The Last Rose from Casanova

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1966

Production year

1965—1966

Premiere

5 August 1966

Runtime

91 min

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Poslední růže od Casanovy

Czech title

Poslední růže od Casanovy

English title

The Last Rose from Casanova

Summary

The complex personality of Giacomo Casanova (1725–1798) has inspired numerous films. Most of them have reduced the life of the Italian writer and diplomat to one of tireless romance and seduction. Such is the case with Poslední růže od Casanovy (The Last Rose from Casanova, 1966), a nostalgic romantic comedy directed by Václav Krška. The story finds the legendary lady-killer in something like retirement, having found a refuge as a librarian at the Wallenstein’s Duchcov Chateau. This bored man of the world is soon to be revivified by the beautiful Valerie who visits the chateau with her husband to see the famous Casanova in the flesh. At first, the young noblewoman is disappointed by Casanova’s old-fashioned view of romance. She advocates true passion devoid of romantic trivialities. But after a rather unusual bet is struck she begins to succumb to the old seducer´s charm… This playful story showcases the acting talents of Felix le Breux in the title role alongside Milena Dvorská as Valerie.

Synopsis

The legendary seducer of women Giacomo Casanova is spending the final years of his life at Count Wallenstein's Dux castle, where he has been given the post of the librarian. He is somewhat peevish and the writing of his memoirs and playing cards with the Count are the only things that bring him comfort. One day the Count receives a visit from his nephew Francis Adam with his attractive wife Valerie. Valerie is disappointed with the legendary Casanova. She sees an old man wearing an old-fashioned outfit and finds him laughable; she also finds that his views of love are outdated. Casanova claims that woman's love can be won by refined gallantry and Valerie favours pure emotion. She makes a secret wager with her husband that she will charm Casanova. Casanova makes the same bet with the Count. During a winter canter, Valerie slowly yields to Casanova's advances and Francis becomes jealous. In the evening, the young couple has a fight. The experienced Casanova intervenes. He sends Valerie a rose in Francis' name and dictates a love letter for Valerie to the young man. At the ball, Valerie is reconciled with her husband. The trick with the letter is exposed but Valerie forgives Francis; after all, he has given her the rose. Francis is practical and doesn't admit the truth; instead, he allows his wife to believe that Casanova's gallant gesture is his own.

Film online

Cast

Felix le Breux

Giacomo Casanova de Sengal

Bohuš Záhorský

hrabě Josef Karel Valdštejn

Vladimír Brabec

hrabě František Adam Valdštejn, synovec

Milena Dvorská

Valerie, žena Františka Adama Valdštejna

Otto Šimánek

lékař O'Reilly

Libuše Havelková

hraběnka Maternová z Hrádku

Valja Petrová

hraběnka Kounicová

Zuzana Šavrdová

komorná Markéta

Richard Záhorský

komorník Václav

František Kovářík

sluha Matyáš

Eva Jandáčková

Nelly

Eva Baborovská

Terezka

Libuše Freslová

paní z Bíliny

Miloš Zavadil

Casanova jako mladý

Marie Popelková

paní z Jezeří

Petr Holík

Vincek

Josef Burda

opat z Oseka

Ivo Foustka

hodnostář

Milan Morávek

sluha Tomáš

Zbyšek Olšovský

taneční mistr

František Šeba

švihák

Václav Petrus

kavalír

Jiřina Součková

paní nadlesní

Míla Myslíková

hospodská Markýtka

Jana Šandová

tanečnice

Hana Krásová

tanečnice

Jaroslav Dlask

tanečník

Jiří Hladík

tanečník

Jan Valchař

tanečník

Jindřich Doležal

generál Bronický

Klaudie Ferbrová

matka představená

Petr Fürst

šermíř

Petr Lebeda

šermíř

Josef Křížek

šermíř

Jar. Kramosil

voják-šermíř

Miloslav Průša

voják-šermíř

Ladislava Kutová

služka

Karel Klement

hudebník

Čestmír Preclík

hudebník

Karel Lajka

muž

Vojtěch Klokan

muž

Vladimír Pospíšil

Casanova ve středním věku

Ema Skálová

hraběnka Kounicová mladší

Jan Vávra

generál

Blažena Vernerová

žena regenschoriho

Jarmila Vilská-Uhlířová

správcová

Pavel Vlasák

dubl za Miloše Zavadila – šerm

Soňa Zborníková

herečka

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Vladimír Zelenka

Assistant Director

Boca Abrhámová

Director of Photography

Václav Hanuš

Second Unit Photography

Jaroslav Kupšík

Camera Operator

Antonín Vojáček

Production Designer

Boris Moravec

Assistent Production Designer

Jiří Kotlář

Set Designer

Karel Kočí, Bohuslav Varhaník, Jaroslava Vilímková

Costume Designer

Jan Skalický

Film Editor

Jan Kohout

Assistant Film Editor

Jarmila Müllerová

Sound Designer

Jaromír Svoboda

Special Effects

Trikový ateliér FSB

Production Manager

Gustav Rohan

Unit Production Manager

Jan Syrový, Dana Dudová

Unit Production Manager

Zora Rumlová

Cooperation

Luďka Žáková (klapka), Alena Červená (fotografka)

Music

Music Composed by

Václav Trojan

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), Dvořákovo kvarteto

Choreographer

Vlastimil Jílek

Danced by

Balet Národního divadla Praha

Songs

O bella, mia stella

Singer Felix le Breux

Production info

Original Title

Poslední růže od Casanovy

Czech Title

Poslední růže od Casanovy

English Title

The Last Rose from Casanova

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1966

Production Year

1965—1966

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 8 June 1965
technical Screenplay approved 4 October 1965
start of filming 8 November 1965
end of filming 4 March 1966
projection approval 11 May 1966

Premiere

premiere 27 June 1966 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Blaník /4½ týdne/, Praha)
premiere 5 August 1966 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)

Studio

Barrandov

Creative Group

Tvůrčí skupina Feix – Brož, Miloš Brož (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Karel Feix (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

91 min

Original length in metres

2 602 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,66, 1:2,35

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Event: 4. soutěž o hudební dílo vytvořené pro film v roce 1966

1967
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Václav Trojan