Battalion
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1937Production year
1937Premiere
1 October 1937Runtime
93 minDirector
Miroslav CikánCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
BatalionCzech title
BatalionEnglish title
BattalionSynopsis
Barrister František Uher is known by his patriotic views and he actively assists in the litigation of Czechs with Austrian justice. One of his clients is the poet Šulc who during a stay at Uher's discovered that the barrister's wife Anna flirts with Uher's cousin Hojer. When Anna pays no heed to Šulc's warnings, he points out Anna's relationship to Uher. Uher wants to know the truth, so he returns home prematurely from an official trip and actually catches Anna in infidelity. Disappointment leads him to the Old-Prague beerhall Batalion, where Šulc has also come some time ago. Uher becomes a counsellor for the most wretched, but gradually he succumbs to alcohol. He once again finds his strength and stands up on the side of right when he accuses the police in court of the murder of poor Lojzík, who wanted to marry Mimi, the unfortunate waitress of Batalion. For his performance in court Uher is incarcerated and Batalion closed. Upon being released from prison Uher becomes an organist. He forgives his wife, whom Hojer has thrown out, but he does not want to live with her. He then soon dies in Batalion where he has been invited to its reopening. His funeral is attended by all the poor folk from Batalion. Šulc also comes and here he meets Mimi. Perhaps he will be successful in freeing her from her destitute and desperate life.
Note
This theme had already been treated in a Czech film under the same title (1927; directed by Přemysl Pražský). The film was presented at the 5th Venice Film Festival, 1937.
Photos
Cast
František Smolík
JUDr. František Uher, poslanec za Rokycany
Helena Bušová
Anna, Uhrova žena
Hana Vítová
Marie Žďárská zvaná Mimi
Jaroslav Průcha
básník Václav Šulc
Václav Trégl
válečný vysloužilec František Vondruška
František Kreuzmann
zloděj psů Beznoska
Ladislav Pešek
Honzík, Beznoskův pomocník
Eduard Kohout
Ferdinand Koranda
Karel Veverka
Mašek
Milada Gampeová
Frau Mastná
Ella Nollová
harfenice, Vondruškova družka
Mařenka Zieglerová
šenkýřka v Batalionu
Eman Fiala
pianista Lojzík Chrastil, zvaný Chrastítko
Vlasta Hrubá
pouliční holka Otyla
Raoul Schránil
nadporučík Karel Hojer, Uhrův bratr
Jiří Vondrovič
sluha u nadporučíka Hojera
Vladimír Řepa
konfident Benda
Gustav Hilmar
otec Mimi
Dagmar Vondrová
Žofinka, komorná Uhrovy ženy
Jan W. Speerger
Tonda
Růžena Pokorná
návštěvnice Batalionu
Marie Popelková
návštěvnice Batalionu
Alfred Baštýř
návštěvník Batalionu
Frank Rose-Růžička
návštěvník Batalionu
Antonín Žďárský
návštěvník Batalionu
Antonín Strnad
vězeňský kněz
Karel Němec
soudní zřízenec
Vladimír Smíchovský
přísedící u soudu
Julius Baťha
přísedící u soudu
Jan Černý
přísedící u soudu
Emanuel Kovařík
soudní zapisovatel
Karel Postranecký
člen senátu
Marie Přikrylová
majitelka módního závodu
Oldřich Kovář
tovaryš
Antonín Jirsa
Černý Kilián
Miloš Šubrt
drožkář
Jaroslav Marvan
státní návladní
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Walter Schorsch, Vladimír Čech (adept režie)
Based on
Josef Hais-Týnecký (Batalion – román), Josef Hais-Týnecký (Batalion – divadelní hra)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Set Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Cooperation
Willy Ströminger (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Josef Stelibský)
Songs
Do naší ulice sluníčko nepřijde /Do naší ulice.../ (valčík)
Song Composer Josef Stelibský
Writer of Lyrics Jaroslav Mottl
Singer sbor
Pryč a pryč je všecko
Singer Hana Vítovásbor
Nemám nic než to, co mám
Song Composer Josef Stelibský
Writer of Lyrics Jaroslav Mottl
Singer Hana Vítová
Ta rakouská monarchie
Singer Jaroslav Průcha
U kanonu stál
Singer Václav Trégl
Production info
Original Title
Batalion
Czech Title
Batalion
English Title
Battalion
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1937
Production Year
1937
Production specifications
start of filming 20 May 1937
end of filming 7 June 1937
date of censorship 09/1937
withdrawal from distribution 05/1940
date of censorship 05/1940 (neschváleno do distribuce)
date of censorship 6 August 1946 (konec povolení k promítání 6. 2. 1947)
withdrawal from distribution 9 January 1948
withdrawal from distribution 4 February 1960
projection approval 1969
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1991
Premiere
festival premiere 29 August 1937 (5. mezinárodní filmový festival Benátky)
premiere 1 October 1937 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Adria /2 týdny/ a Hvězda /2 týdny/, Praha)
renewed premiere 20 September 1946 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Letka /3 týdny/, Praha)
renewed premiere 22 August 1952 /unsuitable for youths/
renewed premiere 31 October 1969 /unsuitable for youths/
Production
With support
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Metropolitan (původní 1937), Státní půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1946), Rozdělovna filmů Československého státního filmu (obnovená 1952), Ústřední půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1969)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
93 min
Original length in metres
2 660 meters
Distribution carrier
35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
Tobis – Klang
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 5. mezinárodní filmový festival Benátky
1937
Benátky / Italy
Vítěz
Event: Odměny ministra průmyslu, obchodu a živností
1937
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Event: Ceny ministra průmyslu, obchodu a živností
1937
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jan Roth
Vítěz
Event: Ceny ministra průmyslu, obchodu a živností
1937
Praha / Czechoslovakia
František Smolík
