The Catacombs
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1940Production year
1940Premiere
23 February 1940Runtime
95 minDirector
Martin FričCategory
filmGenre
comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
KatakombyCzech title
KatakombyEnglish title
The CatacombsProtectorate parallel title
KatakombenSummary
Director Martin Frič and popular comedian Vlasta Burian by no means collaborated frequently, but in 1940 they came up with two films. In addition to Baron Prášil (Baron Műnchhausen), they also produced another successful comedy, namely Katakomby (The Catacombs). It starred Burian in yet another role as a clever clerk who manages to climb the ladder to a better life. The subordinate position held by civil servant Borman is aptly reflected by his workplace in the land registry’s subterranean offices. A coincidence gets the ageing official, along with young colleague Marek (Antonín Novotný), into a party for the registry’s management. A passionate card player, Borman impresses his seniors with his outspoken character, while Marek catches the eye of the director’s worldly mistress Nasťa. The role of the fashionable beauty was tailored – just like the robes made by the studio of designer Hana Podolská – to Adina Mandlová. Vlasta Burian is not the only person who sings in the movie, as he is joined by the popular formation Kocourkovští učitelé (The Teachers of Kocourkov).
Synopsis
The archives of the Land register Bureau are located in the basement rooms known as the catacombs. The clerks practice a choral performance to be given at the party put on by the director. Official Borman diligently works. Marek, the youngest clerk, amorously observes in the window of the hotel opposite Nasťa Borková, the lover of Director Kryštof. The position of general secretary has been vacated in the bureau and everyone is curious as to who will be named to fill it. In the evening everyone goes to the party, only Borman and Marek have night duty. Both are soon invited upstairs. Marek joins the rank of dancers. Borman is invited to be the third at a game of cards. The passion of the chairman – the evening's most important personality – is cards. The idiosyncratic Borman displays no sycophantic respect to his superiors. So for the first time in this powerful man's life someone is speaking to him sincerely. The chairman is at first insulted, but then he realizes that in Borman he has discovered the perfect candidate for the position of his secretary. The spoiled Nasťa meets in the person of Marek a man she is capable of loving.
Note
The performance of the film was held on the 7th of July 1940 on the festival Filmové žně in Zlín.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Vlasta Burian
oficiál Borman
Jaroslav Marvan
přednosta úřadu Sýkora
Čeněk Šlégl
ředitel Pozemkového úřadu L. Kryštof
Theodor Pištěk
prezidiální Klásek
Adina Mandlová
Nasťa Borková
Antonín Novotný
úředník dr. Marek
Raoul Schránil
Ing. Jiří Rudík, Markův spolužák
Nataša Gollová
Irena, dcera ředitele Kryštofa
Růžena Šlemrová
Malvína, Kláskova manželka
Miloš Nedbal
vrchní revident Kefurt
Bohuš Záhorský
revident Hlinka
Jindřich Láznička
sluha v katakombách Baltazar
František Filipovský
servilní úředník Šmíd
Věra Noháčová
barmanka
Bedřich Ulrych
poslíček
Kocourkovští učitelé
úředníci z katakomb
Karel Černý
konzul Marek
Anna Steimarová
manželka konzula Marka
Blažena Slavíčková
dcera konzula Marka
Josef Bělský
ředitel módního salónu
Dora Martinová
dívka na večírku
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Based on
Gustav Davis (Mušketýři z katakomb /Die Katakomben/ – divadelní hra)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Cooperation
Willy Ströminger (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Georges Bizet (Carmen)
Music Performed by
Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Julius Kalaš)
Songs
Vínek českých luhův a hájův
Pán a písař
Song Composer Julius Kalaš
Writer of Lyrics Karel Hrnčíř
Singer Kocourkovští učitelé
Oslí serenáda
Song Composer Rudolf Friml
Singer Kocourkovští učitelé
Toreadore smělý
Song Composer Georges Bizet
Singer Vlasta Burian
Což neřekl ti hlas můj tisíckrát /Závišovy písně/
Song Composer Rudolf Friml
Singer Kocourkovští učiteléVlasta Burian
Hrál jsem karty na souvrati /na nápěv Sil jsem proso/
Singer Kocourkovští učitelé
Production info
Original Title
Katakomby
Czech Title
Katakomby
English Title
The Catacombs
Protectorate Parallel Title
Katakomben
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1940
Production Year
1940
Production specifications
start of filming 4 January 1940
end of filming 31 January 1940
date of censorship 20 February 1940 (kulturně-výchovný)
date of censorship 1943 (predikát „uznáníhodný film“)
date of censorship 10 November 1943 (predikát „uznáníhodný film“ /16mm verze/)
withdrawal from distribution 18 May 1945
withdrawal from distribution 31 May 1993
Premiere
premiere 23 February 1940 /suitable for youths/ (kina Na Příkopě /4 týdny/ a Světozor /6 týdnů/, Praha)
festival premiere 7 July 1940 (1. Filmové žně 1940 Zlín)
renewed premiere 11/1943 /suitable for youths/ (16mm verze)
renewed premiere 2 April 1954 /suitable for youths/
Production
With support
Copyright Holders
Studio
Laboratories
Distribution
Ufa (původní 1940), ČMÚ (obnovená 1943 /16mm verze/), Rozdělovna filmů Československého státního filmu (obnovená 1954)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
95 min
Original length in metres
2 700 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 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, German
Awards
Vítěz
Event: Národní ceny za umění filmové
1940
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jaroslav Marvan
Vítěz
Exhibition: 1. Filmové žně 1940 Zlín
1940
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Ufa-Film s.r.o.
