David Sandel’s Last Shot

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1971

Production year

1971

Premiere

7 April 1972

Runtime

35 min

Category

film

Genre

adventure, short-story

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionmedium

Original title

Poslední výstřel Davida Sandela

Czech title

Poslední výstřel Davida Sandela

English title

David Sandel’s Last Shot

Working title

Cena přátelství

Summary

The three short films based on Jack London's short stories were realized at the Gottwaldov Film Studio by screenwriter Jiří Křižan and director Zdenek Sirový. Along with A Canyon Full of Gold (1970) and The Claim at the Deaf Creek (1971), they include David Sandel’s Last Shot. The story, which like the rest was shown in cinemas either alone or together with others, is the most exciting of the whole series. Its heroes are gold prospectors Jackson and Sandel, who compete with a rival duo for a newly discovered, promising-looking area. The desire for riches turn the men against each other with guns in their hands. Though their dreams of a better life are simple and honest, greed leads to tragedy... Bronislav Križan and Otto Lackovič played the main roles in this low-budget, simple story about the power of gold.

Synopsis

Gold-prospectors Bob Jackson and David Sandel seem to have struck gold in a rock. Their delight is interrupted by the arrival of Meloun and his partner Joe. They guess that Bob and David haven't registered their claim, and so the deposit will belong to whoever gets to the station first. Bob and Joe immediately set out on a two-day journey that will clearly end tragically for one of them. Shortly after they leave a shot rings out. David hopes Bob has got the better of Joe. Waiting for the return of Bob or Joe is exhausting. Neither of the men can sleep since they fear for their lives. In the end Meloun offers David a gunfight. In the shoot-out that follows Meloun seriously wounds David, but himself immediately dies felled by David's bullet. Bob returns and wants to take David to the station, where there is a doctor. David refuses. He is hoping to fulfil his dream and amaze his father and stuck-up brother with his wealth. Bob for his part dreams of winning back his love Jane, and so he tries to get at the gold fast by detonating explosives. After the explosion he discovers that there is no gold there, but he doesn't tell David the truth. David dies still believing in the phantom wealth. Bob buries David and Meloun and sadly leaves the canyon.

Note

The film was presented both independently and as part of the film of three short stories under the title Canynon All Gold. Other parts of the triptych are called Canyon All Gold and The Claim at the Deaf Creek.

Cast

Bronislav Križan

Voice by Vladimír Brabec
zlatokop David Sandel

Otto Lackovič

zlatokop Bob Jackson

Zdeněk Kryzánek

zlatokop zvaný Meloun

Augustín Kubáň

Voice by Jaroslav Moučka
zlatokop Joe

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Zdeněk Zydroň

Based on

Jack London (povídka)

Dramaturg

Milan Šimek

Director of Photography

Jiří Macháně

Camera Operator

Milan Kopecký

Production Designer

Ladislav Vlk

Set Designer

Šťovíček Josef st., František Santarius

Costume Designer

Theodor Pištěk ml.

Make-Up Artist

Dušan Brodanský

Sound Designer

Radomír Koutek, Bohumír Brunclík (zvukové efekty)

Production Manager

Zdeněk Stibor

Unit Production Manager

Vojtěch Kunčík

Cooperation

Jaromír Úlehla

Music

Music Composed by

Luboš Fišer

Production info

Original Title

Poslední výstřel Davida Sandela

Czech Title

Poslední výstřel Davida Sandela

English Title

David Sandel’s Last Shot

Working Title

Cena přátelství

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

adventure, short-story

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1971

Production Year

1971

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 09/1970
start of filming 6 April 1971
end of filming 10 May 1971
projection approval 29 September 1971
withdrawal from distribution 1 March 1976

Premiere

premiere 6 April 1972 /suitable for youths/ (kina Kotva a Hvězda, Praha)
premiere 7 April 1972 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)

Technical info

Duration typology

medium length film

Duration in minutes

35 min

Original length in metres

990 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

colour

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Festival: 12. festival filmů pro děti a mládež s mezinárodní účastí Gottwaldov

1972
Zlín / Czechoslovakia