Romantic drama Nocturnal Butterfly, which takes place in the last years of the Austrian monarchy, was made by the twenty-eight-year-old František Čáp based on a script he co-wrote with Václav Krška. Together, they upgraded a simple melodramatic story into a cinematic work of an exceptional quality. Besides to the top cast of film stars (Hana Vítová, Adina Mandlová, Rudolf Hrušínský, Svatopluk Beneš, Gustav Nezval, Marie Glázrová, Eduard Kohout, Anna Steimarová), the film draws attention with its huge production design and erotic sparkle. Not only due to this element of the film was Noční motýl banned by the communist censors.
Marta Dekasová works as a governess for a family living in a garrison town. The officers are attracted by her charm, in particular lieutenant Kala, but the girl is in love with the gloomy first lieutenant Varga. She cannot keep her feelings a secret even when she discovers he is married. Marta's declaration of love is rejected since Varga loves his wife, the actress Helena. The unhappy girl then succumbs to Kala's passions. Marta's jealous employer sacks her. Marta has to leave and subsequently meets her friend Anča in the capital; in her dishonourable profession, Anča is known as Kiki. Marta moves in with her and becomes a singer in a winebar. There the young student Michal falls hopelessly in love with her. During a New Year's Eve celebration Varga, his wife and Kala visit the bar. Marta still longs for the first lieutenant. She runs out into the street after him and begs him to embrace her. Michal sees them together and shoots the girl and mortally wounds her. Standing over her dead body Varga realises how strong her love for him was.
The first performance of the film was held on the 1st of August 1941 on festival Filmové žně in Zlín. The film was presented at the 9th Venice Film Festival, 1941. The German speaking copy combined print 2 238,0 metres is also preserved in National Film Archive Prague.
Marta Dekasová
poručík královské gardy Rudolf Kala
nadporučík královské gardy Varga
herečka Helena, Vargova žena
prostitutka Anča zvaná Kiki
student filozofie Michal Lary
Martin zaměstnavatel
milostivá paní, Martina zaměstnavatelka
Mášenka, dcera zaměstnavatelů
Katynka, hospodyně zaměstnavatelů
světák pan Leopold
madame z baru
animírka Soňa
šéf baru
vrátný v baru
animírka
animírka
animírka
host v baru
host v baru
posluha v hotelu
vojenský sluha
zahradník
mladý důstojník ve vlaku
květinářka
vrchní v kavárně
pokladní na nádraží
garderobiérka Heleny Vargové
host na večírku
host na večírku
host na večírku, přítelkyně milostivé paní
houslista
mladík u stolu
Karel Novák (Stáša – povídka z novely Medvědi a tanečnice)
Oldřich Papež, Karel Šilhánek, Vilém Brož (ředitel výroby)
Milan Maralík (jazykový poradce)
Jaroslav Balzar (fotograf)
Johann Strauss ml. (Císařský valčík)
Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Otakar Pařík)
Song Composer Roman Blahník
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Míla Spazierová-Hezká
Song Composer Johann Strauss ml.Roman Blahník /úprava/
Writer of Lyrics K. M. Walló
Singer Hana Vítová [dab]Míla Spazierová-Hezkásbor
Noční motýl
Noční motýl
Nocturnal Butterfly
Der Nachtfalter
film
featuretheatrical distribution
melodrama
Czechoslovakia
1941
1941
start of filming 13 February 1941
end of filming 9 April 1941
date of censorship 12 July 1941 (kulturně-výchovný)
date of censorship 28 December 1942 (kulturně-výchovný /16mm verze/)
date of censorship 12 April 1943 (německy dabovaná jazyková mutace)
date of censorship 1943 (predikáty „uznáníhodný film“ a „film pro Den hrdinů“ /německy dabovaná jazyková mutace/)
date of censorship 1943 (predikáty „uznáníhodný film“ a „film pro Den hrdinů“ /35mm a 16mm verze/)
withdrawal from distribution 18 May 1945
withdrawal from distribution 31 May 1993
festival premiere 1 August 1941 (2. Filmové žně 1941 Zlín)
premiere 10 October 1941 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Aleš /3 týdny/ a Lucerna /3 týdny/, Praha)
renewed premiere 01/1943 /unsuitable for youths/ (16mm verze)
renewed premiere 28 May 1943 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Passage/1 týden/, Praha /německy dabovaná jazyková mutace/)
renewed premiere 26 June 1964 /unsuitable for youths/
Lucernafilm (původní 1941 a obnovená 1943), ČMÚ (obnvoená 1943 /16mm verze/), Ústřední půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1964)
feature film
89 min
2 543 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:1,37
black & white
sound
Tobis – Klang
Czech, German
Czech, German
Czech, without subtitles
Czech, German
Event: Národní ceny umělecké
1942
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Adina Mandlová
Event: Národní ceny za umění filmové
1941
Praha / Czechoslovakia
František Čáp
Festival: 9. mezinárodní filmový festival Benátky
1941
Benátky / Italy
Event: Ceny ministra průmyslu, obchodu a živností
1941
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Lucernafilm s.r.o.
Event: Národní ceny za umění filmové
1941
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jan Zázvorka
Festival: 2. Filmové žně 1941 Zlín
1941
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Lucernafilm s.r.o.
Event: Národní ceny za umění filmové
1941
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Ferdinand Pečenka