Station Master
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1941Production year
1941Premiere
12 April 1941Runtime
88 minDirector
Jan SvitákCategory
filmGenre
comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Přednosta staniceCzech title
Přednosta staniceEnglish title
Station MasterProtectorate parallel title
Der StationsvorstandSummary
In 1941, actor Vlasta Burian added to his filmography with this comedy about infamous free-riding passenger Ťopka, who ends up having to change his identity in order to avoid being caught. Ťopka dresses himself up as the stern head of his local village train station, hoping to fool the railways general inspector Kokrhel (Jaroslav Marvan). Among his farcical exploits, Ťopka tries to help the inspector’s charming wife Julia (Zita Kabátová) to escape the amorous advances of infatuated landlord Pěnkava. Burian also sings the film’s title song – the actor, and later also director at the Divadlo Vlasty Buriana theatre, began to take big screen roles after 1933. The much-loved Přednosta stanice (Station Master) is the last film from the varied career of director Jan Sviták. In May 1945, under mysterious circumstances, he was lynched by a mob of fanatical patriots.
Synopsis
Ťopka, the distinctive sandwich-board man, is able to apply himself to any situation. The truck in which he sleeps is one day coupled to a train which takes Kokrhel, the general inspector of the railways, on an inspection tour of the area. The discovery of a stowaway causes an unplanned stop at the station in Mokré nad Soupravou. Ťopka runs away and Kokrhel orders that he be found and punished. The local station master Jelen is unfortunately absent, having left for a choir rehearsal. The charming Mrs Jelen therefore warmly welcomes Ťopka as he appears in her husband's uniform and passes himself off as the station master. Kokrhel is extremely taken with the young woman and, in the light of her smile, he wholly overlooks the station master's total incompetence. He decides to fulfil Jelen's request for a transfer nearer the capital. When the real station master shows up, Kokrhel starts behaving in an unpleasantly businesslike fashion. Ťopka reminds him, however, that in flirting with the young lady, he had forgotten his duties and now he must carry out his promise.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Vlasta Burian
černý pasažér Karel Ťopka
Antonín Zacpal
přednosta stanice Anatol Jelen
Zita Kabátová
Julie Jelenová, přednostova žena
Jaroslav Marvan
generální inspektor drah Jiří Kokrhel
Čeněk Šlégl
statkář Arnošt Pěnkava
Růžena Šlemrová
Olga Pěnkavová, statkářova žena
Václav Trégl
skladník na nádraží Venda Pivoda
Theodor Pištěk
restauratér Hejhal
Marie Norrová
Pepička, služka v restauraci u Hejhala
Darja Hajská
kuchařka Růženka, Pivodova snoubenka
František Černý
tlustý strážník
Karel Postranecký
revizor-kontrolor Šajn
Jaroslav Hradčanský
vlakvedoucí Kanár
Bolek Prchal
městský zřízenec
Emanuel Kovařík
posunovač Franta
Ada Dohnal
Karel, řidič u Pěnkavy
Zdeněk Martínek ml.
telegrafista
Lída Borovcová
modistka
Miloslav Svoboda
posunovač
Marie Hodrová
žena s buchtami v okně
Karel Veverka
zpěvák s plnovousem
Dalibor Pták
zpěvák s knírem
Vojta Merten
tlustý zpěvák
Alois Dvorský
zpěvák bez knírku
F. X. Mlejnek
zpěvák-kněz
Václav Švec
vysoký zpěvák s licousy
Milan Sviták
kluk na kole pod chůdami
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Screenstory
Based on
Nicolas Nancey (Přednosta stanice /Il est cocu, le chef de gare/ – divadelní hra), André Mouëzy-Éon (Přednosta stanice /Il est cocu, le chef de gare/ – divadelní hra)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Set Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Otakar Sedláček, Ladislav Brom (ředitel výroby)
Unit Production Manager
Consultant
vrchní rada Zdeněk Martínek (železnice), Miroslav Haller (jazykový poradce)
Cooperation
Antonín Frič (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Giuseppe Verdi (Rigoletto)
Music Performed by
Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Jára Beneš), Dechový orchestr Václava Thiera (Music Conducted by Josef Dobeš), Jára Beneš /telegrafní klíč/
Songs
Přednosta stanice (pochod)
Song Composer Jára Beneš
Writer of Lyrics Ladislav Brom
Singer Vlasta Burian
Pod okny na housle starý tulák hrál /Starý tulák/ (slowfox)
Song Composer Jára Beneš
Writer of Lyrics Ladislav Brom
Singer Karel Veverka [dab]Dalibor Pták [dab]Vojta Merten [dab]Alois Dvorský [dab]F. X. Mlejnek [dab]Václav Švec [dab]mužský sbor
Production info
Original Title
Přednosta stanice
Czech Title
Přednosta stanice
English Title
Station Master
Protectorate Parallel Title
Der Stationsvorstand
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1941
Production Year
1941
Production specifications
start of filming 20 February 1941
end of filming 03/1941
date of censorship 7 April 1941 (kulturně-výchovný)
date of censorship 1943 (predikát „uznáníhodný film“)
withdrawal from distribution 18 May 1945
Premiere
premiere 12 April 1941 /suitable for youths/ (kina Blaník /3 týdny/ a Lucerna /3 týdny/, Praha)
Production
With support
Copyright Holders
Studio
Laboratories
Distribution
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
88 min
Original length in metres
2 610 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, German
Awards
Vítěz
Event: Televizní anketa diváků o nejpopulárnější českou filmovou komedii století – anketa České televize a Týdeníku Televize Volíme veselohru století
1998
Praha / Czech Republic
