Vintage Car
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1956Production year
1956Premiere
29 March 1957Runtime
95 minDirector
Alfréd RadokCategory
filmGenre
comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Dědeček automobilCzech title
Dědeček automobilEnglish title
Vintage CarSummary
Subsequent to the psychological drama Daleká cesta (The Long Journey, 1949), which was banned from public screening by communist censorship, director Alfréd Radok was permitted to make a film that would only address a “harmless” topic. But even with this adaptation of an eponymous book by Adolf Branald, which describes the beginnings of motoring in the Czech lands, did Radok prove himself technically brilliant, as a creator able to recreate an Art Nouveau atmosphere in a precise, yet playful way. The “racing” comedy, depicting three international competitions in France, successfully employed both Czech and foreign actors (the role of French mechanic Marcel was portrayed by experienced French actor Raymond Bussières). The then 20 year-old Pavel Landovský debuted in the role of a wedding guest with a trumpet. Serving as Radok’s assistant, future directing star of the Czechoslovak New Wave Miloš Forman gained valuable experience.
Synopsis
A plane lands at the airport, and various objects from the beginning of the 20th century are unloaded from it, including an old car. A young mechanic and an air-hostess are looking through an album with yellowed photographs and the story unfolds before their eyes. The Czech history of motorsport began when Laurin and Klement founded their motorcycle factory. In 1904, the first motorcycle race was held in the Dourdan, in France, and the Czechs participated. Czech mechanic František and Nanette, daughter of the French mechanic Frontenac met and fell in love at this race. The Czech driver Vondřich came in second because of a break-down. In 1905, the race was held again, Vondřich secured himself with an extra supply of spare parts and won. Nanette and František, who were writing to each other the whole year, met each other again. After motorcycles, cars started being produced everywhere and, in the year 1909, the first car race was held in the French Gaillon. Czech driver, Count Kolowrat, won the race. His mechanic František married his beloved Nanette in the local church.
Note
The documents used in this film come from the French films: Paris 1900 and Paris at the Beginning of the Century.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Raymond Bussieres
mechanik Marcel Frontenac
Ginette Pigeon
Nanette, Frontenacova dcera
Luděk Munzar
mechanik František Projsa
Radovan Lukavský
továrník Václav Klement
Jiří Sehnal
továrník Václav Laurin
Josef Hlinomaz
hrabě Alexandr Kolovrat
Annette Poivre
majitelka hotelu
Antonín Šůra
závodník Václav Vondřich
Svatopluk Beneš
závodník Jean Pierre Demeester
O. F. Korte
anglický mechanik Mackie Duff
Miloš Kopecký
Albert de Dion
Josef Červinka
francouzský žurnalista a pořadatel
Jiří Hoyer
hostinský v Gaillonu
Miroslav Svoboda
starosta v Gaillonu
Olga Světelská
letuška
Miloš Forman
letecký mechanik/asistent kamery
Antonín Jedlička
mechanik Bouton
Josef Příhoda
mechanik Kaďousek
Jindřich Narenta
závodník Gottfried Mayer
Jiří Lír
francouzský mechanik Pierre Charron
Adolf Branald
kameraman
Jiřina Bohdalová
nevěsta
Jaroslav Kučera (3)
Michel Constantini
Miroslav Abrahám
železničář/fotograf
Václav Wasserman
vzduchoplavec Louis Goddard
Marie Branaldová
manželka starosty
Karel Pavlík
anglický mechanik
Milan Mach
mechanik/železničář
Georgis Skalenakis
mechanik
Miroslav Zounar
závodník Toman
Oldřich Mandík
závodník
Josef Kobr
závodník
Vladimír Menšík
italský automechanik
Pavel Landovský
svatebčan s trubkou
Karel Novák
Z. Benda
závodník
M. Pfeifer
závodník
K. Hansl
závodník
V. Horák
závodník
M. Hůla
závodník
J. Kosinka
závodník
K. Palas
závodník
F. Pexa
závodník
Š. Plenta
závodník
P. Rýznar
závodník
J. Rajchman
závodník
F. Vašátko
závodník
M. Fousek
závodník
J. Netušil
závodník
V. Čížkovský
závodník
M. Čada
závodník
V. Bobek
závodník
Ludmila Skleničková
francouzská dáma
Commentary
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Based on
Adolf Branald (Dědeček automobil – kniha)
Screenplay
Commentary by
Shooting Script
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Art Director
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Marie Kaplanová
Consultant
Cooperation
Vilém Rosegnal (fotograf), Erich Tylínek (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček), Karel Krautgartner, Miroslav Kefurt
Music Supervisor
Production info
Original Title
Dědeček automobil
Czech Title
Dědeček automobil
English Title
Vintage Car
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1956
Production Year
1956
Production specifications
projection approval 8 February 1957
withdrawal from distribution 6 April 1973
withdrawal from distribution 1 July 1993
Premiere
premiere 29 March 1957 /suitable for youths/ (kina Sevastopol /5 týdnů/, Radost /1 týden/, Bystrica /1 týden od 5. 4./, Aero /1 týden od 12. 4./ a Oko /1 týden od 29. 4./, Praha)
renewed premiere 1 March 1990 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Ústřední půjčovna filmů (původní 1957 a obnovená 1990)
Creative Group
Tvůrčí skupina Hanuš – Träger, Ladislav Hanuš (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny), Josef Träger (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
95 min
Original length in metres
2 693 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, French
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 5. mezinárodní filmový festival San Sebastián
1957
San Sebastián / Spain
Vítěz
Festival: 5. mezinárodní filmový festival San Sebastián
1957
San Sebastián / Spain
