Behind the Scenes at the Pacific Hotel
Country
Czechoslovakia, PolandCopyright
1975Production year
1975Premiere
30 January 1976Runtime
97 minDirector
Janusz MajewskiCategory
filmGenre
drama, psychologicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Dvojí svět hotelu PacifikCzech title
Dvojí svět hotelu PacifikEnglish title
Behind the Scenes at the Pacific HotelCo-production title
Zaklęte rewiryWorking title
Zakleté revírySummary
During the 1970s, one way of enabling costlier projects to be made was to establish joint productions with other Eastern Bloc “partners”. This 1975 Czechoslovak-Polish co-production is just such an example. The drama, set against the attractive backdrop of the 1930s, is based on a novel by Polish author Henryk Worcell called Zaklęte rewiry. Brought to the screen by fellow Pole and director Janusz Majewski, the film tells the story of young Roman, who gets a job at a hotel in order to train as a waiter. But behind-the-scenes, Hotel Pacifik differs markedly from its outwardly sparkling facade and chic, wealthy clientele. Roman finds himself entangled in a class-ridden world full of envy, greed and thirst for power. Like other hotel staff, the young man tries to find his own way of grasping notions of loyalty and morality. The strong production features Polish actor Marek Kondrat in the main role. On the Czech side we find the significant contribution of noted cinematographer Miroslav Ondříček. Also Czech actors Roman Skamene, Jaroslava Schallerová and Čestmír Řanda have major roles in the film.
Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Romek has been given a job at the luxurious Pacific Hotel. On his first evening on the job, he gazes, mesmerised, through the coloured stained glass at the bustle in the large dining hall bathed in the light of crystal chandeliers, where the city notables are dining at the dazzlingly white laid tables. But Romek is condemned to another world, the world of dirty dishes and orders followed by insults and slaps. He shares his humble room with the apprentice waiter Fryc, who gives him advice on how to behave on the job. The willing and clever Romek is soon transferred to the snack bar and, in just a short time he is already serving the guests. As time goes by, he becomes more skilled and experienced and more selfconfidence. He gets into a conflict with the vicious headwaiter Fornalski, who has caused a tragic accident in which an elderly waiter died. Romek wants to report the case to the federation of trade unions but is dissuaded by his friend Henek. Romek passes the waiters' exams with excellent marks but Fryc fails and try to attempt a suicide. Romek has fallen in love, but his girl is fired after Fornalski informs on them. A scandal breaks out at the hotel when money is found missing in the cash register. Romek knows that Fornalski is behind the embezzlement. It is an opportunity to take his revenge. Instead, disgusted by the duplicitous hotel world, he walks out of his job.
Photos
Cast
Marek Kondrat
Voice by Jiří Prager
Roman Boryczko zvaný Romek
Roman Wilhelmi
Voice by Jiří Holý
vrchní Fornalski
Roman Skamene
pikolík Fryc
Čestmír Řanda
majitel hotelu Pancer
Michał Pawlicki
Voice by Josef Langmiler
Albin, Pancerův synovec
Martin Hron
pikolík Henek
Jaroslava Schallerová
pomocnice v kuchyni Zoška
Stanisława Celińska
Voice by Alena Procházková
kávová kuchařka Hela
Joanna Kasperska
Voice by Jana Drbohlavová
uklízečka Paulina
Włodzimierz Boruński
Voice by Ladislav Krečmer
redaktor
Czesław Wołłejko
Voice by Svatopluk Beneš
baron Humaniewski
Stanisław Zaczyk
kapitán
Václav Lohniský
číšník Sinajský
Karel Augusta
číšník Palmiak
Tadeusz Drozda
číšník
Jan Faltýnek
číšník Miecio
Lubomír Kostelka
číšník Funio
Jiří Lír
číšník Theodor
Zdzisław Maklakiewicz
číšník
Bronislav Poloczek
číšník Kazek
Míla Myslíková
kuchařka Dora
Oldřich Velen
kuchař Belcer
Vlastimil Bedrna
host Rejent
Jan Teplý
opilý host
Vilemína Nejedlová-Skokanová
žena opilce
Ivan Pokorný
pikolík Zbyšek
Josef Haukvic
komisař
Karel Peyr
host
Josef Braun
šatnář
Jan Kuželka
kuchař
Stanislav Litera
ředitel obchodní komory Mrocki
Adolf Filip
vedoucí komise Ugor
Zdeňka Rosolová
Michasia
Karel Bělohradský
bufetní
Jiří Cimický
muž v brýlích
Karel Fridrich
nádražní číšník
Drahomíra Fialková
Bronka
Josef Hajdučík
Franěk
Miroslav Krejča
host s dýmkou
Pavel Špirk
Rudek
Miloš Šustr
lékař
Libuše Komancová
pokladní
Josef Endršt
hudebník
A. Hanuš
hudebník
B. Janůrek
hudebník
K. Neoprond
hudebník
Zdeněk Piskač
hudebník
A. Sajnok
hudebník
B. Valeček
hudebník
J. Vaněk
hudebník
Alois Zouhar
hudebník
Vladimír Žižka
hudebník
Dubbing
Otakar Brousek
hlas kapitána
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Halina Słobodzin, Miroslav Balajka
Continuity
Based on
Henryk Worcell (Zaklęte rewiry – román)
Screenplay
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Vladimír Mácha, Rudolf Příhoda, Maciej Putowski, Vladimír Slepička
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Wiesława Dyksińska, Bolesław Bednarski, Zdena Sirotková, Rudolf Mos
Unit Production Manager
Marie Ryšlinková, Waldemar Król, Michał Zabłocki
Cooperation
Jitka Radová (klapka), Jiří Kučera (fotograf), zaměstnanci Obecního domu v Praze
Music
Music Composed by
Songs
Buď mojí láskou
Singer Jaroslava Schallerová
Production info
Original Title
Dvojí svět hotelu Pacifik
Czech Title
Dvojí svět hotelu Pacifik
English Title
Behind the Scenes at the Pacific Hotel
Co-production Title
Zaklęte rewiry
Working Title
Zakleté revíry
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama, psychological
Origin country
Czechoslovakia, Poland
Copyright
1975
Production Year
1975
Production specifications
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1990
Premiere
premiere abroad 27 November 1975 (Varšava, Polsko)
festival premiere 22 January 1976 (27. filmový festival pracujících – zima ´76 /kino Světozor, Praha/)
premiere 30 January 1976 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 5 February 1976 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Letka, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Vladimíra Kaliny, Vladimír Kalina (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny), Zespól Filmowy Tor (PRF Zespoły Filmowe)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
97 min
Original length in metres
2 708 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66
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: 15. mezinárodní filmový festival Panama
1977
Panama / Panama
Pavel Hajný
Vítěz
Festival: 15. mezinárodní filmový festival Panama
1977
Panama / Panama
Marek Kondrat
Vítěz
Festival: 15. mezinárodní filmový festival Panama
1977
Panama / Panama
Janusz Majewski
Vítěz
Festival: 14. festival českých a slovenských filmů Brno
1976
Brno / Czechoslovakia
Janusz Majewski
Vítěz
Festival: 14. filmový festival mladých Banská Bystrica
1976
Banská Bystrica / Czechoslovakia
Miroslav Ondříček
Vítěz
Festival: 14. festival českých a slovenských filmů Brno
1976
Brno / Czechoslovakia
Miroslav Ondříček
Vítěz
Festival: 14. filmový festival mladých Banská Bystrica
1976
Banská Bystrica / Czechoslovakia
Marek Kondrat
Vítěz
Festival: 2. národní filmový festival Gdaňsk
1975
Gdaňsk / Poland
Stanisław Piotrowski
Vítěz
Festival: 2. národní filmový festival Gdaňsk
1975
Gdaňsk / Poland
Roman Wilhelmi
