Wedding without a Ring
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1971Production year
1971Premiere
5 May 1972Runtime
92 minDirector
Vladimír ČechCategory
filmGenre
drama, psychologicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Svatba bez prstýnkuCzech title
Svatba bez prstýnkuEnglish title
Wedding without a RingSummary
Based on the novel Kulhavý Orfeus (Hobbling Orpheus) by Jan Otčenášek, this 1972 comedy from director Vladimír Čech is set in June 1944. Young worker Vojta serves as the protagonist, who, for the sake of appearances, marries the daughter of a wealthy master builder. The marriage is designed to save her from being sent to work in the German Reich. Vojta agrees to the sham because he secretly loves Alena. But when the bride’s family learns that Vojta has been accused at the foundry where he works of anti-German activities, the marriage is over... Michal Pavlata (Vojta) and Jana Preissová (Alena) star in this film somewhat afflicted by contemporary “normalisation” era tones. Irena Kačírková takes the role of Alena’s ambitious mother. Additionally, Václav Neckář portrays foundry worker Piškot; during this time, this actor frequently combined his singing and acting careers.
Synopsis
It is World War II, the year 1944. Young workman Vojta lives with his mother in the basement of a villa belonging to the rich wife of an architect. She shares the villa with her daughter Alena and her brother-in-law, a former officer of the Czechoslovak army. Vojta and Alena grew up together, but then social differences divided them. Vojta works hard at the smelting works, while Alena spends her time partying with rich and idle gilded youth. Alena is finishing school; her mother fears that she will be sent to the German Reich in order to perform forced labour, so she asks Vojta to formally marry Alena, because married women do not have to leave and work for the Reich. Vojta, who loves Alena, agrees. However, unlike Alena, the wedding is not just a formality to him. He even accepts the humiliating conditions imposed by Alena's mother. The marriage, which Alena does not take as pragmatically as her mother, goes to pieces when the family learns Vojta was interrogated in connection with anti-German activity at the smelting works. The hysterical mother immediately takes Alena away from Prague. Vojta seeks her out, but he realizes that they live in two completely different worlds. Alena files a petition for divorce and Vojta leaves with foreman Melichar, who is being hunted down by the Gestapo, to join the partisans.
Photos
Cast
Michal Pavlata
dělník Vojta Syrůček
Jana Preissová
Alena Pavlincová
Irena Kačírková
milostpaní Hedva Pavlincová, matka
Petr Kostka
elegán Aleš
Karel Höger
plukovník Jindřich Kuneš, Alenin strýc
Antonie Hegerliková
Františka Syrůčková, Vojtova matka
Zdeněk Kryzánek
dílenský mistr Melichar
Vladimír Leraus
JUDr. Karel Hodek, Alešův otec
Václav Neckář
dělník Koubek zvaný Piškot
Josef Chvalina
německý vedoucí továrny Baschke
Viktor Preiss
maturant Pavel, totálně nasazený
Pavel Havránek
maturant Beránek zvaný Bacil
Oldřich Velen
mistr v továrně
Ladislav Trojan
dělník Arcík
Valerie Chmelová
Dag, Alenina kamarádka
Jürgen Frohriep
německý plukovník
Ladislav Mrkvička
dělník Pepek
Václav Kotva
dělník Navrátil
Josef Hlinomaz
návštěvník kina
Marcela Martínková
úřednice magistrátu
Josef Burda
JUDr. Mrákota, úředník magistrátu
Josef Beyvl
šumař
Jaroslav Mareš
šumař
Marta Richterová
dělnice Anděla
Gustav Heverle
verkšuc
Eugen Jegorov
verkšuc
Pavel Jiras
verkšuc
František Kubíček
verkšuc
Miloslav Štibich
verkšuc ve vrátnici
Petr Skarke
Čestmír
Zuzana Talpová
Božka
Josef Váša
Luboš
Zdeněk Braunschläger
gestapák
Vladimír Navrátil
gestapák
Zdeněk Novotný
gestapák
Vladimír Zoubek
gestapák
Milan Livora
mladík s knírkem
Zdena Dančíková
mladíkova přítelkyně
Jiří Krampol
Vůdy
Bohumil Koška
dělník Horák
Helena Lišková
Mimi
Ludvík Pozník
německý důstojník v huti
Blažena Vernerová
uvaděčka v biografu
Vlasta Kleinová
starší žena z kolonie
Alena Janošková
dívka
Eva Lorenzová
dívka
Jan Dejmek
dělník
Miroslav Jíra
dubl za Michala Pavlatu
P. Pávek
dubl za Zdeňka Kryzánka
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Based on
Jan Otčenášek (Kulhavý Orfeus – román)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Jiří Čermák, Josef Pavlík, Petr Misík
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Antonín Navrátil, Vladislav Špidra
Unit Production Manager
Alena Koubová
Consultant
plk. Jan Kovář
Cooperation
Eva Truchlá (klapka), Josef Janoušek (fotograf), Spojené ocelárny Kladno n. p.
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Bedřich Smetana (Prodaná nevěsta /Věrné naše milování/), Ludwig van Beethoven (Pro Elišku /Für Elise/ – klavírní skladba a moll)
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček), Studiová skupina dr. Jana Hammera, Lucký Štěpán, Vladimír Večtomov, Jiří Verberger
Songs
Já vím, že den se krátí
Song Composer Štěpán Lucký
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer Václav Neckář
I'm waiting for your arm
Song Composer Jan Hammer
Writer of Lyrics Jan Hammer
Singer Vlasta Průchová
Já mám koně, vraný koně /parafráze/
Singer Václav Neckář
Dneska půjdeme spát až ráno
Singer Josef BeyvlJaroslav Mareš
Production info
Original Title
Svatba bez prstýnku
Czech Title
Svatba bez prstýnku
English Title
Wedding without a Ring
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama, psychological
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1971
Production Year
1971
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 15 February 1971
technical Screenplay approved 17 August 1971
start of filming 7 September 1971
end of filming 21 November 1971
projection approval 9 March 1972
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1990
Premiere
premiere 4 May 1972 /suitable for youths/ (kino Sevastopol, Praha)
premiere 5 May 1972 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Karla Copa, Karel Cop (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny), Výrobní skupina Jiřího Šebora, Jiří Šebor (vedoucí výrobní skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
92 min
Original length in metres
2 600 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, German
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 10. filmový festival mladých Trutnov
1972
Trutnov / Czechoslovakia
