Three Wishes
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1958Production year
1958Premiere
21 June 1963Runtime
94 minCategory
filmGenre
comedy, satireTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Tři přáníCzech title
Tři přáníEnglish title
Three WishesSummary
A fairy-tale satire from the present day, Three Wishes was the fourth film directed by the duo Ján Kadár – Elmar Klos. The screenplay was written by playwright Vratislav Blažek. The film, pointing out the shortcomings preventing the smooth running of socialist society, ended up being banned and put in the "vault" after a harsh condemnation at the First Festival of Czech and Slovak Films in Banská Bystrica in 1959, and the two filmmakers were able to return to directing only in the 1960’s, when they made, among others, the Oscar-winning The Shop on Main Street.
Synopsis
Lawyer Petr Holeček often has disputes with his wife Věra. They both have low salaries and forever struggle with a lack of money. After all, Věra loves to dress up! One day, Petr gives a seat to a tiny old man who, in return for this kindness, offers him a little silver bell which will fulfil three wishes. The first two wishes, which the suspicious Petr makes just to test the bell, are fulfilled. Petr's third wish is a peaceful life with Věra. And so the magic bell arranges a new apartment, modern furniture, car and a promotion at work. Ill-tempered Petr has a quarrel with the secretary and his manager sends him on health-leave. Petr and Věra rest by the lake Máchovo and, in the evenings, watch fashion shows on TV with their friends. Petr's friend Karel joins a competition with an improved design which could markedly lower the price of the dress model on show. He also says something about the necessity to save in the right places. The next day they want to kick him out of the establishment. Petr wants to help Karel so he calls the old man once more. The old man promises to help but on one condition: Peter must speak up for his friend in public and run the risk of losing everything he got by magic. The old man vanishes, however, the small silver bell remains on the table. With rapt attention, the family follows how Peter will make up his mind...
Note
The film underwent political critique at its time and its distribution was stopped. It was not distributed in cinemas until 1963, after the original decision was revised. Only after the above-mentioned ban on film did Jiří Blažek rework the film theme into the theatrical play The Third Wish (Třetí přání).
Photos
Cast
Rade Marković
Voice by Zdeněk Dítě
účetní JUDr. Petr Holeček
Tatjana Beljakova
Voice by Alena Kreuzmannová
Věra Holečková, Petrova žena
Bohuš Záhorský
pohádkový dědeček
Vlastimil Brodský
Karel Pokorný, Petrův kamarád
Růžena Lysenková
Božena, Karlova žena
Heda Marková
Petrova matka
Ota Motyčka
Petrův otec
Libor Palisa
Petřík, syn Holečkových
Josef Beyvl
ředitel podniku
Lubomír Lipský
referent bytového úřadu
Václav Lohniský
kádrovák
Josef Vošalík
soused Hurdálek
Jaroslava Skorkovská
sekretářka Jarošová
Jan Maška
konferenciér při loterii
Josef Kobr
konferenciér na módní přehlídce
Milan Neděla
soutěžící
Jaroslav Rozsíval
Voice by Soběslav Sejk
příslušník SNB
Karel Pavlík
vedoucí střelnice
Bedřich Bozděch
starší muž u televizoru
Marta Májová
starší žena u televizoru
Georgis Skalenakis
cizinec
Vítězslav Černý
cestující v trolejbusu
Gabriela Bártlová-Buddeusová
žena stojící v trolejbusu
Václav Švec
Voice by František Holar
otec dětí na bytovém úřadě
Oldřich Hoblík
člen bytové komise
Bohumil Bezouška
člen bytové komise
Eva Svobodová
členka bytové komise Růžena
Věra Hanslíková
členka bytové komise
Arnošt Faltýnek
vrátný
Anna Pitašová
manekýna
Zdeněk Čamrda
klavírista u módní přehlídky
Ivan Kheil
muž na poradě
Jiří Valenta
muž na poradě
Milan Mach
cestující v trolejbusu
Jiřina Hautová
cestující v trolejbusu
Vratislav Blažek
taxikář
Otto Sattler
houslista v baru
Antonín Kubový
Voice by Mirko Musil
člen bytové komise
Antonín Novotný
závozník popelářského vozu
Vladimír Klemens
zaměstnanec čistírny
Slávka Hamouzová
žena ve frontě na Večerní Prahu
Josef Šidlichovský
člen bytové komise, železničář
Ladislav Gzela
člen bytové komise
Helena Kružíková
sekretářka ředitele
Jaroslav Zrotal
muž na poradě
Karel Černoch
Voice by Josef Hlinomaz
vrátný ve spalovně
Anita Janová
Voice by Eva Svobodová
domovnice s koštětem
Jiří Krampol
muž na manifestaci
Jiří Sehnal
muž na manifestaci
Yvonna Zelenková
Dubbing
Felix le Breux
hlas předsedy okresního klubu Svazarmu
Miloš Vavruška
hlas lesníka a otce, výherce v loterii
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Screenstory
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
František Černý, Josef Seidl (střih zvuku), Bohumír Brunclík (zvukové efekty)
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Cooperation
Otta Pšenička (vrchní osvětlovač)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), Pražský dixieland
Songs
Tico-tico
Song Composer Zequinha de Abreu
Production info
Original Title
Tři přání
Czech Title
Tři přání
English Title
Three Wishes
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy, satire
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1958
Production Year
1958
Production specifications
projection approval 28 December 1958 (neschváleno do distribuce)
projection approval 6 March 1963
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1971
Premiere
preview 14 June 1963 (kino Sevastopol /1 týden/, Praha)
premiere 21 June 1963 /suitable for youths/ (kina Lucerna /5 týdnů/, Flora /1 týden/, Arbes /1 týden od 28. 6./, Radost /1 týden od 5. 7./, Mír /1 týden od 12. 7./, Praha /1 týden od 12. 7./ a Bystrica /1 týden od 19. 7./, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Tvůrčí skupina Feix – Daniel, František Daniel (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Karel Feix (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
94 min
Original length in metres
2 677 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
