Heart on Rails
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1937Production year
1937Premiere
27 April 1937Runtime
87 minDirector
Jan SvitákCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Srdce na kolejíchCzech title
Srdce na kolejíchEnglish title
Heart on RailsParallel title
SemaforSynopsis
Eva, daughter of Doubrava the engine-driver, is marrying the engine-driver Pavel Skála. On the day of the wedding Doubrava receives notification of his compulsory retirement; his beloved locomotive passes to his son-in-law. The first time Pavel drives it he saves a young girl, Marta, who had stepped onto the tracks to commit suicide. The good-hearted young man starts to take care of Marta. The embittered Doubrava makes use of this and causes problems for Pavel at work and in his family. Pavel is temporarily suspended from his position, and after a row with Eva he leaves home in search of Marta. His kindness has led Marta to recover an interest in life. But because she knows that Pavel, in his heart of hearts, loves Eva, Marta says goodbye to the young man with a heavy heart. It is New Year's Eve: Pavel is sad and gladly stands in for an engine-driver whose child has fallen ill. Doubrava and signalman Borský pull Eva off the tracks just in time, she too having decided to do away with herself. But in the excitement Borský forgets to switch the signals and Pavel's express train crashes. Pavel is injured, and some passengers are killed. The guilt is borne by Borský and the others too; the first link in the chain of culpable people was Marta.
Note
The film ends with a discussion of guilt. The promotional material issued during the making of the film netions a final scene in which the body of a crash victim is borne by – Marta, who thus tragically atones for her guilt. Pavel leads his wife away from the scene.
Photos
Cast
Otomar Korbelář
strojvůdce Pavel Skála
Nancy Rubensová
Eva, Skálova žena
Jaroslav Vojta
strojvůdce Josef Doubrava, otec Evy
Jiřina Šejbalová
cirkusačka Marta
Čeněk Šlégl
přednosta stanice
Jiří Dohnal
topič Jiří Zeman
Raoul Schránil
železniční revident Kolár
František Kovářík
hradlař František Borský
Theodor Pištěk
majitel hotýlku
Jaroslav Marvan
topič Marek
Hermína Vojtová
stará cirkusačka
Jan W. Speerger
syn staré cirkusačky
Josef Kotalík
šéf výtopny
Karel Veverka
železničář
Fráňa Vajner
železničář
Ferdinand Jarkovský
železniční posel
Julius Baťha
komisař
Josef Klapuch
strážník
Frank Rose-Růžička
četník
Ferry Seidl
četník
František Beranský
dirigent kapely
Jiří Dědek
hostinský
Jan Černý
lékař
Jiří Vondrovič
topič
Václav Mlčkovský
topič
Karel Němec
host na tancovačce
Václav Menger
host na tancovačce
Josef Sládek
host na tancovačce
Nita Romanečová
host na tancovačce
Bobina Prošková
host na tancovačce
Vladimír Smíchovský
host na tancovačce
Emanuel Kovařík
úředník v dopravní kanceláři
Jiří Kratina
telegrafista
Jaroslav Tryzna
telegrafista
Gill Sedláčková
host v sále hotýlku
Emil Dlesk
host v sále hotýlku
Filip Balek-Brodský
host v sále hotýlku
Marie Vildová
host v sále hotýlku
Antonín Hodr
komisař
Vokounová
Kostka
František Sádek
host v sále hotýlku
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
František Milič (adept režie)
Screenstory
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Set Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Jaroslav Čechura, Oskar Souček, J. Hartley
Titles Designed by
Production Manager
Cooperation
Jaroslav Krampera (vrchní osvětlovač), Jaroslav Kraus (fotograf), Willy Ströminger (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Pražský symfonický orchestr (Music Conducted by Josef Dobeš)
Songs
Nech bláhové touhy a snění
Song Composer Josef Dobeš
Writer of Lyrics Daisy Jelenová
Singer Jiřina Šejbalová
Dneska mám já od mašiny chlapce /Já mám kluka od mašiny/ (polka)
Song Composer Josef Dobeš
Writer of Lyrics Daisy Jelenová
Singer Jiřina Šejbalová
Pryč a pryč je všecko
Production info
Original Title
Srdce na kolejích
Czech Title
Srdce na kolejích
English Title
Heart on Rails
Parallel Title
Semafor
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1937
Production Year
1937
Production specifications
start of filming 5 March 1937
date of censorship 04/1937
end of filming 19 April 1937
withdrawal from distribution 1 June 1940
date of censorship 10/1940 (neschváleno do distribuce)
Premiere
premiere 27 April 1937 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Juliš /1½ týdne/, Metro /1½ týdne/ a Praha /1½ týdne/, Praha)
Production
With support
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
87 min
Original length in metres
2 489 meters
Distribution carrier
35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
Visatone
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Event: Státní záruky Československé vlády na výrobu filmů
1937
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Espo
Vítěz
Event: Soutěž Filmového studia na původní filmové drama
1936
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Ferdinand Fencl
