The Somersault

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1961

Production year

1961

Premiere

9 March 1962

Runtime

79 min

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Kotrmelec

Czech title

Kotrmelec

English title

The Somersault

Synopsis

A group of miners wish to compete for the title of the Socialist Work Brigade. Their foreman Kohut is against the idea since young Ondračka, who is always causing problems at work, is spoliling the group's good name. Ondračka defies his colleagues' criticism: it is the big Saint Bernard dog Bojínek, the only legacy his mother has left him, who is to blame for all his mishaps. The party finally persuade Kohut to change his mind. The first feat of their brigade-to-be is an excursion to the country's fortresses and castles. Ondračka fails to join them for the trip. He has met Helenka, a good-looking tram conductress, and has already made plans with her for another kind of excursion: bathing at the reservoir. He is totally unaware that the young woman is Kohut's sister-in-law. It is only at the reservoir that he learns the news, after the couple is surprised by Kohut, fuming and bringing along the entire coach tour. Kohut can't bear the thought that his sister-in-law is going out with Ondračka. He unjustly accuses Ondračka and causes a rift between the young couple, but the party object to Kohut's manner and oblige their foreman to apologize to Ondračka. The two miners settle their quarrel in very dramatic circumstances, as Ondračka tries to get rid of his dog. Helenka is reconciled with Ondračka when she realizes that he does not mind her little son from an earlier, divorced marriage. Ondračka may also keep Bojínek.

Cast

Rudolf Deyl ml.

předák havířů Bohuš Kohut

Ladislav Trojan

havíř Jožka Ondračka

Zdena Grúberová

Helenka Vlčková, Kohutova švagrová

Josef Beyvl

havíř Škampa

Jaroslav Cmíral

havíř Konrád Včolka

Jiřina Froňková

Boženka, Kohutova žena

Robert Vrchota

havíř Bedra

Josef Haukvic

mašinkář Jůzek

Radoslav Brzobohatý

havíř Láďa Paučula

Miloslav Holub

strážný

Radim Cvrček

brigádník Cvrček

Věra Koktová

Mery, Bedrova žena

Ludmila Bednářová

Paučulova žena

Václav Wasserman

zvědavý soused

Stanislav Bareš

pomocník mašinkáře

Adolf Král

řidič autobusu

Arnošt Borovec

havíř-čtenář

Jiří Brábník

Fanoušek, Helenčin syn

Radka Dulíková

Kohutova dcera

Josef Haukvic ml.

Pepík, Kohutův syn

Jan Kotva

muž s tranzistorovým rádiem/havíř v tramvaji

Alena Karešová

servírka/komentář v rozhlase

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Zdeněk Forman

Assistant Director

Dušan Klein

Shooting Script

Václav Sklenář

Director of Photography

Jaromír Holpuch

Second Unit Photography

Kamil Kadeřábek

Camera Operator

Václav Till

Production Designer

Chrudoš Uher

Assistent Production Designer

Libuše Jahodová

Set Designer

Václav Kozel, Jaroslav Lehman, František Zajíček

Costume Designer

Dimitrij Kadrnožka

Assistant Film Editor

Diana Heringová

Sound Designer

Emanuel Formánek

Production Manager

Ladislav Terš

Unit Production Manager

Jaroslav Merunka, Ludmila Venclíková

Unit Production Manager

Jan Bočánek

Cooperation

Milada Roučková (klapka), Bohuslav Kück (fotograf), J. Mošničková (fotografka)

Music

Music Composed by

Josef Ceremuga

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)

Songs

Naše ocelové svaly

Singer dětský sbor

Stavěli tesaři zedníkům lešení

Song Composer lidová píseň

Skákal pes přes oves

Song Composer lidová píseň
Writer of Lyrics lidová píseň
Singer Miloslav Holub

Production info

Original Title

Kotrmelec

Czech Title

Kotrmelec

English Title

The Somersault

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1961

Production Year

1961

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 15 February 1961
technical Screenplay approved 6 June 1961
start of filming 9 July 1961
end of filming 27 October 1961
projection approval 20 December 1961
withdrawal from distribution 1 September 1974

Premiere

premiere 2 March 1962 /suitable for youths/ (kina Paříž /4 týdny/, Arbes /1 týden/, Mír /1 týden/, Odboj /1 týden/, Oko /1 týden/, Radost /1 týden/, Dukla /1 týden od 9. 3./ a Flora /1 týden od 23. 3./, Praha)
premiere 9 March 1962 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Studio

Barrandov

Creative Group

Tvůrčí skupina Šebor – Bor, Vladimír Bor (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Jiří Šebor (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

79 min

Original length in metres

2 261 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