The Best Way of Waking Up Princesses
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1977Production year
1977Premiere
24 March 1978Runtime
83 minDirector
Václav VorlíčekCategory
filmGenre
fairytaleTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Jak se budí princeznyCzech title
Jak se budí princeznyEnglish title
The Best Way of Waking Up PrincessesSummary
While the most popular fairy tale in Václav Vorlíček’s filmography remains Tři oříšky pro Popelku (Three Nuts for Cinderella, 1973), the successful director also employed his experience of the fantasy genre to good effect in Princ a Večernice (The Prince and the Evening Star) (1978), a fairy tale about the power of familial love, and the romantic tale Jak se budí princezny (Best Way to Waking Up Princesses) (1977), inspired by the classic Sleeping Beauty narrative. The screenplay for the latter was written by Bohumila Zelenková; primarily a TV screenwriter and dramaturge, she was the wife and close collaborator of the better known Otto Zelenka. Zelenková had worked with Vorlíček on Three Nuts for Cinderella, on which she used her name to cover up the authorship of the then banned František Pavlíček... As the heroine is rather inactive when it comes both to selecting a groom and breaking her evil curse, and sleeps for most of the well-known fairy tale, Zelenková amended the plot. In her rendition, the comely princess has a jealous older sister Melánie; fortunately, the curse causes the old maid to soften. While the smug prince Jiří is keen on the princess, she loves his younger brother Jaroslav. When the curse is fulfilled and the princess pricks her finger, Jaroslav has to overcome various adversities in order to awaken his love and the entire kingdom… The lead in the stylish, engaging fairy tale was performed by the then 18-year-old Marie Horáková, who had previously only been seen in small parts. Jaroslav was played by Jan Hrušínský, who had already proven the ideal beau in Vorlíček’s Dívce na koštěti (The Girl on The Broom, 1971). Jan Kraus, popular for his portrayals of hooligans, also appeared in that picture and here played prince Jiří. Jaroslav’s valet Matěj, played by Vladimír Menšík, became a popular character in the movie.
Synopsis
The king Dalimil and the queen Eliška waited to see a longed-for offspring - a daughter Růženka. But Eliška's envious and bad sister Melánie curses her. When Růženka becomes 17 years old she will prick her finger and she will fall asleep for ages together with the entire kingdom. Only the old maid makes the curse milder when she reminds to the heart-broken parents that love is stronger than death. The king had better removed all plants with thorns. Růženka became beautiful. Jiří, the crown prince of the Midnight kingdom came together with his parents and his younger brother Jaroslav to woo her. The self-sufficient young man is taught by his parents how to be self-confident as a future king rather in a bad way. They let him win games and competitions and they keep back that the bear with which he likes to fight successfully is the servant Matěj disguised as a bear. But Růženka falls in love at first sight to Jaroslav. In a horse race Jaroslav better falls into the pond in order not to run over a child. Also Jaroslav loves the princess and still he leaves the kingdom before the engagement party. He believes to his brother's lie that Růženka wishes so. The following day Růženka will refuse Jiří in front of all guests because she does not love him. Melánie lures on Růženka and the girl pricks her on a rose thorn. The princess and the kingdom fall asleep. Gardener Jakub calls in Jaroslav to help. The prince overcomes the obstacles and learns many things before he hews his way through the thorns to the princess. Then his affectionate kiss awakes her and the entire kingdom.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Jiří Sovák
král Dalimil I.
Milena Dvorská
královna Eliška
Marie Horáková
Voice by Naďa Konvalinková
princezna Růženka, dcera Dalimila a Elišky
Vladimír Menšík
sluha Matěj
František Filipovský
baron, první ministr
Jan Hrušínský
princ Jaroslav
Jan Kraus
princ Jiří
Stella Zázvorková
královna Anežka, matka Jiřího a Jaroslava
Oldřich Velen
Voice by Lubor Tokoš
král Vendelín
Libuše Švormová
Melánie, Eliščina sestra
Václav Postránecký
zahradník Jakub
Slávka Španková
Bětka, Jakubova žena
Marie Brožová
stará služka u Melánie
Jiří Lír
písař
Vlastimil Hašek
sluha prince Jiřího
Miloš Vavruška
hajný Tomáš
Evelyna Steimarová
Miroslava, komorná Růženky
Jana Bittlová
dvorní dáma
Marie Crhová
dvorní dáma
Dana Kubálková
dvorní dáma
Helena Mojžíšová
dvorní dáma
Vladimír Pospíšil
velitel granátníků
Oskar Hák
vousatý granátník
Zdeněk Dryšl
dvořan
Jan Houdek
dvořan
Václav Hrůza
dvořan
Miloš Stránský
dvořan
Alois Klejzar
dvořan na stráži
Jan Valihrach
dvořan na stráži
Ladislav Sýkora
velitel stráže Půlnočního království
Vlastimil Slezák
strážný Půlnočního království
František Švihlík
strážný Půlnočního království
Jan Kuželka
kuchař
Jiří Růžička
kuchař
Pavla Maršálková
selka na trhu
Lubomíra Willigová
porodní bába/selka
Blanka Křížová
švadlena
Stanislav Benda
strážný
Jiří Kraus
strážný
Jaromír Crha
kočí
František Miroslav Doubrava
plačící voják
Karel Fiala
spící strážný
Bohumil Koška
hofmistr
Josef Kubín
spící číšník
Vladimír Navrátil
maršálek
Přemysl Přichystal
pomocník zahradníka
Bohuslav Pucherna
Kubík, zahradníkův syn
Taťána Schottnerová
komorná
Josef Střecha
strážce pokladu
Miloslav Šindler
sloužící
Vlastimila Vlková
babka s nůší
Vladimír Volf (2)
švec
Jindřich Sejk
dubl za Vladimíra Menšíka
Josef Hrabálek
dubl za Jana Hrušínského
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Screenstory
Based on
Božena Němcová (O Šípkové Růžence – pohádka)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Miloslav Dvořák, Martin Růžička, Richard Staněk, Jiří Žůček
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Vlasta Mathauserová, Věra Winkelhöferová
Unit Production Manager
Ladislav Hanousek
Cooperation
Nevjana Raduilská (klapka), Jitka Bylinská (fotografka)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)
Songs
O šípkových růžích
Song Composer Karel Svoboda
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Borovec
Singer Helena Vondráčková
Jdi za štěstím
Song Composer Karel Svoboda
Production info
Original Title
Jak se budí princezny
Czech Title
Jak se budí princezny
English Title
The Best Way of Waking Up Princesses
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
fairytale
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1977
Production Year
1977
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 3 February 1976
start of filming 1 February 1977
technical Screenplay approved 18 March 1977
end of filming 17 November 1977
projection approval 28 November 1977
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1995
Premiere
preview 5 March 1978 (kino Světozor, Praha)
premiere 24 March 1978 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Oty Hofmana, Ota Hofman (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny), Výrobní skupina Věry Třeškové, Věra Třešková (vedoucí výrobní skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
83 min
Original length in metres
2 372 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: 3. mezinárodní festival filmů pro děti a mládež Štrasburk
1979
Štrasburk / France
Vítěz
Exhibition: 20. přehlídka avantgardních a neorealistických filmů Avellino
1979
Avellino / Italy
Vítěz
Festival: 18. festival filmů pro děti Gottwaldov
1978
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Festival: 16. festival českých a slovenských filmů České Budějovice
1978
České Budějovice / Czechoslovakia
Karel Svoboda
