The Kreutzer Sonata

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1926

Production year

1926

Runtime

69 min

Category

film

Genre

drama, psychological

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Kreutzerova sonáta

Czech title

Kreutzerova sonáta

English title

The Kreutzer Sonata

Synopsis

The travellers in the compartment of a train tell stories of the troubles of marriage. Sitting amongst them is Pozdnyšev, whose case caused a sensation among the public. Pozdnyšev begins to tell his tale. As a wealthy landowner, he led a profligate life. At one particular dinner party he meets Nataša, falls in love with her and marries her. Nataša gives birth to three children but is anxious to get back to society high-life. One day, she has the opportunity to meet with an old friend of her husband, the violinist Truchačevský. Nataša is fascinated by him. Pozdnyšev invites Truchačevský on a visit and he and Nataša begin to rehearse the Kreutzer Sonata. Pozdnyšev becomes jealous and he and Nataša argue so fiercely that she tries to commit suicide. After her recovery, the couple reconcile and Truchačevský and Nataša perform the concert as planned with great success. The next day, Truchačevský is due to leave. In a peaceful frame of mind, Pozdnyšev sets off on a journey, but soon receives word that Truchačevský's departure has been postponed and immediately rushes back home. He arrives to find Nataša and the violinist in an embrace. He seizes a dagger and, in a fit of jealousy, stabs his wife. The court discharges him declaring that the act was committed in a moment of mental abberation.

Cast

Jan W. Speerger

statkář Pozdnyšev

Eva Byronová

Nataša, Pozdnyševova žena

Miloslav Paul

houslista Truchačevský

Božena Svobodová

Natašina matka

Saša Dobrovolná

chůva u Pozdnyševových

Václav Žichovský

posluchač na koncertě

Rudolf Stahl

Natašin tanečník

Ladislav Desenský

posluchač na koncertě

Máňa Ženíšková

mladá dívka na koncertě

Crew and creators

Based on

Lev Nikolajevič Tolstoj (Kreutzerova sonáta – povídka)

Screenplay

Gustav Machatý, Jaroslav Seifert (spolupráce na scénáři)

Director of Photography

Otto Heller

Production Designer

Vilém Rittershain

Production info

Original Title

Kreutzerova sonáta

Czech Title

Kreutzerova sonáta

English Title

The Kreutzer Sonata

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama, psychological

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1926

Production Year

1926

Production specifications

date of censorship 18 November 1926

Premiere

preview 18 November 1926 (kino Adria, Praha)
premiere 25 February 1927 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Lucerna a Orient, Praha)

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Julius Schmitt

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

69 min

Original length in metres

2 690 meters

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,33

Colour

black & white

Sound

silent

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

without dialogue

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Intertitles languages

Czech

Opening/End credits languages

Czech