Fairground Entertainers
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1953Production year
1952—1953Premiere
16 April 1954Runtime
80 minDirector
Vladimír VlčekCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
KomediantiCzech title
KomediantiEnglish title
Fairground EntertainersWorking title
Bratr ŽakSynopsis
During the period before the First World War an old circus artiste with his grown-up children Žak, Fricek and Olga are travelling through Bohemia in a caravan drawn by a little horse. The mime show incorporated into their artistic programme is a great success with audiences. The lecherous cattle-dealer Havránek arrives at the fair and his eye is drawn to the pretty Olga, however, Fricek immediately steps in and takes the girl away. Havránek gets his revenge and, during the show, shoots a cherry stone in Fricek's eye. Luckily the artistes are saved from serious injury. Fricek throws himself on Havránek. The comedians, however, are very low down on the social ladder and thus the "respectable citizens" drive them out. The family teams up with the Medrano circus but the owner's daughters are jealous of Olga and the family has to move on once more. After some time the circus' proprietress asks them by letter to return. Žak continues travelling with the circus alone on its trip abroad. Without his presence, however, the family comes to a tragic end. The old man drinks himself to death and the impoverished Olga and Fricek have to sell the horse and caravan. Olga meets Havránek again who still wants her, this time resorting to violence. Fricek stuns him with a stone and is charged with assault and robbery. Žak returns to Bohemia and meets his brother and sister in the courtroom. In his testimony he expresses the hope that the time will come when travelling artistes are judged just like everyone else.
Photos
Cast
Jaroslav Vojta
starý komediant, otec Žaka, Fricka a Olgy
Ladislav Pešek
komediant Žak
Jaroslav Mareš
komediant Fricek, Žakův bratr
Alena Martinovská
komediantka Olga, Žakova sestra
Marie Vášová
majitelka cirkusu Medrano
Rudolf Hrušínský
obchodník s dobytkem Havránek
Libuše Zemková
krasojezdkyně Margit, dcera majitelky cirkusu Medrano
Svatopluk Beneš
bohatý statkář Bohoušek
Marie Nováková
Žužu, Bohouškova slečna
Theodor Pištěk
hostinský Pazdera
Věra Kalendová
rychtářka a hostinská Amálka
František Filipovský
rychtář a hostinský
Eva Jiroušková
Anka, Havránkova dívka
Josef Hlinomaz
policista
Aleš Podhorský
četník
Bedřich Vrbský
komisař
Václav Švec
tesař
Václav Trégl
hostinský
Karel Hovorka
host v hostinci
Jiří Vršťala
host v hostinci
Karel Richter
host v hostinci
Antonín Soukup
muž u poštovní přepážky
Bohuslav Kupšovský
policista
Gabriela Bártlová-Buddeusová
návštěvnice cirkusu Luisa
Karel Haase
artista
Jaroslav Kryl
artista
Miroslav Merbs
artista
Jindřich Merbs
artista
Soňa Merbsová
artistka
Vlasta Špačková
Rosamunda, dcera majitelky Medrana
Dáša Kellnerová
Luciana, dcera majitelky Medrana
Vlasta Landová
artistka
Karel Nygrýn
chlapec na pouti
Otto Čermák
hostinský
Jiřina Bílá
žena v obecenstvu
Jaroslav Seník
poštovní úředník
Arnošt Mirský
poštovní úředník
František Klika
policista
Karel Pavlík
divák v hostinci
Josef Příhoda
divák v hostinci
Josef Najman
divák v hostinci
Milan Jedlička
listonoš
František Vnouček
sedlák
Jaroslav Synák
tajný policista
Josef Bartůněk
host v hostinci
J. O. Martin
hostinský
Josef Steigl
muž v obecenstvu
Anita Janová
žena
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Jordan Balurov, Libuše Junková
Based on
Ivan Olbracht (Bratr Žak – povídka)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Art Director
Set Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Consultant
Cooperation
Jindřich Panáček (fotograf)
Music
Songs
Příteli můj, milý bratře
Singer Jaroslav Vojtasbor
Production info
Original Title
Komedianti
Czech Title
Komedianti
English Title
Fairground Entertainers
Working Title
Bratr Žak
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1953
Production Year
1952—1953
Production specifications
start of filming 20 August 1952
the first film copy approved 30 December 1953
projection approval 25 March 1954
withdrawal from distribution 30 September 1973
Premiere
premiere 16 April 1954 /suitable for youths/ (kina Sevastopol /5 týdnů/, Armádní /3 týdny/, Lucerna /3 týdny/, Kyjev /1 týden od 23. 4./, Arbes /1 týden od 30. 4./, Bystrica /1 týden od 30. 4./, Aero /1 týden od 7. 5./, Oko /1 týden od 7. 5./, Dukla /1 týden od 14. 5./ a Odboj /1 týden od 14. 5./, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Vladimíra Vlčka (vývoj scénáře), Vladimír Vlček (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
80 min
Original length in metres
2 286 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
