The Miraculous Brain Teaser
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1967Production year
1967Premiere
5 April 1968Runtime
79 minDirector
Václav TáborskýCategory
filmGenre
childrenTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Zázračný hlavolamCzech title
Zázračný hlavolamEnglish title
The Miraculous Brain TeaserSummary
Documentary film maker Václav Táborský made just two fiction feature films: the family drama Útěk do větru (Taking Refuge in the Wind, 1965) and the modern fairytale Zázračný hlavolam (The Miraculous Brain Teaser, 1967). Both pictures contain documentary-style elements woven into the story. The main character in this film is young underdog Franta, who recovers a miraculous brain teaser that can fulfil any wish from a scrap metal collection container. The loser suddenly becomes the centre of attention among his friends. However, as soon as the adults learn of the brain teaser’s miraculous powers, they try to take hold of it for their own ends… Antonín Vomáčka plays Franta in the actor’s only film role (he would later become an accomplished television director). This largely forgotten film includes performances from a number of well-known actors, including Pavel Landovský as police lieutenant Venouš, and Luděk Sobota, then 24, who debuts in the role of a physics teacher.
Synopsis
Franta is an unlucky fellow, spoiling everything he lays his hands on. The gang of boys headed by dashing Jindřich thus refuses to respect him and accept him among themselves. One day, on the "salvage of scrap iron" Sunday in the little town, Franta discovers an interesting brain teaser on a heap of discarded iron. He offers it to the boys in exchange for riding an old motorcycle and to Helena for a handful of cherries, but everybody refuses him tauntingly. At home, however, Franta finds out that the brain teaser has the miraculous power to fulfil all his wishes. And thus, Franta begins to "make miracles". First only at home, later also at school and then throughout the little town. His schoolmates and Helena now fight for his favour. Jindřich and Béďa as well as the adults want to get hold of the brain teaser, the latter to use it for the "common good". But the children unite and manage to defend the teaser from the adults. Franta, with its help, organizes a grandiose revel with fireworks on the main square. Eventually, however, the adults indeed manage to seize the brain teaser, but break it for they do not know how to work with it. All the magic disappears at once and only the faithful Mářa remains with Franta. But when he leaves with her, he again finds a weird object. Who knows, it might well be magical, too...
Photos
Cast
Antonín Vomáčka
Franta
Zdeněk Jánský
Béďa
Josef Novotný (1)
Jindřich
Martina Podéšťová
Helena
Miroslava Untermüllerová
Mářa
Jan Vostrčil
předseda národního výboru Bohouš
Josef Koza
náčelník hasičů Hubert
Pavel Landovský
poručík VB Venouš
Vladimír Stach
ředitel školy
Helena Růžičková
cukrářka, Béďova matka
Lubomír Kostelka
cukrář, Béďův otec
František Vicena
Frantův otec
Eliška Kuchařová
Frantova matka
Nina Divíšková
učitelka
Jan Pohan
školník
Václav Trégl
Frantův děda
Luděk Sobota
učitel fyziky
Pavel Navara
příslušník SNB
Václav Kotva
závozník
Antonín Soukup
stařeček
Jiří Růžička
tlustý spolužák
Andrej Kvašňák
fotbalový reprezentant, on sám
Bohuslav Blažek
zedník
J. Krameš
polykač ohně
MUDr. Jaroslav Bůžek
lékař
J. Půlpán
řidič dodávky
Ivan Hajniš
hudebník
Jaroslav Šedivý
hudebník
J. Jop
hudebník
J. Křtěn
hudebník
Pavel Pešta
hudebník
M. Pokoj
hudebník
K. Skerenčák
hudebník
Z. Burda
hudebník
J. Šindelářová
slečna
S. Urbanec
vrhač nožů
M. Urbancová
partnerka vrhače nožů
Vincenc Vávra
požárník
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Script Supervisor
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Script Editor
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Miroslav Sinkule
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
B. Janáč, Karel Kytka, František Straka
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
František Štěpánek, Adolf Široký
Unit Production Manager
Václav Polák
Cooperation
Pavla Marková (klapka), Eliška Švarcová
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Orchestr Karla Krautgartnera (Music Conducted by Karel KrautgartnerJosef Vobruba)
Production info
Original Title
Zázračný hlavolam
Czech Title
Zázračný hlavolam
English Title
The Miraculous Brain Teaser
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
children
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1967
Production Year
1967
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 14 February 1967
technical Screenplay approved 24 April 1967
start of filming 20 June 1967
end of filming 19 September 1967
projection approval 19 December 1967
Premiere
premiere 5 April 1968 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 3 May 1968 /suitable for youths/ (kino Hvězda /1 týden/, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Barrandov, Hostivař
Distribution
Creative Group
Tvůrčí skupina Švabík – Procházka, Jan Procházka (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Erich Švabík (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
79 min
Original length in metres
2 236 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
Awards
Vítěz
Exhibition: 6. přehlídka československých filmů pro děti a mládež Gottwaldov
1968
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Václav Táborský
