Prague Blues
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1963Production year
1963Premiere
15 November 1963Runtime
75 minDirector
Georgis SkalenakisCategory
filmGenre
narrativeTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Pražské bluesCzech title
Pražské bluesEnglish title
Prague BluesSynopsis
Omar, a student from Africa, is about to finish his medical studies in Prague. He would like to return home, to Angola, but finally opts instead for a three-year research assistantship at a clinic in Prague. At Ruzyně airport, where he has come to say goodbye to his friend Amadu who is leaving Czechoslovakia, he notices an African girl he likes. Shortly afterwards, the two young people meet accidentally. The girl's name is Mariama and she will be studying at the Technical Faculty in Prague. Omar offers to be her guide in the new city and takes her to the International Students' Club, where he plays bass guitar in a band. Omar doesn't tell Mariama that he is staying in Prague. The girl is confident that he will go back home to help his country. Omar finishes his exams with excellent marks, but at his graduation party he is all alone. He must give some answers to his conscience and must think his decisions through. He plays his big solo on the bass, the blues. Mariama wanted to say goodbye to Omar and finds him alone at the party. They stay together until morning. They realize that even in this short time they have fallen in love with each other. Omar changes his decision. He leaves for Africa to help his people. He will also await the return of his beloved Mariama.
Note
The sculptures were made by Jindřich Wielgus.
Photos
Cast
Amina Hasci
somálská studentka geologie Mariama
Sissoko Woandioun
angolský student medicíny Omar
Orlando da Costa
malijský student Amadu
Radovan Lukavský
profesor Bouček
Jarmila Veselá
Voice by Eva Klepáčová
prodavačka Dana Ouředníčková, zpěvačka
Vratislav Blažek
sochař Pepi Kobliha
Jiří Stivín
Voice by Václav Sloup
knihovník Darek
Karel Velebný
Rudla
Míša Polák
Voice by Otto Lackovič
klavírista Karel
Alan Vitouš
bubeník Láďa
Emanuel Hrdina
trumpetista Ivan
Jonas Bruno
předseda studentského svazu
Karel Hlinický
profesor Polák
Gustav Hrdlička
Voice by Vladimír Hrubý
vrátný na koleji
Stephen Kariithi
Stephen
Jan Konopásek
saxofonista Konopásek
Emanuel Kovařík
Suchomel
Julie Juhanová
Rudlova nevěsta Eva
Consuela Morávková
dívka s kytarou
Fofana Ouri
Fofana
Zdeněk Pulec
trombonista
Ivan Popov
Rus
Ivan Poldauf
Voice by Jiří Šrámek
prorektor
Rudolf Rokl
pianista
Rudolf Dašek
kytarista
Františka Skálová
Suchomelová
Jan Arnet
Arnet
Camara Bassion
Afričan
Karel Vlach
Karel Vlach, on sám
Vladimír Dvořák
Vladimír Dvořák, on sám
Kateřina Trávnická
Kateřina Trávnická, ona sama
Božena Köhlerová
Kateřina
Idris Karim
Marokánec
Gigi Osman
Gigi
Antonín Julina
Julina
Milan Jaroš
první asistent na klinice
Ivan Křička
druhý asistent na klinice
Vladimír Linka
vedoucí bistra
Věra Váchová
sekretářka
Eva Pospíšilová
stevardka
Václav Podhorský
stevard
Dana Syslová
studentka na schodech
M. Mudruňka
kytarista
Jan Sinnreich
host na večírku
Karel Vejvoda
host na večírku
Vlastimil Čaněk
host na večírku
Jaroslava Vošmiková
host na večírku
Aja Farkačová
host na večírku
Josef Pivonka
host na večírku
H. Kormanová
host na večírku
L. Kormanová
host na večírku
O. Nosková
host na večírku
J. Fabiánová
host na večírku
Dubbing
Alena Kreuzmannová
hlas světlovlasé slečny
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Zdenka Pešulová
Continuity
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Art Director
Jindřich Wielgus (plastiky)
Set Designer
Zdeněk Jeřábek, Jan Petrů
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
František Černý, Josef Vlček, Bohumír Brunclík (zvukové efekty)
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Zdeňka Černá, Lubomír Novotný
Unit Production Manager
Ctibor Jeřábek
Consultant
Miloš Sovák
Cooperation
Jiřina Znamenáčková (klapka), Josef Vítek (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Orchestr Karla Vlacha (Music Conducted by Karel Vlach), Jan Arnet, Laco Déczi, Antonín Julina, Jan Konopásek, Míša Polák, Pavol Polanský, Ivan Preis, Zdeněk Pulec, Rudolf Rokl, Pavel Staněk, Karel Vejvoda, Karel Velebný, Alan Vitouš
Choreographer
Sissoko Amadu
Danced by
Les Ballets Africains de Guinée
Songs
Haló, haló
Song Composer Karel Velebný
Writer of Lyrics Jaromír Hořec
Singer Jarmila Veselá
Pražské blues
Song Composer Karel Velebný
Writer of Lyrics Jaromír Hořec
Singer Jarmila Veselá
Production info
Original Title
Pražské blues
Czech Title
Pražské blues
English Title
Prague Blues
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
narrative
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1963
Production Year
1963
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 26 October 1962
technical Screenplay approved 6 February 1963
start of filming 15 February 1963
end of filming 22 April 1963
projection approval 4 July 1963
Premiere
preview 1 November 1963 (kino Sevastopol /1 týden/, Praha)
premiere 8 November 1963 /suitable for youths/ (kino Lucerna /1 týden/, Praha)
premiere 15 November 1963 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Tvůrčí skupina Šmída – Fikar, Ladislav Fikar (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Bohumil Šmída (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
75 min
Original length in metres
2 129 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, French
Subtitles languages
Czech
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
