Little Bobeš in Town
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1962Production year
1961—1962Premiere
16 November 1962Runtime
80 minDirector
Jan ValášekCategory
filmGenre
childrenTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Malý Bobeš ve městěCzech title
Malý Bobeš ve městěEnglish title
Little Bobeš in TownWorking title
Malý Bobeš II. dílSummary
The sequel to the 1961 film Malý Bobeš (Little Bobeš), this 1962 film is also directed by Jan Valášek. Previously, the protagonist of the children’s book from author Josef Věromír Pleva was forced, along with his family, to abandon his idyllic village life. Now, in an urban world full of social injustices, the young son from this poor family dreams of simply receiving a hot dog under the Christmas tree – while his parents battle to merely eke out a living. But on the city’s edge, there is little work to be found in pre-WWII Czechoslovakia. As with the original, this sequel lays a heavy contemporary layer of communist ideology upon the source novel. Once again, Jiří Lukeš assumes the lead role, whilst his heroic parents are again portrayed by Dana Medřická and Radovan Lukavský. Notable actors also appear in other grown-up roles: actor Miloš Nedbal plays a factory owner; Eduard Kohout returns to the screen as a magician; and Miroslav Macháček portrays the teacher.
Synopsis
After the injury in the forest, father Janouš cannot find a job in the village and the whole family thus moves to the town, where Janouš begins to work in the dairy, delivering milk. Little Bobeš does not like the town, especially when he, unintentionally, makes trouble for his father at work. He becomes reconciled with the new life only when he goes to the first grade at school. The teacher is a nice and kind man. Bobeš likes to learn and, in school, he also finds friends. The Janouš family soon finds itself in financial trouble and has to move outside the town, to the settlement on the periphery by the brick-yard. Janouš eventually finds a new job in a furniture-making factory and Bobeš finds a new girlfriend, Maruška. A magician arrives in town but Bobeš does not have the required ten-heller piece to attend the performance. Wandering through a small forest, he spots his father and his colleagues and overhears them discussing a strike. He reveals what he has heard to his grandfather, who gives him the desired ten-heller in exchange for silence. Bobeš, however, gives them to Maruška, who was the only other one in the class who did not have the money for the entrance fee. But the teacher takes Bobeš along to the performance, too. During the dispute between the workers and the owner of the factory, Bobeš's father is arrested. The day of his release from prison is the most beautiful moment for Bobeš; the father and the son understand each other well.
Note
The author of the illustrations used in the picture was Ivo Houf.
Photos
Cast
Jiří Lukeš
Josef Janouš zvaný Bobeš
Tomáš Hádl
Honzík, Bobšův kamarád
Karla Svobodová
Maruška Vejmolová
Kateřina Trávníčková
Miládka, Bobšova spolužačka
Michal Prokop
Juránek, Bobšův spolužák
Dana Medřická
Bobšova matka
Radovan Lukavský
Josef, Bobšův otec
Mária Sýkorová
Bobšova babička
Stanislav Neumann
Bobšův dědeček
Miroslav Macháček
učitel Šabacký
Jiří Holý
opilec Vejmola, Maruščin otec
Hana Kreihanslová
Anna Vejmolová, Maruščina matka
Ferdinand Krůta
krejčí Jakubec, Honzíkův otec
Eduard Kohout
kouzelník Karafa
Jaroslav Kepka
kouzelníkův vyvolávač
Miloš Nedbal
továrník Rajmond Daxner
Bohuš Záhorský
ředitel školy
Slávka Budínová
oficiálová, matka Miládky
Emilie Hráská
cukrová babka
Antonín Fröhlich
Franta
Josef Chvalina
správce mlékárny
Věra Jašková
Siluška
Josef Kozák
muž s buřinkou u vozu
Zdeněk Kutil
strážník
Marie Marešová
Jakubcová
Karel Pavlík
Vašek
Zuzana Stivínová
služka Žofka
Stanislava Strobachová
domácí
Luděk Šimák
Lojzík
Otto Šimánek
dělník
Jaroslav Zrotal
mistr v továrně
Miloš Willig
Vondráček
Jiřina Bílá
žena u vozu
Zdeněk Erben
muž upozorňující na policistu
Alina Jelínková
asistentka kouzelníka
Ladislav Kazda
muž zastavující koně
Jaroslav Randáček
polykač ohně
Viktor Riebauer
tlustý cukrář
Pavel Robin
muž u vozu
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Irena Klausová, Mojmír Ticháček
Based on
J. V. Pleva (Malý Bobeš – kniha)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Miroslav Sinkule
Camera Operator
Miroslav Mašek
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Art Director
Set Designer
Miroslav Fára, Václav Kozel, František Straka
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Ladislav Hausdorf, Bohumír Brunclík (zvukové efekty)
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Vladislav Špidra, Josef Pitrák
Cooperation
Jana Těžká (klapka), Jitka Bylinská (fotografka)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)
Production info
Original Title
Malý Bobeš ve městě
Czech Title
Malý Bobeš ve městě
English Title
Little Bobeš in Town
Working Title
Malý Bobeš II. díl
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
children
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1962
Production Year
1961—1962
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 11 January 1961
start of filming 22 January 1961
technical Screenplay approved 16 December 1961
end of filming 25 June 1962
projection approval 6 August 1962
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1991
Premiere
premiere 16 November 1962 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 25 January 1963 /suitable for youths/ (kino Dalibor /1 týden/, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Tvůrčí skupina Švabík – Procházka, Jan Procházka (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Erich Švabík (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
80 min
Original length in metres
2 270 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
