Based on a folk tale, later retold by children’s author Božena Němcová, and then adapted for the theatre by K. M. Walló. In 1959, the story also found its way to the big screen courtesy of director Martin Frič – and would go on to become one of the most beloved of all the Czechoslovak film fairytales. The title heroine, played by Marie Kyselková, is a bold young woman, who rejects marriage to King Kazisvět (“World wrecker”). Instead, she flees from the castle of her timid father. Princess Lada masks both her beauty and the gold star on her forehead by wearing a hood made of shabby mouse fur, and finds a job as a cook at the palace of a neighbouring monarch – the wise Prince Radovan (played by singer and occasional actor Josef Zíma). Ultimately, the prince finds his true love in the form of this wayward kitchen helper. The power-hungry Kazisvět is played by Martin Růžek, and in line with the ideology of the times, he portrays a prototypical German usurper-occupier, who is ultimately cast out of Lada’s land by ordinary folk.
Old king Hostivít has a beautiful daughter Lada, a princess with a golden star on her forehead. The evil and wealthy king Kazisvět VI comes to court Lada but she does not want to marry him. On the advice of her maid, the princess dresses up in a fur coat made of mouse fur and goes out into the world. When she has crossed mountains and valleys she arrives in the gentle land of prince Radovan. As a poor girl wrapped in grey fur she gets a job as a kitchen help at Radovan's castle. A celebration is being prepared during which the prince is to choose his future bride. The popular ruler is sensible and hopes to marry out of love. He therefore rejects the proud Florindella and spoiled Glorie. Lada, who is curious to see the prince, changes into the only fine dress she brought with her during her escape, and mingles with the other guests. Radovan follows her all over the castle. The young couple fall in love at first sight but Lada turns him down since she does not want to put him or his country at risk. After exchanging rings Lada runs off. The next morning she reappears in the kitchen in her disguise. She does not notice that the prince's ring has fallen into the soup she is preparing. When the prince finds the ring, he now knows where to find the princess. He recognizes her even in her mouse fur. Kazisvět arrives at the castle with his entourage but the prince bravely drives them away. Nothing lies in the way of the celebrated wedding of Lada and Radovan.
král Hostivít
princezna Lada, Hostivítova dcera
princ Radovan
král Kazisvět VI.
chůva princezny Lady
vrchní kuchař
maršálek
kuchtík Janek
princův pobočník
vévodkyně Glorie
princezna Florindella
pobočník krále Kazisvěta VI.
stařenka
posel
strážný
písař krále Kazisvěta VI.
pobočník krále Kazisvěta VI.
strážný
dvořan
Božena Němcová (Princezna se zlatou hvězdou na čele – pohádka), K. M. Walló (Princezna se zlatou hvězdou – divadelní hra na motivy pohádky Princezna se zlatou hvězdou na čele)
K. M. Walló, Martin Frič (spolupráce na scénáři)
Vladimír Vojta
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)
Bedřich Füsseger, Jiřina Kottová (pohybová spolupráce)
Olga Jungová, Zdena Bronislavská, Zora Doskočilová, Astrid Štúrová, Věra Benšová, Luka Rubanovičová
Song Composer Bohuslav Sedláček
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Marie Kyselková [dab]
Song Composer Bohuslav Sedláček
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Josef Zíma
Princezna se zlatou hvězdou
Princezna se zlatou hvězdou
The Princess with the Golden Star
film
featuretheatrical distribution
fairytale
Czechoslovakia
1959
1959
literary Screenplay approved 12 January 1959
technical Screenplay approved 3 February 1959
start of filming 20 March 1959
end of filming 6 June 1959
projection approval 25 August 1959
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1995
preview 4 December 1959 (kino Sevastopol /1 týden/, Praha)
premiere 18 December 1959 /suitable for youths/ (kina Mladých /4 týdny/ a Lucerna /3 týdny od 25. 12./, Praha)
renewed premiere 16 November 2023 /suitable for all ages without limit/
Ústřední půjčovna filmů (původní 1959), Národní filmový archiv (obnovená 2023)
Tvůrčí skupina Hanuš – Pavlíček, Ladislav Hanuš (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny), František Pavlíček (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny)
feature film
81 min
2 199 meters
16mm, 35mm, DCP 2-D, MP4, BRD
1:1,37
colour
sound
mono
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech
Event: Filmová anketa čtenářů týdeníku Mladý svět o nejlepší československé filmy natočené v roce 1959
1960
Praha / Czechoslovakia