Hrubín
Singer Vladimír RážAlena VránováStanislav Neumann
Pro pár stromů statný les
Songwriter Dalibor C. Vačkář
Writer of Lyrics František Hrubín
Singer Kühnův pěvecký sborRudolf Cortés
Není větší potěšení nad naši krásnou zem
Songwriter Dalibor C. Vačkář
Writer of Lyrics František Hrubín
Singer Kühnův pěvecký sbor
Pusťte nás tou zlatou bránou
Songwriter Dalibor C. Vačkář
Writer of Lyrics František Hrubín
Singer Kühnův dětský pěvecký sbor
Kdo má milou doma
Songwriter Dalibor C. Vačkář
Writer of Lyrics František Hrubín
Singer Luděk MandausVladimír Ráž
Narodil se mladej švec
Singer Bohuslav Čáp
Vítej slunce v ranním lese
Songwriter Dalibor C. Vačkář
Writer of Lyrics František Hrubín
Singer Vladimír RážAlena VránováFrantišek Hanus
Zpívejme a radujme se
Songwriter Dalibor C. Vačkář
Writer of Lyrics František Hrubín
Singer Kühnův dětský pěvecký sbor
Skončila se panská pýcha
Songwriter Dalibor C. Vačkář
Writer of Lyrics František Hrubín
Singer sbor
Už je to uděláno, už je to hotovo
Singer Terezie BrzkováFrantišek KováříkAlena VránováVladimír Ráž
Jen se paste ovečky
Singer dětský hlas
Vrána k vráně vždycky sedá
Singer Bohuslav Kupšovský
Production info
Original Title
Pyšná princezna
Czech Title
Pyšná princezna
English Title
The Proud Princess
Working Title
O pyšné princezně
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
fairytale
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1952
Production Year
1951—1952
Production specifications
start of filming 20 June 1951
the first film copy approved 13 May 1952
projection approval 28 May 1952 (konec povolení k promítání 28. 5. 1957)
Premiere
premiere 26 September 1952 /suitable for youths/
renewed premiere 16 November 1973 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Barrandov
Distribution
Rozdělovna filmů Československého státního filmu (původní 1952), Ústřední půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1973)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
91 min
Original length in metres
2 579 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
Awards
Vítěz
Event: Múzy pražských diváků
1974
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Bořivoj Zeman
Vítěz
Festival: 7. mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary
1952
Karlovy Vary / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Event: Umělecké prémie
1952
Praha / Czechoslovakia
pracovníci trikového ateliéru Studia uměleckých hraných filmů
Vítěz
Event: Umělecké prémie
1952
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jan Roth
Revue
From Pyšná princezna to Sedmero krkavců
The authors of Malý labyrint filmu explain the exceptional popularity of the fairy tale genre by surmising that fairy ta...
