A Warrant Against the Queen
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1973Production year
1973Premiere
5 April 1974Runtime
91 minDirector
Dušan KleinCategory
filmGenre
drama, crimeTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Zatykač na královnuCzech title
Zatykač na královnuEnglish title
A Warrant Against the QueenSummary
Director Dušan Klein reaffirmed his reputation as skilled maker of crime films with this 1973 feature starring Regina Rázlová. Zatykač na královnu (A Warrant Against the Queen, 1973) is inspired by an eponymous novel from author Bedřich Skočdopole. The communist regime’s official stance that crime was virtually non-existent in the socialist utopia was also reflected in the cinema output of this era. Yet Klein’s film features a surprising number of illegal activities. The title character, murder victim Dagmar Králová (her surname referencing “regal” connections), is a drug addict of questionable morals, involved with a gang of bootleg alcohol producers… Actors Vladimír Menšík, Josef Somr, Jiří Kodet star as the crooks, with comedian Jiří Lábus offering a brilliant performance as mentally retarded driver Eda. Meanwhile, the long arm of the law is represented by second lieutenant Brabec (Rudolf Jelínek) and Major Vrána (Jaroslav Moučka).
Synopsis
Dagmar Králová is called the Queen because of her boastful acting. One day, the police receive an anonymous denouncement informing them about her luxury way of life. The police decide to summon Králová to explain her opinion about the denouncement. Before the summons is held, there happen two murders in the city. One of the victims is a woman hitch-hiker, the other one is Králová. Investigation reveals an unfair activities by a well-organized group of fraudsters. Vaněček, general manager of the local company Chemotex, established a private alcoholic drinks producing plant, and Králová provided high quality ingredients from an Austrian citizen Albert. The group was completed by Eva Hanáčková and a mentally disabled driver Eda Pelc, who supplied stolen alcohol. The business was controlled by a hotel manager Karel Černý. When the group found out that Králová had been summoned by the police, they became nervous. Frightened to death, Černý ordered the others to destroy the supplies and he murdered Králová. The second murder was unintentionally committed by Eda Pelc. He confessed to the murder of the hitch-hiker, bringing the police to the Králová's murderer trace. The police finally disclosed even the author of the anonymous letter. It was the wife of Mr Kubát from a transport company. She was jealous of Králová, because her husband flirted with her.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Regina Rázlová
laborantka Dagmar Králová
Vladimír Menšík
ředitel hotelu Zátiší Karel Černý
Josef Somr
ředitel Chemotexu Ing. Vaněček
Jiří Lábus
řidič Eda Pelc
Otakar Brousek
inženýr Kubát
Karel Hlušička
kapitán Rudolf Záruba
Rudolf Jelínek
podporučík Brabec
Jaroslav Moučka
major Vrána
Olga Blechová
Voice by Eva Trejtnarová
Helenka, Černého dcera
Viera Strnisková
Voice by Jaroslava Adamová
matka Králová
Alena Procházková
Eva Hanáčková
Valerie Chmelová
stopařka
Jiří Havel
kriminalista Stejskal
Jan Kanyza
kriminalista Jílek
Antonín Hardt
řidič Habart
Adolf Filip
technik Bezpečnosti
Miloš Willig
lékař Bezpečnosti
Jiří Kodet
zahraniční host Franz Albert
Jana Švandová
laborantka Miládka
Bohuslav Ličman
otec Miládky
Ludmila Píchová
Kubátova žena
Václav Lohniský
vedoucí hotelu Angelis
Ina Vnoučková
Angelisova žena
Karel Vochoč
Kalous
Jarmila Horská
Kalousova žena
Gustav Heverle
garážmistr
Jiří Lír
vrchní
Milan Sandhaus
lesník
Ludmila Roubíková
uklízečka Čermáková
Rudolf Kalina
číšník
Karel Hábl
redaktor
Daniela Šauerová
Slávka
Ladislav Raška
Martin
Jitka Nováková (2)
Věrka
Eva Kelemenová
Jarmilka
Jiřina Bílá
Vránova žena
Ladislav Bambas
kameraman
Jan Krafka
milenec
Jana Marková
milenka
Vladimír Zoubek
výčepní
Bert Schneider
příslušník VB
Eva Lorenzová
laborantka
Marta Baierová
laborantka
Milena Kaplická
laborantka
Pavel Dydovič
kapelník skupiny Orchestrion
Jan Adamčík
kytarista
Vlastimil Červenka
klávesista
Petr Kocfelda
baskytarista
Ivan Moravec
bubeník
Jan Rotter
kytarista
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Jiří Prokeš
Continuity
Based on
Bedřich Skočdopole (Zatykač na královnu – román)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Rudolf Beneš, Josef Calta, Miloš Sršeň
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Blanka Rýdlová, Ladislav Beneš, Jana Koubová, Vladislav Špidra
Consultant
Václav Kocourek
Cooperation
M. Šlehoferová (klapka), Vladimír Souček (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), skupina Orchestrion
Songs
Kytky začly kvést
Song Composer Svatopluk Havelka
Writer of Lyrics Ivo Fischer
Singer Olga Blechová
Náruč máš a nápovědu znáš
Singer Pavel Dydovič
Holka ta okatá
Song Composer Bohuslav Ondráček
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Borovec
Singer Václav Neckář
Production info
Original Title
Zatykač na královnu
Czech Title
Zatykač na královnu
English Title
A Warrant Against the Queen
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama, crime
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1973
Production Year
1973
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 12 March 1973
start of filming 26 March 1973
technical Screenplay approved 10 May 1973
end of filming 23 October 1973
projection approval 23 October 1973
Premiere
premiere 5 April 1974 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 25 April 1974 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Jalta, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Karla Copa, Karel Cop (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
91 min
Original length in metres
2 550 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
