An old farmer from Chodsko, Záhoř, persuades young Podestát that he returned a loan of 300 gold pieces to his father before the latter's death. Out of miserliness Záhoř is even prepared to perjure himself before the court. The angered creditor warns him of God's wrath. Záhoř's sons, Matěj and Vondra, are wooing the same girl, the smith's daughter Nana. She chooses to marry the younger and more sensitive Matěj who, being the married son, then becomes the manager of the estate. But Matěj being slightly slothful, Vondra ends up playing a greater part in the running of the estate and in Nana's life. Nana reveals she is expecting Vondra's child, and Matěj decides to go to America. Vondra notices Matěj has some money and assumes that he stole it from Nana. The brothers quarrel and in an unfortunate accident Vondra kills Matěj. A neighbour sees Vondra burying the body. Old Záhoř wants to return the money but Podestát refuses it as it is cursed. The farmer in despair burns the banknotes in his barn and causes a fire. The whole farm burns down; only a shaken Nana and her baby boy escape the blaze.
This theme had already been treated in a Czech film under the same title (1929; directed by Josef Medeotti-Boháč).
sedlák Tomáš Záhoř
Vondra, Záhořův syn
Matěj, Záhořův syn
kovář Drastil
kovářova žena
Nana, dcera Drastilových
sedlák Jan Podestát
Dodla, Podestátova žena
sedlák Hadlásek
sedlák Foukalík
sedlák Bulovec
vystěhovalecký agent
děvečka Manka
sedlák Jírovec
selka
advokát
soudce
porodní bába
hostinský
advokátní koncipient
soudní zapisovatel
chasník
kmotra při svatbě
host na svatbě
Jan Vrba (Boží mlýny – román)
Willy Ströminger (fotograf)
Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Josef Dobeš)
Singer ženský sbor
Singer mužský sbor
Singer Běla Tringlerová
Song Composer Bedřich Smetana
Writer of Lyrics Eliška Krásnohorská
Singer Jiřina Štěpničková
Singer sbor
Boží mlýny
Boží mlýny
God's Mills
Gottes Mühlen
film
featuretheatrical distribution
drama
Czechoslovakia
1937
1937
start of filming 3 September 1937
end of filming 29 November 1937
date of censorship 01/1938
date of censorship 06/1940
withdrawal from distribution 18 May 1945
date of censorship 11 October 1945 (konec povolení k promítání 11. 10. 1946)
withdrawal from distribution 31 May 1947
premiere 25 February 1938 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Letka /1 týden/ a Máj /1 týden/, Praha)
renewed premiere 19 October 1945 /unsuitable for youths/
Gloria (původní 1938), Státní půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1945)
feature film
90 min
2 543 meters
35mm
1:1,37
black & white
sound
Tobis – Klang
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech