I Command the Review
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1969Production year
1968—1969Premiere
20 June 1969Runtime
84 minDirector
Jaroslav MachCategory
filmGenre
comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Přehlídce velím já!Czech title
Přehlídce velím já!English title
I Command the ReviewSummary
Seasoned director Josef Mach directed this comedy based on Zolotoy telyonok (The Little Golden Calf), a satirical novel by Ilja Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov. In the process, he transposed the original 1920s Soviet setting into 1960s Czechoslovakia. The result was a contemporary “communal satire” in which the protagonist Folta – a man who never completed his law studies, and officially makes a living as a lorry driver but actually operates a successful business on the side acting as a legal consultant to all manner of wheeler-dealers – decides together with the butcher Pejša to swindle money from Drtílek, a millionaire who gained his fortune through fraud and deceit. Ultimately, however, Folta becomes a victim of his own cunning plans… Appearing in the main parts of this predictable story, which conforms to what was deemed to amount to social criticism at the time, are a host of well-known Czech actors. The part of Folta the trickster was assumed by Karel Höger, a then much-favoured performer of character roles. He was ably supported by Ilja Prachař, Vladimír Menšík and Čestmír Řanda.
Synopsis
Ungraduated law student Folta, now a driver at a soda works, offers successful legal guidance. He gives good advice to the butcher Pejša who is facing charges of stealing pork. In return, Pejša invites him to his home for a treat of stolen pork meat. Together they watch the TV contest, and Folta recognizes one of the contestants, a millionaire. It is Drtílek, a man who made a lot of money by fraud after the war. The man now hides his ill-gotten gains, waiting for an opportunity to make use of his money. Folta has an idea about how to get hold of at least half of Drtílek's money. He hires his ex-clients and they all pay a visit to the fraud. First they put the squeeze on him and then they mug him and steal twenty thousand crowns. Folta sets up an organization for them as a cover for their real activities. Folta proves to Drtílek that he knows about his frauds and demands half of the man's wealth. Drtílek is forced to consent. He deposits his share in the left-luggage office and accidentally leaves a ticking clock in it. The officials open the suitcase to check it and Drtílek loses everything. The "ingenious strategist" Folta finds himself in a similar situation. As soon as he reaches Austria, where he intended to escape, Pejša and his family take all his money. Stripped of all his cash, Folta crosses the border back to Czechoslovakia.
Photos
Cast
Karel Höger
řidič Folta zvaný Doktor
Vladimír Menšík
sňatkový podvodník Ivan Holiš
Lubomír Kostelka
invalidní důchodce Josef Rendl
Jan Skopeček
kasař Josef Jošt
Čestmír Řanda
úředník Alfons Drtílek
Ilja Prachař
řezník Josef Pejša/Pejšův bratr Robert
Josef Beyvl
dědeček Pejšových
Slávka Budínová
bufetářka Vlastička
Josef Chvalina
Brajnštetr, Drtílkův kolega
Libuše Havelková
Pejšová, Josefova manželka
Elena Hálková
jasnovidka Cleo de Maror
Josef Hlinomaz
muž s kufrem
František Krahulík
zaměstnanec módního závodu
Oldřich Velen
zaměstnanec módního závodu
Eduard Hofman
porotce soutěže 10× odpověz
Zdeněk Jirotka
porotce soutěže 10× odpověz
Vlado Príkazský
porotce soutěže 10× odpověz
Pavel Tumlíř
porotce soutěže 10× odpověz
Otto Kinský
prodavač
Vladimír Huber
děda s fajfkou
Jaroslav Moučka
ředitel výzkumného ústavu Vaňátko
Jindřich Blažíček
docent
Luba Skořepová
úřednice výzkumného ústavu
František Paul
vrátný výzkumného ústavu
Jan Pohan
strážmistr VB
Jaroslav Zrotal
Josef Hrejsa
Alena Procházková
dívka na taneční zábavě
Karel Hábl
pohraničník
Vítězslav Černý
listonoš
JUDr. Jaroslav Blažek
soudce
Marie Hübschová
listonoška
Josef Koza
dozorce
Jiří Lír
muž v restauraci
Marie Mikotová
režisérka
Robert Morávek
Foltův přítel
Otto Ohnesorg
docent
Eva Vlachová
zákaznice Inpoklempu
B. Šmejkalová
asistentka
Marcela Šmejkalová
Marcela, dcera Pejšových
Helena Růžičková
žena
Rudolf Horák
náměstek ředitele
Antonín Lebeda
muž v klobouku
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Helena Rohanová
Assistant Director
Continuity
Screenstory
Based on
Ilja Ilf (Zlaté tele /Zolotoj těljonok/ – román), Jevgenij Petrov (Zlaté tele /Zolotoj těljonok/ – román)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Ivan Ernyei, Miloslav Dvořák
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Karel Čabrádek
Cooperation
Roman Soumar (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Bedřich Smetana (Má vlast /Vltava/)
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)
Songs
Kupředu, zpátky ni krok
Song Composer Jan Seidel
Cypljonok malyj
Singer Čestmír Řanda st.
Production info
Original Title
Přehlídce velím já!
Czech Title
Přehlídce velím já!
English Title
I Command the Review
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1969
Production Year
1968—1969
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 7 May 1968
technical Screenplay approved 25 July 1968
start of filming 10 September 1968
end of filming 17 January 1969
the first film copy approved 21 March 1969
projection approval 27 March 1969
withdrawal from distribution 28 August 1969
Premiere
premiere 20 June 1969 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 26 June 1969 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Paříž /4 týdny/, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
Tvůrčí skupina Feix – Brož, Miloš Brož (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Karel Feix (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
84 min
Original length in metres
2 385 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
