The Mermaid

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1926

Production year

1926

Premiere

27 August 1926

Runtime

101 min

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Film state

lost film

Original title

Mořská panna

Czech title

Mořská panna

English title

The Mermaid

Synopsis

Wealthy landowner Hrdý acquires with the help of his friend Machač a medical certificate recommending a change of environment, so that he can justify a trip abroad to see his wife. On the voyage from Trieste to Venice Hrdý meets an abandoned young woman, Melanie, and places her under his protection. He starts to pass her off as his wife and showers her with gifts and jewellery. To ease his conscience, he also sends his real wife some jewellery. She sees on a document from a spa which has accidentally been enclosed with the present that her husband is not registered on his own but with his "wife", and immediately prepares to leave. Eventually, Melanie promises to reward Hrdý for his gifts. However, a man arrives to spoil the lover's game, claiming to be Melanie's husband. Under threat, Hrdý is forced to give the man all his remaining money. Melanie and her husband disappear leaving further debts behind them which Hrdý is also obliged to pay. To make things even worse, his real wife appears in the hotel and Hrdý has a hard time explaining everything to her. Finally, the couple are reconciled on their journey home, on a passing ship Hrdý catches a glimpse of Melanie as she finds herself another suitor. (According to promotional material issued at the time the film was made.)

Note

The film materials are believed lost.

Cast

Lu de Val

mořská panna

Saša Rašilov

statkář Hrdý

Karel Jičínský

Hrdého přítel statkář Machač

Beda Saxl

Hrdého přítel

Čeněk Šlégl

číšník

L. Jiříkovský

Crew and creators

Based on

Josef Štolba (Mořská panna – divadelní hra)

Director of Photography

Herbert Körner

Production Designer

Alois Mecera

Production info

Original Title

Mořská panna

Czech Title

Mořská panna

English Title

The Mermaid

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Film state

lost film

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1926

Production Year

1926

Production specifications

date of censorship 19 August 1926

Premiere

preview 25 August 1926 (kino Konvikt, Praha)
premiere 27 August 1926 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Adria, Praha)

Production

Biografia

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Biografia

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

101 min

Original length in metres

2 870 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