The Pearl Necklace

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1965

Production year

1964—1965

Premiere

3 September 1965

Runtime

72 min

Category

film

Genre

narrative

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Perlový náhrdelník

Czech title

Perlový náhrdelník

English title

The Pearl Necklace

Working title

Chlapec a voják

Summary

For nine-year-old Saša, the end of the Second World War is an adventure in which he and young neighbour friend Mařenka compete over who will spot the first Soviet solider. But the boy causes problems when he lets two German snipers enter a house in which many families are seeking shelter. Fortunately, the inquisitive Saša also comes to the aid of Soviet soldier Váňa, whom one of the neighbours is accusing of stealing a pearl necklace... From the 1960s onwards, screenwriter and story editor Jiří Blažek worked on countless projects, often family-oriented stories featuring child stars. Perlový náhrdelník (The Pearl Necklace, 1965) is one such project from Slovak director Dimitrij Plichta. It was filmed in Gottwaldov Film Studios (today Zlín). Alongside the child non-actors Kamil Veselý and Dagmar Pazderová, the film also features Zdeněk Kutil (Váňa) and Oldřich Velen (as Mařenka’s father).

Synopsis

It is April 1945, the end of the Second World War is approaching and the fighting is still going on. Tenants of a house in a Moravian town withdraw to the cellar with their children in the face of approaching danger. For children, especially little Mařenka and Saša, this means just another adventure and occasion for new games. Both children also look out for the first Soviet soldier. Saša, out of impatience, even unlocks the main door of the house - only to face two German soldiers with machine-gun hiding on the other side. They break into the house and begin to shoot at the street. The adults in the cellar do not have the courage to oppose them, even though one of the men has a gun. Saša feels guilty for letting the Germans in, gets hold of the gun during the night and sneaks upstairs. Fortunately, he is taken back by his father and a neighbour. In the morning, Soviet soldiers arrive to the town and manage to neutralize the Germans. Saša becomes close friends with the young Soviet soldier Vanya, who likes to play with children. One day, Vanya indulges in listening to music of the playing clock at Růžička's. Father Růžička spots him and accuses him of stealing a pearl necklace. Vanya's strict captain takes him to an abandoned place. The unhappy Saša grabs Mařenka's glass necklace and runs after them, offering the "jewels" to the captain, who eventually lets Vanya go.

Cast

Zdeněk Kutil

sovětský voják Váňa

Jarmila Smejkalová

Peterkova manželka

Dagmar Pazderová

Mařenka, dcera Peterkových

Jan Maršálek

Honzík, syn Peterkových

Martin Masner

Martínek, syn Peterkových

Jaroslava Tichá

Šrámkova manželka

Kamil Veselý

Saša, syn Šrámkových

Ota Sklenčka

soused Bohouš Růžička

Pavla Maršálková

Emilka, Růžičkova manželka

Stanislav Ebens

německý voják

Karel Kabíček

německý voják

Miloslav Kročil

mladý sovětský voják

Karel Meister

sovětský důstojník

Karel Urbánek

sovětský důstojník

Radim Cvrček

tančící sovětský voják

Crew and creators

Assistant Director

Radim Cvrček, Alžbeta Domastová

Screenstory

Jiří Blažek

Dramaturg

Milan Šimek

Director of Photography

Jiří Kolín

Production Designer

Juraj Červík

Set Designer

František Santarius, Vilém Janík

Costume Designer

Naďa Škapová

Sound Designer

František Strangmüller, Bohumír Brunclík (zvukové efekty)

Production Manager

Zdeněk Stibor

Unit Production Manager

Vojtěch Kunčík

Unit Production Manager

Oldřich Heger, Jaroslav Petřík

Consultant

plk. Vladislav Zumr

Cooperation

Emil Bártek (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Štěpán Koníček

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)

Songs

Kuril machorku

Singer sbor

Komandir, geroj, geroj Čapajev

Singer Zdeněk Kutil

Production info

Original Title

Perlový náhrdelník

Czech Title

Perlový náhrdelník

English Title

The Pearl Necklace

Working Title

Chlapec a voják

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

narrative

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1965

Production Year

1964—1965

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 24 September 1962
start of filming 12 October 1964
technical Screenplay approved 24 October 1964
end of filming 16 March 1965
projection approval 6 May 1965

Premiere

premiere 3 September 1965 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 10 September 1965 /suitable for youths/ (kino Mladých /1 týden/, Praha)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

72 min

Original length in metres

2 059 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