Grounds for Divorce [German version]

Country

Czechoslovakia, Germany

Copyright

1937

Production year

1937

Runtime

83 min

Director

Karel Lamač

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Důvod k rozvodu [německá verze]

Czech title

Důvod k rozvodu [německá verze]

English title

Grounds for Divorce [German version]

Co-production title

Der Scheidungsgrund

Synopsis

Composer Pavel Bertl is a drunkard and gambler who manages over a few years to gamble away all the family property. Werner, a lawyer, follows the unhappy life of Pavel's wife Helena and suggests she get a divorce. Helena, however, still loves Pavel and refuses. Werner thus convinces Pavel to set a trap for Helena which would prove Pavel's infidelity. They involve Anna Plavcová in their plans, a girl Helena had got to know at the pawnbrokers when the latter was pawning her last piece of jewellery. Anna and Pavel go off to the mountains together accompanied by Špargl who is to photograph them in a compromising situation. Špargl does his job and the photograph fulfils its aim. Helena divorces Pavel. The whole affair ends badly for Anna, whose boyfriend, the illusionist Skála, leaves her as well. After the divorce, Anna confesses to Helena that the photograph was a set-up and that Pavel had not been unfaithful to her. Helena forgives Pavel and Skála also realises that Anna had not betrayed him. Both couples then begin making wedding plans.

Note

KDN-A 1720,0 m and KK-A are preserved in the Gosfilmofond of Russia, Beyje Stolby.

Cast

Anny Ondráková

Anny Stromová

Paul Hörbiger

hudební skladatel Toni Bernhof

Ruth Eweler /ž/

Alice, Toniho žena

Jack Trevor

Ralph Fenton

Hans Volker

justiční rada Werkmann

Robert Dorsay

úředník Spargel

Jan W. Speerger

zastavárník

Svatopluk Innemann

zastavárník

Josef Oliak

návštěvník herny

Robert Ford

návštěvník herny

Marie Oliaková

návštěvnice herny

Antonín Jirsa

stěhovák

Crew and creators

Director

Karel Lamač

Assistant Director

Rudolf Stahl

Based on

Karl Bachmann (Der Spieler – divadelní hra)

Director of Photography

Ferdinand Pečenka

Production Designer

Štěpán Kopecký

Set Designer

Arnold Reimann

Sound Designer

Josef Zora

Production Manager

Vladimír Kabelík

Cooperation

Willy Ströminger (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Jára Beneš

Music Performed by

Pražský symfonický orchestr (Music Conducted by Jiří FialaJára Beneš)

Songwriter

Jára Beneš

Writer of Lyrics

Aldo von Pinelli

Production info

Original Title

Důvod k rozvodu [německá verze]

Czech Title

Důvod k rozvodu [německá verze]

English Title

Grounds for Divorce [German version]

Co-production Title

Der Scheidungsgrund

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia, Germany

Copyright

1937

Production Year

1937

Production specifications

start of filming 11 January 1937
end of filming 13 February 1937
date of censorship 05/1937
withdrawal from distribution 1 June 1940

Premiere

premiere 05/1937 /unsuitable for youths/
premiere abroad 17 August 1937 (Mnichov, Německo)

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Distribution

Moldavia

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

83 min

Original length in metres

2 350 meters

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

Tobis – Klang

Versions

German

Dialogue languages

German

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

German