The Paths of Life
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1940Production year
1939—1940Premiere
15 February 1940Runtime
94 minDirector
Jiří SlavíčekCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Směry životaCzech title
Směry životaEnglish title
The Paths of LifeProtectorate parallel title
LebensrichtungenSynopsis
While attending grammar school and university Antonín Černý lives with Mrs Soukupová, a widow. He has known her daughter Boženka since childhood and now she has grown up he has fallen for her. Antonín helps his friend Malík who is suffering as a consequence of leading a high life instead of attending lectures. Boženka becomes a dancer in a theatre. Her beauty spellbinds the director, Mr Červenka, who tries to win her affections by giving her small gifts. Boženka's rock-hard virtue leads him to propose marriage. Mrs Soukupová is enthusiastic and when she tells her daughter of the great future she could have, the superficial Boženka agrees to the marriage. Antonín's parents, having lost all their property in paying for his education, move to Prague. They do not know that he, miserable about Boženka, has taken to the bottle before finishing his studies and has even drunk away the money for their rent. Now it is his friend Malík's turn to repay the favour Antonín did him. He takes up Antonín's parents and talks Antonín round. Boženka rows with her husband soon after the wedding. She goes to Antonín but he spurns her.
Photos
Cast
Hana Vítová
Boženka Soukupová
Zdeňka Baldová
matka Boženky
Ladislav Boháč
student práv Antonín Černý
František Kovářík
chalupník Černý, Antonínův otec
Marie Ptáková
Antonínova matka
Jiří Plachý
majitel varieté Orfeum Červenka
Václav Vydra st.
statkář Malík
R. A. Strejka
student medicíny Jaroslav, Malíkův syn
František Filipovský
student Rybička
Ludvík Veverka
knihkupec Hejda
Vlasta Hrubá
Marta, Červenkova milenka
Joe Jenčík
baletní mistr
František Paul
artistický agent Donát
Miluše Dvořáková
zpěvačka
Slávka Rosenbergová
garderobiérka Štrobachová
Jaroslav Orlický
vrchní Josef
Vlasta Podrabská
baletka
Rudolf Vašíček
pianista v baletní škole
František Říha
portýr
Hermína Vojtová
kartářka
Arnošt Mirský
kočí
Bolek Prchal
starosta Vitásek
Karel Máj
Bedřich, Vitáskův syn
Milena Velíšková
tanečnice
Ladislav Janeček
chasník
Dagmar Vondrová
baletka
Irina Kladivová
Marie Novotná
Chodská skupina z Mrákova
Chodská skupina ze Starého Klíčova
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Karel Šilhánek, František Milič, František Rejlek (adept režie)
Based on
F. X. Svoboda (Směry života – divadelní hra)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Cooperation
Antonín Frič (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Miloš Smatek), Chodská kapela Martina Konopa, Kühnův dětský pěvecký sbor (Music Conducted by Jan Kühn)
Choreographer
Danced by
Songs
Zpívám měsíci lásku svou /Sám se svou láskou/ (waltz)
Song Composer Jiří Srnka
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Miluše Dvořáková
V zeleném háji slavíček pěje
Singer dívčí sbor
Ach, bože, rozbože, mně se stýská
Singer dívčí sbor
Production info
Original Title
Směry života
Czech Title
Směry života
English Title
The Paths of Life
Protectorate Parallel Title
Lebensrichtungen
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1940
Production Year
1939—1940
Production specifications
start of filming 22 December 1939
end of filming 20 January 1940
date of censorship 13 February 1940 (kulturně-výchovný)
date of censorship 1943 (predikát „uznáníhodný film“)
withdrawal from distribution 18 May 1945
date of censorship 07/1945 (neschváleno do distribuce)
date of censorship 14 January 1946 (konec povolení k promítání 14. 1. 1947)
withdrawal from distribution 27 March 1947
Premiere
premiere 15 February 1940 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Máj /2 týdny/, Metro /1 týden/ a Světozor /1 týden/, Praha)
renewed premiere 8 February 1946 /unsuitable for youths/
Production
With support
Copyright Holders
Studio
Laboratories
Distribution
Nationalfilm (původní 1940), Státní půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1946)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
94 min
Original length in metres
2 680 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, German
