Prague Blues

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1963

Production year

1963

Premiere

15 November 1963

Runtime

75 min

Category

film

Genre

music

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Pražské blues

Czech title

Pražské blues

English title

Prague Blues

Synopsis

Omar, a student from Africa, is about to finish his medical studies in Prague. He would like to return home, to Angola, but finally opts instead for a three-year research assistantship at a clinic in Prague. At Ruzyně airport, where he has come to say goodbye to his friend Amadu who is leaving Czechoslovakia, he notices an African girl he likes. Shortly afterwards, the two young people meet accidentally. The girl's name is Mariama and she will be studying at the Technical Faculty in Prague. Omar offers to be her guide in the new city and takes her to the International Students' Club, where he plays bass guitar in a band. Omar doesn't tell Mariama that he is staying in Prague. The girl is confident that he will go back home to help his country. Omar finishes his exams with excellent marks, but at his graduation party he is all alone. He must give some answers to his conscience and must think his decisions through. He plays his big solo on the bass, the blues. Mariama wanted to say goodbye to Omar and finds him alone at the party. They stay together until morning. They realize that even in this short time they have fallen in love with each other. Omar changes his decision. He leaves for Africa to help his people. He will also await the return of his beloved Mariama.

Note

The sculptures were made by Jindřich Wielgus.

Cast

Amina Hasci

somálská studentka geologie Mariama

Sissoko Woandioun

Voice by Jaroslav Mareš
angolský student medicíny Omar

Orlando da Costa

malijský student Amadu

Radovan Lukavský

profesor Bouček

Jarmila Veselá

Voice by Eva Klepáčová
prodavačka Dana Ouředníčková, zpěvačka

Vratislav Blažek

sochař Pepi Kobliha

Jiří Stivín

Voice by Václav Sloup
knihovník Darek

Míša Polák

Voice by Otto Lackovič
klavírista Karel

Alan Vitouš

bubeník Láďa

Emanuel Hrdina

trumpetista Ivan

Jonas Bruno

předseda studentského svazu

Karel Hlinický

profesor Polák

Gustav Hrdlička

Voice by Vladimír Hrubý
vrátný na koleji

Stephen Kariithi

Stephen

Jan Konopásek

saxofonista Konopásek

Julie Juhanová

Rudlova nevěsta Eva

Consuela Morávková

dívka s kytarou

Fofana Ouri

Fofana

Zdeněk Pulec

trombonista

Ivan Popov

Rus

Ivan Poldauf

Voice by Jiří Šrámek
prorektor

Rudolf Rokl

pianista

Rudolf Dašek

kytarista

Františka Skálová

Suchomelová

Jan Arnet

Arnet

Camara Bassion

Afričan

Karel Vlach

Karel Vlach, on sám

Vladimír Dvořák

Vladimír Dvořák, on sám

Kateřina Trávnická

Kateřina Trávnická, ona sama

Božena Köhlerová

Kateřina

Idris Karim

Marokánec

Gigi Osman

Gigi

Antonín Julina

Julina

Milan Jaroš

první asistent na klinice

Ivan Křička

druhý asistent na klinice

Vladimír Linka

vedoucí bistra

Věra Váchová

sekretářka

Eva Pospíšilová

stevardka

Václav Podhorský

stevard

Dana Syslová

studentka na schodech

M. Mudruňka

kytarista

Jan Sinnreich

host na večírku

Karel Vejvoda

host na večírku

Vlastimil Čaněk

host na večírku

Jaroslava Vošmiková

host na večírku

Aja Farkačová

host na večírku

Josef Pivonka

host na večírku

H. Kormanová

host na večírku

L. Kormanová

host na večírku

O. Nosková

host na večírku

J. Fabiánová

host na večírku

Dubbing

Alena Kreuzmannová

hlas světlovlasé slečny

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Pavel Horák

Assistant Director

Zdenka Pešulová

Shooting Script

Georgis Skalenakis

Director of Photography

Jan Němeček

Second Unit Photography

Karel Hejsek

Camera Operator

Jaroslav Kaiser

Production Designer

Bohuslav Kulič

Assistent Production Designer

Věra Líznerová

Art Director

Jindřich Wielgus (plastiky)

Set Designer

Zdeněk Jeřábek, Jan Petrů

Costume Designer

Pravoslav Sovák

Film Editor

Miroslav Hájek

Assistant Film Editor

Jitka Šulcová

Sound Designer

František Černý, Josef Vlček, Bohumír Brunclík (zvukové efekty)

Production Manager

Miloš Bergl

Unit Production Manager

Zdeňka Černá, Lubomír Novotný

Unit Production Manager

Ctibor Jeřábek

Consultant

Miloš Sovák

Cooperation

Jiřina Znamenáčková (klapka), Josef Vítek (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Karel Velebný

Music Performed by

Orchestr Karla Vlacha (Music Conducted by Karel Vlach), Jan Arnet, Laco Déczi, Antonín Julina, Jan Konopásek, Míša Polák, Pavol Polanský, Ivan Preis, Zdeněk Pulec, Rudolf Rokl, Pavel Staněk, Karel Vejvoda, Karel Velebný, Alan Vitouš

Choreographer

Sissoko Amadu

Danced by

Les Ballets Africains de Guinée

Songs

Haló, haló

Song Composer Karel Velebný
Writer of Lyrics Jaromír Hořec
Singer Jarmila Veselá

Pražské blues

Song Composer Karel Velebný
Writer of Lyrics Jaromír Hořec
Singer Jarmila Veselá

Production info

Original Title

Pražské blues

Czech Title

Pražské blues

English Title

Prague Blues

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

music

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1963

Production Year

1963

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 26 October 1962
technical Screenplay approved 6 February 1963
start of filming 15 February 1963
end of filming 22 April 1963
projection approval 4 July 1963
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1971

Premiere

preview 1 November 1963 (kino Sevastopol /1 týden/, Praha)
premiere 8 November 1963 /suitable for youths/ (kino Lucerna /1 týden/, Praha)
premiere 15 November 1963 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Studio

Barrandov

Creative Group

Tvůrčí skupina Šmída – Fikar, Ladislav Fikar (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Bohumil Šmída (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

75 min

Original length in metres

2 129 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

Czech

Opening/End credits languages

Czech