A Warrant Against the Queen

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1973

Production year

1973

Premiere

5 April 1974

Runtime

91 min

Director

Dušan Klein

Category

film

Genre

drama, crime

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Zatykač na královnu

Czech title

Zatykač na královnu

English title

A Warrant Against the Queen

Summary

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).

Synopsis

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.

Film online

Cast

Regina Rázlová

laborantka Dagmar Králová

Vladimír Menšík

ředitel hotelu Zátiší Karel Černý

Josef Somr

ředitel Chemotexu Ing. Vaněček

Jiří Lábus

řidič Eda Pelc

Otakar Brousek

inženýr Kubát

Karel Hlušička

kapitán Rudolf Záruba

Rudolf Jelínek

podporučík Brabec

Jaroslav Moučka

major Vrána

Olga Blechová

Voice by Eva Trejtnarová
Helenka, Černého dcera

Viera Strnisková

Voice by Jaroslava Adamová
matka Králová

Alena Procházková

Eva Hanáčková

Jiří Havel

kriminalista Stejskal

Jan Kanyza

kriminalista Jílek

Antonín Hardt

řidič Habart

Adolf Filip

technik Bezpečnosti

Miloš Willig

lékař Bezpečnosti

Jiří Kodet

zahraniční host Franz Albert

Jana Švandová

laborantka Miládka

Bohuslav Ličman

otec Miládky

Ludmila Píchová

Kubátova žena

Václav Lohniský

vedoucí hotelu Angelis

Ina Vnoučková

Angelisova žena

Jarmila Horská

Kalousova žena

Gustav Heverle

garážmistr

Ludmila Roubíková

uklízečka Čermáková

Rudolf Kalina

číšník

Karel Hábl

redaktor

Daniela Šauerová

Slávka

Ladislav Raška

Martin

Jitka Nováková (2)

Věrka

Jiřina Bílá

Vránova žena

Ladislav Bambas

kameraman

Jan Krafka

milenec

Bert Schneider

příslušník VB

Eva Lorenzová

laborantka

Marta Baierová

laborantka

Milena Kaplická

laborantka

Pavel Dydovič

kapelník skupiny Orchestrion

Jan Adamčík

kytarista

Vlastimil Červenka

klávesista

Petr Kocfelda

baskytarista

Ivan Moravec

bubeník

Jan Rotter

kytarista

Crew and creators

Director

Dušan Klein

Second Unit Director

Milan Klacek

Assistant Director

Jiří Prokeš

Based on

Bedřich Skočdopole (Zatykač na královnu – román)

Shooting Script

Dušan Klein

Director of Photography

Jiří Stöhr

Second Unit Photography

Josef Novotný

Camera Operator

Jiří Knotek

Production Designer

Karel Černý

Assistent Production Designer

Miloš Červinka

Set Designer

Rudolf Beneš, Josef Calta, Miloš Sršeň

Costume Designer

Irena Greifová

Assistant Film Editor

Helena Lehovcová

Sound Designer

František Fabián

Special Effects

Trikový ateliér FSB

Production Manager

Eliška Nejedlá

Unit Production Manager

Blanka Rýdlová, Ladislav Beneš, Jana Koubová, Vladislav Špidra

Consultant

Václav Kocourek

Cooperation

M. Šlehoferová (klapka), Vladimír Souček (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Svatopluk Havelka

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), skupina Orchestrion

Songs

Kytky začly kvést

Song Composer Svatopluk Havelka
Writer of Lyrics Ivo Fischer
Singer Olga Blechová

Náruč máš a nápovědu znáš

Singer Pavel Dydovič

Holka ta okatá

Song Composer Bohuslav Ondráček
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Borovec
Singer Václav Neckář

Production info

Original Title

Zatykač na královnu

Czech Title

Zatykač na královnu

English Title

A Warrant Against the Queen

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama, crime

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1973

Production Year

1973

Production specifications

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

premiere 5 April 1974 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 25 April 1974 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Jalta, Praha)

Creative Group

Dramaturgická skupina Karla Copa, Karel Cop (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

91 min

Original length in metres

2 550 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,66

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech