Skeleton Key
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1944Production year
1944Premiere
22 December 1944Runtime
88 minDirector
Miroslav CikánCategory
filmGenre
comedy, crimeTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
PaklíčCzech title
PaklíčEnglish title
Skeleton KeyProtectorate parallel title
Der DietrichSynopsis
Writer of detective novels Gabriel Anděl, loves his wife Lola. The stubborn woman, however, interferes with his work so much that an argument between them eventually ends in a decision to file for a divorce. Gabriel intends to move into their country house. At this point inspector Čepelka arrives with a warning that an imposter is at large going by the name of Anděl who is trying to sell their villa to the Czech-American Fordson. The couple set out for their villa in the company of the inspector. Čepelka goes off to fetch police back-up and Anděl encounters frauds in his house pretending to be his staff. The couple are immediately imprisoned in the cellar. Fordson pays for the villa by cheque. In reality, he is not a Czech-American at all and the idea is to write a cheque for a higher sum and he would receive the difference in cash. The imposters leave and, after an accident, they find themselves in hospital. Gabriel and Lola are released from the cellar and return home. "Inspector" Čepelka, meanwhile, has robbed their flat but is soon arrested. The adventures spent together reconcile the couple once more.
Photos
Cast
Oldřich Nový
spisovatel detektivek Gabriel Anděl
Jiřina Steimarová
Lola, Andělova žena
Jaroslav Marvan
Vilibald Škarda alias inspektor A. Čepelka
Vlasta Hrubá
Frony Škardová alias Lilian Fordsonová, Škardova dcera
Miroslav Homola
podvodník Kofila vydávající se za spisovatele Anděla
Antonín Jirsa
podvodník Halama
Ferenc Futurista
podvodník Šajna alias Čechoameričan Fordson
Věra Hanslíková
Anežka, služka u Andělů
Vladimír Řepa
podvodník Breburda alias notář JUDr. Adamíra
Eman Fiala
zloděj Petříček
Milada Smolíková
hospodská
Jiří Vondrovič
číšník
Antonín Holzinger
pravý policejní inspektor A. Čepelka
Jindřich Láznička
domovník u Andělů Václav Koníček
Antonín Strnad
advokát
Antonín Brož
ředitel hotelu
Jindřich Doležal
recepční v hotelu
Josef Kemr
chlapec na kole
Josef Pehr
taxikář
Bolek Prchal
četník
Ladislav Janeček
četník
Karel Šmíd
železničář
Ota Motyčka
Tonda, prodavač u benzinové pumpy
Jaroslava Panenková
manželka prodavače u benzinové pumpy
Bohuš Záhorský
redaktor
Alois Peterka
pokladník v bance
Josef Steigl
asistent pokladníka
Jaroslav Orlický
vrchní strážmistr
Frank Rose-Růžička
strážník
Karel Jelínek
strážník
Crew and creators
Director
Assistant Director
Based on
Eduard Fiker (Paklíč – román)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Set Designer
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Otakar Sedláček, Karel Feix (ředitel výroby)
Unit Production Manager
Consultant
Miroslav Haller (jazykový poradce)
Cooperation
Willy Ströminger (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Production info
Original Title
Paklíč
Czech Title
Paklíč
English Title
Skeleton Key
Protectorate Parallel Title
Der Dietrich
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy, crime
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1944
Production Year
1944
Production specifications
start of filming 2 May 1944
end of filming 07/1944
date of censorship 18 December 1944 (predikát „uznáníhodný film“)
withdrawal from distribution 18 May 1945
date of censorship 10/1945 (konec povolení k promítání 31. 12. 1948)
withdrawal from distribution 11 December 1947
withdrawal from distribution 1 April 1961
Premiere
premiere 22 December 1944 /suitable for youths/ (kina Adria /3 týdny/, Kapitol /3 týdny/ a Lucerna /3 týdny/, Praha)
renewed premiere 13 November 1945 /suitable for youths/
Production
With support
Copyright Holders
Studio
Laboratories
Distribution
Nationalfilm (původní 1944), Státní půjčovna filmů (obnovená 1945)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
88 min
Original length in metres
2 510 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
