The Man in the Air

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1955

Production year

1955

Premiere

20 January 1956

Runtime

87 min

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Muž v povětří

Czech title

Muž v povětří

English title

The Man in the Air

Working title

Ticho po pěšině / Ztřeštěný Silvestr / Silvestr Sirka

Synopsis

A year has passed since the inventor and pyrotechnic Silvester Čáp left the match-factory where he had worked; after years of service he felt that his work was not fully recognized. He is trying to invent the eternal match and in his native town of Krásnov he is therefore regarded as something of a madman. The only person who truly believes in him is his daughter Manka who even leaves her fiancé Jenda Pospíchal because of him. Čáp receives the materials for his inventions on credit from the local chemist Zatrapa. Some of the inhabitants of the quiet little town are alarmed at the explosions accompanying Čáp's research work. Silvester, on the other hand, does not appreciate the value of his invention Luxit for which he is to be awarded during the celebrations for the 120th anniversary of the founding of the match-factory. He accepts an offer to put together the grand firework display. His eternal match completely fails while he tries to light the test fireworks. Čáp leaves secretly for Prague to visit the Office for Inventions. Panic breaks out in Krásnov where the people think that he has drowned himself in despair and they search for him in the lake. In Prague Čáp finally realizes that his invention is a folly and will never work. He returns home. Meanwhile Manka has made it up with Jenda. Silvester is rewarded, he is able to pay off his debts and the people of Krásnov watch his lovely fireworks in admiration.

Cast

Vlasta Burian

pyrotechnik Silvestr Čáp

Pavla Maršálková

Čápova žena

Alena Vránová

písařka Manka, dcera Čápových

Rudolf Hrušínský

reklamní odborník Pláňka

František Filipovský

vedoucí drogerie Hynek Zatrapa

Jiří Sovák

pyrotechnik Jan Pospíchal, Mančin

Hana Vítová

referentka MNV Koubová

Jaroslav Seník

předseda závodní rady Potůček

Eman Fiala

člen závodní rady Máca

Růžena Šlemrová

Janurová, Čápova soudsedka

Václav Trégl

keramik Kořínek, Čápův soused

Karel Effa

listonoš Trdlitát

František Hanus

pracovník Úřadu pro vynálezy

Fanda Mrázek

řidič autobusu

Karel Pavlík

vedoucí silniční správy

Milka Balek-Brodská

účastnice závěrečného ohňostroje

Sylva Daníčková

dívka s pletením na schůzi

Aleš Košnar

kluk s bouchacími kuličkami

Věra Váchová

prodavačka v drogerii

Jaroslav Jílovec

člen vedení sirkárny

Stanislav Jareš

Z. Chalupník

Crew and creators

Shooting Script

Josef Mach

Director of Photography

Jaroslav Tuzar

Second Unit Photography

Jan Novák

Camera Operator

Adolf Hejzlar

Production Designer

Jan Zázvorka

Costume Designer

Vladimír Synek

Film Editor

Jan Chaloupek

Assistant Film Editor

Diana Hönigová

Assistant Sound Designer

Aleš Zimmermann

Special Effects

Trikový ateliér

Special Effects

Václav Tacl (pyrotechnik), Alois Novák (pyrotechnik)

Production Manager

Jaroslav Jílovec

Unit Production Manager

Václav Dobeš

Unit Production Manager

Věra Venzarová

Cooperation

Otta Pšenička (vrchní osvětlovač)

Music

Music Composed by

Jiří Fiala

Selected Music

Georges Bizet (Carmen /Toreadore smělý/)

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)

Songs

Ó, sole mio

Song Composer Eduardo di Capua
Writer of Lyrics Giovanni Capurro
Singer Vlasta Burian

Zelení hájové

Singer Vlasta Burian

Toreadore smělý

Singer Vlasta Burian

Production info

Original Title

Muž v povětří

Czech Title

Muž v povětří

English Title

The Man in the Air

Working Title

Ticho po pěšině / Ztřeštěný Silvestr / Silvestr Sirka

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1955

Production Year

1955

Production specifications

start of filming 9 May 1955
projection approval 9 December 1955
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1990

Premiere

premiere 20 January 1956 /suitable for youths/ (kina Světozor /7 týdnů/, Vzlet /1 týden/, Arbes /1 týden od 27. 1./, Revoluce /1 týden od 3. 2./, Bystrica /1 týden od 10. 2./ a Aero /1 týden od 24. 2./, Praha)

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Creative Group

Tvůrčí skupina Zdeňka Reimanna, Zdeněk Reimann (vedoucí tvůrčí skupiny), Tvůrčí skupina Vladimíra Kabelíka (dokončení), Vladimír Kabelík (vedoucí tvůrčí skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

87 min

Original length in metres

2 491 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech