Go Get Him!

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1988

Production year

1987

Premiere

1 March 1989

Runtime

66 min

Category

film

Genre

detective, children, crime

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Hurá za ním

Czech title

Hurá za ním

English title

Go Get Him!

Working title

Růžový slon

Summary

This children’s detective story from 1988 turned out to be the last film directed by Radim Cvrček, very much known for specialising in films for children and young people. The narrative follows a simple plot line involving a search for a lynx gone missing from a zoo corner kept at a clubhouse of Domu pionýrů a mládeže (Pioneer Organisation of the Socialist Youth Union). The child protagonists decide to launch their own investigation to establish the whereabouts of their furry pet and in so doing give a helping hand to the Public Security forces (Veřejná bezpečnost, or VB, provided the police force of the period) who are on the trail of a thief of rare coins and postal stamps. As it happens, the villain is smuggling the valuables inside the feline predator’s travel cage. The role of good-natured police captain Váňa, as well as the part of ministry clerk Honzíček in the tragicomedy Dobří holubi se vracejí (Good Pigeons Fly Home, 1988), are two of the last characters portrayed by Vladimír Menšík, 58 at the time of shooting. Menšík stands head and shoulders above the rest of the cast, comprising mostly lesser known actors from Brno or Slovakia.

Synopsis

A minion of local children, Macek the lynx gets stolen one night from the zoo department of the communist Young Pioneers and Youth Centre, located in a small town. The police investigation is led by captain Váňa and lieutenant Paleček. Children, headed by Váňa's grandchild Mirek, decide to search for Macek the lynx as well. Paleček suggests their cooperation. At the same time, the police investigate several thefts of coins and stamp collections. The railman Slepička reports that he saw a red Skoda car in front of the Young Pioneers and Youth Centre. This suspicion leads the investigation to the Astra café. The suspects are the headwaiter, Cejpek, and Lojza Norovský, who owns a red Skoda car. Children are searching for red cars in the city and surroundings. More thefts of old coins and stamps happen in the city. The value of the stolen things is almost a million Czech crowns. From an old doctor, Váňa and Paleček learn that Cejpek has recently been extremely interested in coins and stamps. The police follow Cejpek and they learn he has contact with a foreigner. Váňa and Paleček assume that the foreigner is expected to take the valuables abroad. They connect this case with the theft of the lynx. Their assumption turns out to be true. While arresting the foreigner, they find the lynx in his car. The foreigner allegedly bought it from Cejpek. In the lynx's cage he was supposed to also take the coins and stamps. Lojza Norovský was innocent in the entire case. The lynx Macek is put back to his run and the children drink a toast to success with the policemen.

Cast

Vladimír Menšík

kapitán VB Váňa

Pavol Mikulík

Voice by Pavel Leicman
poručík VB Paleček

Karel Semerád

Lojza Norovský

Karol Čálik

Voice by Jaroslav Kaňkovský
vrchní v kavárně Astra Cejpek

Jiří Tomek

praporčík VB Koldas

Peter Debnár

Voice by Mirko Musil
ošetřovatel Feďa Kramář

Eva Matalová

babička Marcely

Steva Maršálek

profesor Krása

Jaromír Roštínský

ředitel Domu pionýrů a mládeže Hybner

Marcel Forman

Mirek zvaný Logik, vnuk kapitána Váni

Kateřina Filípková

Lenka

Lucie Smékalová

Voice by Eva Henychová
Terezka

Petr Fanta

Voice by Lukáš Machalínek
Radek

Filip Cociancich

Voice by Martin Mráz
David

Martin Josefík

Voice by Jiří Racek
Tomášek

Jana Radová

Monika

Petr Žižka

Voice by Adam Zemánek
Michal

Jan Vaněk

Petr

Ľudovít Kroner

zloděj kufrů

Lubor Tokoš

MUDr. Hakim

Jiří Juřina

numismatik Vrána

Vladimír Hrabal

muž v brýlích

Věra Nováková

žena s kožichem

Jana Tomečková

žena z inzerce

Milada Kuncová

domovnice

Hynek Kubasta

železničář

Pavel Majkus

příslušník VB

Anna Šulajová

Váňova dcera

Karel Kašpárek

dubl za Karola Čálika – automobilová honička

Pavel Valoušek

dubl za Karola Čálika – automobilová honička

Jiří Marcaník

dubl za Pavola Mikulíka – automobilová honička

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Zdeněk Zydroň

Assistant Director

František Hlaváček, Eva Königová, Jana Juhaňáková

Screenplay

Milan Šimek

Dramaturg

Jan Gogola

Director of Photography

Karel Kopecký, Fridrich Urban

Second Unit Photography

Arne Parduba

Camera Operator

Miroslav Makarov, Martin Pospíšil

Production Designer

Petr Smola

Assistent Production Designer

Josef Havlíček

Set Designer

Josef Šťovíček, Josef Vojtášek, Roman Kubinec, Bohuslav Peloušek

Film Editor

Ivan Matouš

Assistant Film Editor

Alice Egnerová, Ludmila Varmužová

Sound Designer

Radomír Koutek

Assistant Sound Designer

Zdeněk Bobek

Production Manager

Vojtěch Kunčík

Unit Production Manager

Jitka Perůtková

Unit Production Manager

František Šumbera

Consultant

Jindřich Strachota, Karel Mana

Cooperation

Eva Jordánová (klapka), Otto Kamenský (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Petr Ulrych

Music Performed by

skupina Javory (Music Conducted by Petr Ulrych)

Songs

Jméno, jméno

Song Composer Petr Ulrych
Writer of Lyrics Petr Ulrych
Singer Petr Ulrychdětský sbor

Production info

Original Title

Hurá za ním

Czech Title

Hurá za ním

English Title

Go Get Him!

Working Title

Růžový slon

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

detective, children, crime

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1988

Production Year

1987

Production specifications

start of filming 8 July 1987
end of filming 25 August 1987
projection approval 19 February 1988
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1994

Premiere

premiere 1 March 1989 /suitable for youths/

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

66 min

Original length in metres

1 899 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

colour

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Exhibition: 20. národní přehlídka filmů pro děti Ostrov

1988
Ostrov nad Ohří / Czechoslovakia