Director Dušan Klein reaffirmed his reputation as skilled maker of crime films with this 1973 feature starring Regina Rázlová. Zatykač na královnu (A Warrant Against the Queen, 1973) is inspired by an eponymous novel from author Bedřich Skočdopole. The communist regime’s official stance that crime was virtually non-existent in the socialist utopia was also reflected in the cinema output of this era. Yet Klein’s film features a surprising number of illegal activities. The title character, murder victim Dagmar Králová (her surname referencing “regal” connections), is a drug addict of questionable morals, involved with a gang of bootleg alcohol producers… Actors Vladimír Menšík, Josef Somr, Jiří Kodet star as the crooks, with comedian Jiří Lábus offering a brilliant performance as mentally retarded driver Eda. Meanwhile, the long arm of the law is represented by second lieutenant Brabec (Rudolf Jelínek) and Major Vrána (Jaroslav Moučka).
Dagmar Králová is called the Queen because of her boastful acting. One day, the police receive an anonymous denouncement informing them about her luxury way of life. The police decide to summon Králová to explain her opinion about the denouncement. Before the summons is held, there happen two murders in the city. One of the victims is a woman hitch-hiker, the other one is Králová. Investigation reveals an unfair activities by a well-organized group of fraudsters. Vaněček, general manager of the local company Chemotex, established a private alcoholic drinks producing plant, and Králová provided high quality ingredients from an Austrian citizen Albert. The group was completed by Eva Hanáčková and a mentally disabled driver Eda Pelc, who supplied stolen alcohol. The business was controlled by a hotel manager Karel Černý. When the group found out that Králová had been summoned by the police, they became nervous. Frightened to death, Černý ordered the others to destroy the supplies and he murdered Králová. The second murder was unintentionally committed by Eda Pelc. He confessed to the murder of the hitch-hiker, bringing the police to the Králová's murderer trace. The police finally disclosed even the author of the anonymous letter. It was the wife of Mr Kubát from a transport company. She was jealous of Králová, because her husband flirted with her.
laborantka Dagmar Králová
ředitel hotelu Zátiší Karel Černý
ředitel Chemotexu Ing. Vaněček
řidič Eda Pelc
inženýr Kubát
kapitán Rudolf Záruba
podporučík Brabec
major Vrána
Voice by Eva Trejtnarová
Helenka, Černého dcera
Voice by Jaroslava Adamová
matka Králová
Eva Hanáčková
stopařka
kriminalista Stejskal
kriminalista Jílek
řidič Habart
technik Bezpečnosti
lékař Bezpečnosti
zahraniční host Franz Albert
laborantka Miládka
otec Miládky
Kubátova žena
vedoucí hotelu Angelis
Angelisova žena
Kalous
Kalousova žena
garážmistr
vrchní
lesník
uklízečka Čermáková
číšník
redaktor
Slávka
Martin
Věrka
Jarmilka
Vránova žena
kameraman
milenec
milenka
výčepní
příslušník VB
laborantka
laborantka
laborantka
kapelník skupiny Orchestrion
kytarista
klávesista
baskytarista
bubeník
kytarista
Jiří Prokeš
Bedřich Skočdopole (Zatykač na královnu – román)
Rudolf Beneš, Josef Calta, Miloš Sršeň
Blanka Rýdlová, Ladislav Beneš, Jana Koubová, Vladislav Špidra
Václav Kocourek
M. Šlehoferová (klapka), Vladimír Souček (fotograf)
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), skupina Orchestrion
Song Composer Svatopluk Havelka
Writer of Lyrics Ivo Fischer
Singer Olga Blechová
Singer Pavel Dydovič
Song Composer Bohuslav Ondráček
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Borovec
Singer Václav Neckář
Zatykač na královnu
Zatykač na královnu
A Warrant Against the Queen
film
featuretheatrical distribution
drama, crime
Czechoslovakia
1973
1973
literary Screenplay approved 12 March 1973
start of filming 26 March 1973
technical Screenplay approved 10 May 1973
end of filming 23 October 1973
projection approval 23 October 1973
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1986
premiere 5 April 1974 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 25 April 1974 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Jalta, Praha)
Dramaturgická skupina Karla Copa, Karel Cop (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
feature film
91 min
2 550 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:1,66
black & white
sound
mono
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech