The Respectable Women of Pardubice

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1944

Production year

1943—1944

Premiere

6 October 1944

Runtime

94 min

Director

Martin Frič

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Počestné paní pardubické

Czech title

Počestné paní pardubické

English title

The Respectable Women of Pardubice

Protectorate parallel title

Die ehrbaren Frauen von Pardubitz

Synopsis

The kind and sensitive Pardubice executioner Jiří is trying to get out of his undignified trade. He rarely carries out his duties any more and makes a living with his natural medicines and healing. His request, however, is callously rejected by the aldermen. Their petty-minded wives are jealous of the executioner's wife for her beauty and pretty clothes. The scribe Prokop and the ward of an old countess Aninka meet by chance in the hangman's house. They fall in love with each other at first sight. The countess, however, is forcing Aninka into a marriage with the burgomaster. The baroness Helena has recently come to live with the countess. Count Bořita also arrives in the town who, in return for payments, promises to give rich inhabitants the status of burgher with their own coat-of-arms. The flirtatious Mrs Zvůnková responds to Prokop's rejection by publicly accusing him of rape. In her despair, Aninka consents to a marriage with the burgomaster. The latter is then attacked and robbed of the key to the town's treasury. Prokop is arrested as the perpetrator of the crime. Hangman Jiří, however, has long suspected Bořita. It is discovered that Bořita is a criminal and that baroness Helena is his ally. Both are arrested. Prokop marries Aninka and former executioner Jiří and his wife Rozina are accepted as burghers of the town.

Note

Filming took place in two parts, ethe exterior construction behind the Barrandov studios from July 19 to August 26, 1943, and studio shots from February 1 to March 15, 1944. The première outside Prague was held already on the 5th of October 1944 in Pardubice.

Cast

František Smolík

kat Jiří Zelinger

Jiřina Štěpničková

Rozina Zelingerová, katova žena

Eman Fiala

Adam, katův pacholek

Ferenc Futurista

Polda, katův pacholek

Terezie Brzková

hraběnka Terezie Ugartová ze Žďáru

Marta Fričová

Aninka Dražická, hraběnčina schovanka

Zita Kabátová

baronesa Helena z Alcantaru, dobrodružka

Jindřich Plachta

rychtář Daniel Pálka, mistr pekařský

Jaroslav Marvan

purkmistr Martin Ignác Kutnohorský

Gustav Nezval

rychtářský písař Prokop Trubka

František Filipovský

perníkář Kryštof Flaška

Jára Kohout

punčochář a konšel Hypolit Kostík

Meda Valentová

Rosalie Kostíková, konšelova žena

Vilém Pfeiffer

hrabě Bořita z Klokočína

František Kreuzmann

konšel Zvůnek

Helena Bušová

Maruška Zvůnková, konšelova žena

Vladimír Řepa

konšel Drobný

Dana Medřická

Drobná, konšelova žena

Blažena Slavíčková

panna Dorlička, dcera rychtáře Pálky

Bolek Prchal

konšel Polívka

Anna Vávrová

Polívková, konšelova žena

Miloš Šubrt

kupec a konšel Jakub Antonín Štross

Emil Bolek

krčmář

Jiří Vondrovič

milenec Marušky Zvůnkové

Karel Šmíd

chirurgus Petr Skato, hraběnčin osobní lékař

Antonín Soukup

konšel-jedlík Plecitý

Milada Smolíková

Plecitá, konšelova žena

Karel Beníško

šafář Voborský

Martin Raus

Filip, komorník hraběte Bořity z Klokočína

Marie Ježková

vdova Nebesářka

Jaroslav Orlický

dveřník purkmistrův

Bedřich Bozděch

konšel Koštoval

Václav Trégl

biřic Vobořil

Jan W. Speerger

biřic Malina

Eva Klenová

komorná u hraběnky

Lída Chválová

povětrná žena

Antonín Jirsa

divák při souboji

Jaroslav Seník

herold v úvodu

Dubbing

Vladimír Hlavatý

hlas oddávajícího kněze

Crew and creators

Director

Martin Frič

Based on

Karel Krpata (Mistr ostrého meče – divadelní hra)

Screenplay

Karel Steklý

Director of Photography

Václav Hanuš

Set Designer

Oldřich Novotný

Costume Designer

J. M. Gottlieb

Film Editor

Jan Kohout

Production Manager

Václav Dražil, Karel Feix (ředitel výroby)

Unit Production Manager

František Urbánek

Consultant

J. M. Gottlieb (umělecký poradce), František Oberpfalzer (jazykový poradce)

Cooperation

Antonín Frič (fotograf), Jan Mikota (fotograf)

Music

Music Performed by

Orchestr Pragfilmu (Music Conducted by Miloš Smatek)

Choreographer

Joe Jenčík

Production info

Original Title

Počestné paní pardubické

Czech Title

Počestné paní pardubické

English Title

The Respectable Women of Pardubice

Protectorate Parallel Title

Die ehrbaren Frauen von Pardubitz

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1944

Production Year

1943—1944

Production specifications

start of filming 19 July 1943
end of filming 15 March 1944
date of censorship 26 September 1944 (predikát „umělecky hodnotný film“)
withdrawal from distribution 18 May 1945
date of censorship 06/1945 (konec povolení k promítání 31. 12. 1946)
withdrawal from distribution 15 November 1949
withdrawal from distribution 31 July 1976

Premiere

preview 5 October 1944 (Pardubice)
premiere 6 October 1944 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Adria /3 týdny/, Kapitol /3 týdny/ a Phönix /3 týdny/, Praha)
renewed premiere 5 June 1945 /unsuitable for youths/

Production

Nationalfilm

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Laboratories

Pragfilm

Distribution

Nationalfilm (původní 1944), Státní půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1945)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

94 min

Original length in metres

2 671 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