The Secret of a Handwriting

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1958

Production year

1958

Category

povídka

Genre

short-story

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Original title

Tajemství písma

Czech title

Tajemství písma

English title

The Secret of a Handwriting

Working title

Grafolog

Synopsis

The elderly antique dealer Karas is jealous of his young wife Martička. His friend, judge Hübler, is trying to convince him with examples from his own profession that the proof of infidelity can only be obtained by accident, or rather by an oversight. Karas envies Hübler on his domestic happiness, for Mrs Hübler is a settled woman. Karas sends his wife to the spa but rents a detective to follow her. Karas and Hübler visit the graphologist Mr Jensen's performance and he describes Martička by her handwriting as a chaste and honest wife. On the contrary, the judge's wife, whose handwriting Hübler places before him by accident, is described as a deceitful, tedious and voluptuous person. The judge succumbs to the graphologist's suggestion and starts finding these faults in his wife. Karas receives a letter from Martička beginning with the words "My Sweet Arthur". The jealous man is suffering at first as the letter is obviously addressed to the family friend, dandy Arthur. But the contents prove Martička's loyalty and longing for her husband. The calmed down Karas buys an expensive present and takes it to the spa to his wife. The refined trick with the letter was invented by Martička's lover Arthur and the woman rewards him for it with a passionate kiss. Finally, Arthur settles the financial matters with the corruptible detective.

Cast

Oldřich Nový

starožitník František Karas

Irena Kačírková

Karasova žena Martička

Jaroslav Marvan

soudce JUDr. Antonín Hübler

Elena Hálková

Alžběta Hüblerová, soudcova manželka

Miloš Kopecký

grafolog Jensen

Eduard Dubský

elegán Artur, milenec Martičky

Karel Effa

detektiv

Eva Šenková

sekretářka grafologa

Vladimír Klemens

novinář Halousek

Jaroslav Heyduk

Karlík, majitel detektivní kanceláře

Jiřina Bohdalová

prodavačka ve starožitnictví

Ema Skálová

žena u rozvodového soudu

Vladimír Huber

muž u rozvodového soudu

Eva Svobodová

kartářka

Otto Budín

novinář

Valentin Knor

voják ve vlaku

Vratislav Blažek

prodavač textilu

Bedřich Ulrych

důstojník ve vlaku

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Stanislav Strnad

Based on

Karel Čapek (Tajemství písma a Naprostý důkaz – povídky ze sbírky Povídky z jedné kapsy)

Shooting Script

Jaroslav Mach

Director of Photography

Josef Střecha

Production Designer

Karel Škvor, Jan Zázvorka

Assistent Production Designer

Jaroslav Krška, Oldřich Okáč

Costume Designer

Karel Postřehovský

Make-Up Artist

Gustav Hrdlička

Sound Designer

Ladislav Hausdorf

Production Manager

Josef Ouzký

Unit Production Manager

Vratislav Innermann

Consultant

J. Marek

Music

Music Composed by

Štěpán Lucký

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)

Production info

Original Title

Tajemství písma

Czech Title

Tajemství písma

English Title

The Secret of a Handwriting

Working Title

Grafolog

Category

povídka

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

short-story

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1958

Production Year

1958

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 20 February 1957
literary Screenplay approved 3 July 1957
start of filming 12 March 1958
technical Screenplay approved 16 June 1958
end of filming 5 October 1958

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Studio

Barrandov

Technical info

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