Real-life Czech nobleman Petr Vok of Rožmberk (1539–1611) serves as the protagonist of this 1970 costume comedy, directed by Karel Steklý and based on a screenplay by Jan Procházka (as he was subject to a ban during the “normalisation” era, his name could not formally be presented in the credits). The story neglects to explore the diverse personality of this noted renaissance politician in favour of instead merely focusing on his private life. More specifically, the plot is drawn from events surrounding this famous philanderer’s marriage, in middle age, to the very young Kateřina of Ludanice. Petr seeks to marry so as to gain a large dowry, which will help him end his current financial woes. But he has no idea that Kateřina has been impoverished by the actions of her relatives, and that the marriage spells the end of his masculine bravado – Vok is forced to marry off all his lovers, and heed to the wishes of his energetic new wife. Following Svatby pana Voka (Weddings of Petr Vok of Rožmberk, 1970), director Steklý made the sequel Pan Vok odchází (Sir Vok Is Leaving, 1979), in which Martin Růžek replaced Miloš Kopecký in the title role.
The nobleman Petr Vok of Rožmberk is no longer so young, but his amatory adventures continue to arouse the envy of men and the indignation of respectable ladies. In his "female retinue" at the chateau in Bechyně he has twelve comely girls, but he still manages to seduce the miller's wife and the maid. Lord Vok is in great financial difficulties. His elder brother Vilém advises him to marry a rich woman. Petr surprises him by announcing his intention to marry the very young Kateřina of Ludanice. The Emperor Rudolph is happy to give his consent to the marriage. He knows Kateřina's relations have deprived her of all her property, and he doesn't approve of Petr and he wants to pay him back in this way for his malicious tricks. Kateřina accepts the offer of marriage on condition that Petr gets rid of his retinue of women. Petr therefore marries off all his beloved mistresses. Just once before the wedding he wants to pay a secret visit to his betrothed, but she is strictly guarded in the Kinský Palace. Petr quickly finds a substitute and finally ends in the Emperor mistress' bedroom. When he returns home he discovers Kateřina there, having escaped from the palace. The exhausted lover fails to live up to his reputation and proves a disappointment even before the pair embark on life together. Fortunately Kateřina has an ally in the shape of Vok's servant Cyril, who can send Lord Vok to sleep at any time she gives him in the word, and therefore enable her to spend time in the arms of a selected lover, such as a young Franciscan, for example.
Petr Vok z Rožmberka
císař Rudolf II.
Vilém Slavata z Chlumu a Košumberka, císařův kancléř
Vilém z Rožmberka, Petrův bratr
Anna Marie, Vilémova manželka
Voice by Daniela Kolářová
Kateřina z Ludanic
básník Šimon Lomnický
lokaj Cyril
purkrabí Tataus
hofmistr Smrk
Madlenka, členka fraucimoru
Zuzanka, členka fraucimoru
Aranka, členka fraucimoru
Dorotka, členka fraucimoru
Aloisie, členka fraucimoru
Albína, členka fraucimoru
Belina, členka fraucimoru
Aida, členka fraucimoru
Osifa, členka fraucimoru
Babeta, členka fraucimoru
Hilda, členka fraucimoru
Uršula, členka fraucimoru
trubadúr
chůva Kateřiny
kardinál Stefani
obřadník
purkmistr soběslavský
mlynářka
mlynář
stárek
mládek
prášek
pekař Tomáš
pekař/lokaj Kateřiny
italský hudebník Pedro
františkán
velitel Fendrich
zpovědník Ignác
venkovan Prokop
venkovan Metoděj
zbrojnoš u mostu
zbrojnoš u mostu
kuchař
lékař císaře
uhlíř
lokaj císaře
strážný
kardinálův kočí
pražský purkmistr
Kateřina Stradová, milenka císaře
zbrojnoš
astronom
hostinský
hostinská
patron
ficka Hanička
oddávající vikář
Voice by František Holar
velitel stráží
mladý šlechtic
lokaj
lokaj
lokaj
lokaj
služka Háta
služka
adjutant u císaře
Jan starší Kinský z Vchynic
sluha Kryštof
služka Stáza
lokaj Kateřiny
kostelník u vikáře
chůva Emílie
Popel z Lobkovic
zbrojnoš
zbrojnoš
lapka
lapka
šlechtic na koni
obézní zpěvák-eunuch
Fatima, císařův dar
silák
hlas Vokova kočího/hlas strážného u hraběnky Stradové
Jiří Býček
Petr Misík, Josef Pavlík, Ladislav Rada
Adolf Široký, Ludmila Tikovská
Karel Petrů
Alois Míka
Jaroslava Sýkorová (klapka), Miroslav Pešan (fotograf)
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)
Song Composer Luboš Fišer
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer Waldemar Matuška
Song Composer Luboš Fišer
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer Tomáš Zemek
Song Composer Luboš Fišer
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer Miloš KopeckýJan SchánilecVáclav SloupAlois MüllerJaroslav Moučka
Svatby pana Voka
Svatby pana Voka
Weddings of Petr Vok of Rožmberk
film
featuretheatrical distribution
historical, comedy
Czechoslovakia
1970
1970
literary Screenplay approved 19 February 1970
technical Screenplay approved 20 April 1970
start of filming 3 June 1970
end of filming 13 October 1970
the first film copy approved 14 December 1970
projection approval 3 February 1971
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1986
premiere 25 March 1971 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino 64 U Hradeb, Praha)
premiere 26 March 1971 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
Tvůrčí skupina Švabík – Procházka (příprava), Jan Procházka (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Erich Švabík (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny a vedoucí výrobní skupiny), Výrobní skupina Ericha Švabíka
feature film
99 min
2 800 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:1,66, 1:2,35
colour
sound
mono
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech
Festival: 9. festival českých a slovenských filmů Plzeň
1971
Plzeň / Czechoslovakia