The Prince and the Evening Star

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1978

Production year

1978

Premiere

19 October 1979

Runtime

86 min

Category

film

Genre

fairytale

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Princ a Večernice

Czech title

Princ a Večernice

English title

The Prince and the Evening Star

Summary

Nineteenth century Czech writer Božena Němcova’s fairytale O Slunečníku, Měsíčníku a Větrníku (On the Sun Man, the Moon Man and the Wind Man) kindled the imagination of director Václav Vorlíček, who in 1978 made this fairytale fantasy based on the work. The screenwriter was Jiří Brdečka: as early as 1954 he had gained some experience of Němcová’s fairytale world as a member of the film team that adapted Byl jednou jeden král… (Once There Was a King…). Whereas that film, by Bořivoj Zeman, is a comedy take on a classic story from Němcová, Princ a Večernice is a romantic fairytale. It is actually one of the few exceptions in Vorlíček’s comedy-dominated cinematic oeuvre. Unlike the other fairytale films he shot in the 1970s, such as Tři oříšky pro Popelku (Three Nuts for Cinderella, 1973) and a variation on Sleeping Beauty entitled Jak se budí princezny (The Best Ways to Wake up a Princess, 1977), the atmosphere in this work much rather resembles Kouzelný měšec (The Magic Book), Pták Ohnivák (The Firebird) and Jezerní královna (The Queen of the Lake) – lofty Czech-German fairytale coproductions which Vorlíček made much later during 1996-1998. Princ a Večernice (The Prince and the Evening Star) begins with three princesses who are simultaneously betrothed to grooms with magical powers; the Moon Man, the Sun Man and the Wind Man. However, Prince Velen, who to his father the king’s surprise has so quickly arranged for the happiness of his sisters, has far more difficulty in attempting to tie the knot with the beautiful Evening Star. The biggest nemesis he encounters on his quest full of hardships is the wicked wizard Mrakomor who wants to claim the Evening Star for himself. With the help of his brothers in-law, Velen eventually succeeds in defeating the wizard… This fairytale picture was imbued with the magical style of experienced cameraman Josef Ilík, who previously collaborated with Vorlíček on Tři oříšky pro Popelku. The strong cast is dominated by the beautiful Libuše Šafránková (the Evening Star), who puts in a very appealing performance. The Evening Star’s suitor is played by Slovak actor Juraj Ďurdiak, while proven actor Vladimír Menšík is the king. The part of Mrakomor, the lord of all bad weather, offered an interesting challenge to that favourite performer who usually plays characters on the side of good, Radoslav Brzobohatý.

Synopsis

The old King is not satisfied with his four children. It is high time for the Princesses to get married and for the Prince to assume the reign. Once the King sets out to the fowling and he entrusts the kingdom to the Prince Velen. His sisters want him to provide them with the bridegrooms. A beautiful girl Večernice (Evening Star) appears to Velen and he falls in love with her at once. Večernice also likes Velen and therefore, for a kiss, she helps him to get married his sisters to her brothers Měsíčník (Moonbeam), Slunečník (Sunbeam) and Větrník (Wind). After the King returns home he does not find the daughters because the bridegrooms took them right away. The angry King assigns the Prince to bring them home. The Prince must undergo dangerous journey before he discovers sisters: he is exposed to trials; he is robbed and has to fight the loungers. The worst danger is evil Mrakomor (the wizard Cloudbreaker) who makes claims out to Večernice. The brothers in law help Velen, they capture Mrakomor and let him be tied to chain in the underground. But he releases himself and kidnaps Večernice. The brothers in law advice Velen how to get to Mrakomor's castle. Mrakomor promises to give the girl away if Velen identifies her in a row of the same maidens. The Prince fulfils the task with the help of the Moonbeam. Then it is Větrník that helps the love couple to leave the castle and Slunečník that intervenes in another fight duel with Mrakomor. After this Velen and his intended Večernice happily get home. To the castle there come also Velen's sisters with their husbands who acknowledge that the Prince stood the proof and proved himself worthy of Večernice.

Film online

Cast

Juraj Ďurdiak

Voice by Petr Svojtka
princ Velen

Radoslav Brzobohatý

král všeho nečasu čaroděj Mrakomor

František Filipovský

šašek Kacafírek

Julie Jurištová

princezna Helenka

Zlata Adamovská

princezna Elenka

Ivana Andrlová

princezna Lenka

Oldřich Táborský

Voice by Miroslav Moravec
Větrník, manžel Helenky

Alexej Okuněv

Voice by Miroslav Masopust
Měsíčník, manžel Elenky

Petr Svoboda

Slunečník, manžel Lenky

Čestmír Řanda

šenkýř U zemské koule

Vladimír Krška

soukeník Dobromil

Rudolf Jelínek

rytíř Čestmír

Václav Lohniský

vysloužilec kapitán

Jiří Lír

Křivoručka

Viktor Maurer

pasák vepřů

Václav Formánek

dubl za Juraje Ďurdiaka – šerm

Marek Kučera

dubl za Radoslava Brzobohatého – šerm

Pavel Myslík

dubl za Juraje Ďurdiaka – horolezec

Miroslav Svoboda

dubl za Radoslava Brzobohatého – horolezec

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Jaroslav Pour

Assistant Director

Bohumil Koška

Continuity

Olga Hrčková

Screenstory

Jiří Brdečka

Based on

Božena Němcová (O Měsíčníku, Slunečníku a Větrníku – lidová pohádka)

Screenplay

Jiří Brdečka

Shooting Script

Václav Vorlíček

Director of Photography

Josef Illík

Second Unit Photography

Adolf Hejzlar

Camera Operator

Vladimír Murat

Production Designer

Karel Lier

Assistent Production Designer

Libuše Jahodová

Set Designer

Eva Slívová, Jiří Matějka, Vladimír Schejbal, Karel Vaňásek

Costume Designer

Theodor Pištěk ml.

Film Editor

Miroslav Hájek

Assistant Film Editor

Magda Hájková, Helena Lehovcová

Sound Designer

František Fabián

Unit Production Manager

Věra Winkelhöferová

Unit Production Manager

Ladislav Hanousek

Cooperation

Nevjana Raduilská (klapka), Václav Beneš (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Svatopluk Havelka

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)

Songs

Láska je ráj

Song Composer Svatopluk Havelka
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer Ondřej Havelka

Production info

Original Title

Princ a Večernice

Czech Title

Princ a Večernice

English Title

The Prince and the Evening Star

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

fairytale

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1978

Production Year

1978

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 30 March 1978
start of filming 25 April 1978
technical Screenplay approved 5 June 1978
end of filming 22 December 1978
projection approval 27 December 1978

Premiere

premiere 19 October 1979 /suitable for youths/

Studio

Barrandov

Creative Group

Dramaturgická skupina Oty Hofmana, Ota Hofman (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

86 min

Original length in metres

2 260 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,66

Colour

colour

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Festival: 3. mezinárodní festival filmů pro děti a mládež Lausanne

1981
Lausamme / Switzerland

Vítěz

Festival: 19. festival filmů pro děti Gottwaldov

1979
Zlín / Czechoslovakia

Vítěz

Exhibition: 11. národní přehlídka filmů pro děti a mládež Ostrov nad Ohří

1979
Ostrov nad Ohří / Czechoslovakia