A Ditty for a Penny
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1952Production year
1952Premiere
10 July 1953Runtime
88 minDirector
Rudolf MyzetCategory
filmGenre
music, comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Písnička za grošCzech title
Písnička za grošEnglish title
A Ditty for a PennySynopsis
Desk officer for a state Gramophone Company Jakub Veselý criticizes his friend and composer Jan Benda for not writing music which is comprehensible to the workers, music which they could identify with. The clerk in charge of music broadcasts on the radio, Eva, also does not have a high opinion of him for the same reason. Benda likes the young woman but he turns down her request to change his style as well - he has no intention of writing a "song for a penny". Czechoslovak Radio announces a competition for new songs and performers. A song arrives from an unknown composer by the name of Jan Groš [Penny] which Eva likes so much that she decides to sing it herself. The work is very successful and wins the competition. It comes out on record and Jakub and Eva erroneously think that the mysterious songwriter will make himself known. After some time another song arrives at the radio, this time composed to a text by Jakub Veselý. At the Tesla club party the song is to be performed by a Youth Movement ensemble. Jakub announces that the ensemble's conductor has fallen ill and the work can only be conducted by its composer. Only now does Jan Benda, alias Jan Groš, come forward to present himself to the audience who give him a big hand.
Photos
Cast
František Hanus
hudební skladatel Jan Benda
Robert Vrchota
referent Gramofonových závodů Jakub Veselý
Zdenka Procházková
sekretářka Čs. rozhlasu Eva Slavíková
Eva Vlachová
dělnice v Tesle Andulka Jiráková
Vilém Besser
Andulčin bratr Mirek, dělník v Tesle
Jana Bittlová
Ivanka, Evina dcera
Miroslav Doležal
dělník v Tesle Karel
Jiřina Bílá
kamarádka Andulky Jarča
Marie Rintová
Jiráková, matka Andulky a Mirka
Soňa Červená
zpěvačka Irena Jonášová
Jiří Joran
hudební skladatel Václav Jonáš, Irenin muž
Rudolf Deyl st.
profesor hudby
Vladimír Svitáček
dělník v Tesle Josef
Marta Májová
posluchačka na koncertě
Zdeněk Hora
klavírista Vilím, referent Čs. rozhlasu
Josef Vošalík
vynálezce Josef Šesták
Ladislav Navrátil
referent Gramofonových závodů Soukup
Gabriela Bártlová-Buddeusová
prodavačka Mařenka
Jan Drůbek
rozhlasový režisér
Alois Dvorský
muzikant s pozounem
Ferdinand Jarkovský
muzikant s trubkou
Fanda Mrázek
muzikant s klarinetem
Josef Příhoda
muzikant s helikónem
Jiří Maglič
zřízenec v rozhlase
Slávka Rosenbergová
sousedka Jirákových
Vladimír Salač
skladatel Rudolf
Hana Šebestíková
pionýrka Alena
Karel Hovorka
zvukař
Zdena Pavlátová
prodavačka
Josef Steigl
vrátný v rozhlase
Václav Panoš
pionýr
Milivoj Uzelac
dirigent
Jana Klatovská
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Vladimír Zelenka, Zdena Pavlátová
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Set Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Cooperation
Antonín Stránský (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Josef Suk, Bedřich Smetana (Má vlast /Vltava/)
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Milivoj Uzelac), Pěvecký sbor Čs. rozhlasu (Music Conducted by Jiří Pinkas), Eva Bernáthová /klavírní sólo/
Songs
V Hodoníně za vojáčka mňa vzali
Songwriter lidová píseň
Writer of Lyrics lidová píseň
Singer Vilém Besser [dab]Jan Soumar
Budujeme /Teď když máme, co jsme chtěli/
Songwriter Václav Dobiáš
Zpíváme si se skřivánkem
Songwriter Ludvík Podéšť
Writer of Lyrics Vlastimil Pantůček
Singer Pěvecký sbor Čs. rozhlasu
U nás jaro nekončí
Songwriter Ludvík Podéšť
Writer of Lyrics Vlastimil Pantůček
Singer Pěvecký sbor Čs. rozhlasuZdenka Procházková [dab]Melanie Binnerová
Červený šátek
Songwriter Ludvík Podéšť
Writer of Lyrics Vlastimil Pantůček
Singer František Hanusdětský sbor
Píseň o lásce
Songwriter Ludvík Podéšť
Writer of Lyrics Vlastimil Pantůček
Singer František HanusZdenka Procházková [dab]Melanie Binnerová
Když se šero blíží
Songwriter Ludvík Podéšť
Writer of Lyrics Vlastimil Pantůček
Singer Soňa Červená
Production info
Original Title
Písnička za groš
Czech Title
Písnička za groš
English Title
A Ditty for a Penny
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
music, comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1952
Production Year
1952
Production specifications
start of filming 15 September 1952
the first film copy approved 11 February 1953
projection approval 25 February 1953 (konec povolení k promítání 25. 2. 1958)
Premiere
premiere 10 July 1953 /suitable for youths/ (kina Blaník /3 týdny/, Pasáž /3 týdny/, Kyjev /1 týden od 17. 7./, Kotva /1 týden od 31. 7./, Moskva /1 týden od 31. 7./, Aero /1 týden od 7. 8./, Oko /1 týden od 7. 8./, Arbes /1 týden od 14. 8./ a Bystrica /1 týden od 14. 8./, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Oldřicha Nového (vývoj scénáře), Oldřich Nový (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
88 min
Original length in metres
2 513 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
