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).
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.
sovětský voják Váňa
Peterka
Peterkova manželka
Mařenka, dcera Peterkových
Honzík, syn Peterkových
Martínek, syn Peterkových
Šrámek
Šrámkova manželka
Saša, syn Šrámkových
soused Bohouš Růžička
Emilka, Růžičkova manželka
německý voják
německý voják
mladý sovětský voják
sovětský důstojník
sovětský důstojník
tančící sovětský voják
Radim Cvrček, Alžbeta Domastová
Emil Bártek, Rudolf Červenka
František Santarius, Vilém Janík
František Strangmüller, Bohumír Brunclík (zvukové efekty)
Oldřich Heger, Jaroslav Petřík
plk. Vladislav Zumr
Štěpán Koníček (FISYO)
Kuril machorku, Komandir, geroj, geroj Čapajev
sbor (Kuril machorku), Zdeněk Kutil (Komandir, geroj, geroj Čapajev)
Perlový náhrdelník
The Pearl Necklace
Chlapec a voják
film
feature
narrative
Czechoslovakia
1965
1965
3 September 1965
long
72 min
Czech