The Bronze Boys

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1980

Production year

1980

Premiere

26 June 1981

Runtime

92 min

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Kluci z bronzu

Czech title

Kluci z bronzu

English title

The Bronze Boys

Working title

Potlesk pro chlapy

Summary

The 1980 Strahov Stadium Spartakiad performance by soldiers is the focus of Kluci z bronzu (The Bronze Boys), directed by Stanislav Strnad and premièred only a year later in the summer of 1981. Thanks to support from both the Czechoslovak People’s Army and the staff of the Spartakiad, The Bronze Boys featured documentary recordings from the mass gymnastics display, interwoven with the film's fictional framework. The main protagonist is Captain Chmelař (Ladislav Mrkvička). He has trained a whole divisional unit for the performance at giant Prague stadium, despite grappling with numerous obstacles along the way. These include the consequences of his own disciplinary lapses brought about by his relationship with schoolteacher Eva (Jitka Smutná). Chmelař decides to leave the army despite being useful and a favourite, but he is fortunately made to reconsider following the success of his loyal “boys” at Strahov. The high optimism presented by this film is counterbalanced by Věra Chytilová's documentary Praha – Neklidné srdce Evropy (Prague – The Restless Heart of Europe, 1984). It uses archive footage of the second performance, during which the soldiers went through their routine in a Strahov quagmire.

Synopsis

Military are performing their difficult "Spartakiad" sports composition (National gymnastics festival) at the Strahov stadium in Prague. Major Melichar and major Rybár have been proudly watching the soldier, sharing the joy over the large applause by the audience. Only captain Chmelař is missing, who was successfully preparing the division unit for their performance. It was not an easy job. The composition was demanding, and major Melichar insisted that the soldiers must not neglect any of their regular military duties. Chmelař was exposed to high pressure during the training, he often was late due to a date with his beloved girlfriend Eva, having to face discrepancies with the soldiers, with his family, as well as with uncompromising major Melichar. h He asked for being transferred to another military unit, but his application had been rejected. The soldiers, however, like Chmelař and respect him, and this is why they are trying to perform at their best at the Spartakiad. They undergo even the compulsory tanning sessions with no objections. Only Chmelař had bad luck. He injured his leg and only could watch the performance on TV at hospital. Nevertheless, he feels happy, changing his mind on leaving his division.

Note

Documentaries of the 1980 Spartakiad (National gymnastics festival) have been used in the movie.

Cast

Ladislav Mrkvička

kapitán Radek Chmelař, tělovýchovný náčelník pluku

Jaroslav Drbohlav

desátník Oldřich Rais

Bronislav Križan

major Vlado Rybár

Josef Langmiler

major Jiří Melichar

Vlastimil Zavřel

vojín Taraba

Ladislav Trojan

rotmistr Ivo Srdínko

Dana Batulková

Voice by Sylva Sequensová
Renata, Chmelařova dcera

Jitka Smutná

učitelka Eva Hošková, Chmelařova přítelkyně

Petr Skarke

kapitán Josef Krupička

Jindřich Hrdý

desátník Štefan Benčík

Jan Cmíral ml.

vojín Doubrava

Roman Hájek

vojín Záboj Kos

Jiří Prager

vojín Evžen Kocourek

Daniel Rous

svobodník Mojmír Hrubeš

Jitka Malíková

redaktorka Gabriela

Miriam Kantorková

podporučík Zdena Skořepová

František Hanus

generálmajor, velitel divize

Miroslav Zounar

vojenský lékař

Jan Kuželka

vojín Bohouš Kořínek, kuchař

Ladislav Chromík

kapitán, náčelník štábu

Jiří Sequens ml.

vojín Pípal

Tomáš Juřička

vojín Nováček

Roman Skamene

pomocník dozorčího

Alena Kreuzmannová

vrátná ubytovny

Zita Kabátová

Kocourková, Evženova matka

Miroslav Vladyka

uklízeč v nemocnici

Vladimír Klemens

stařík u tělocvičny

Mirko Musil

recepční

Ivo Niederle

pacient u televize

Zdena Burdová

zdravotní sestra

Karel Fořt

správce Kazda

Petr Lepša

vojín Dymák

Radka Majerová

spojařka Olinka, Krupičkova přítelkyně

Zdeněk David

vojín Burda, kuchař

Dalibor Lipský

řidič ve škole

Otakar Němec

řidič osobního vozu

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Helena Rohanová

Assistant Director

Dalibor Fiksa

Continuity

Dana Průchová

Screenstory

Karel Richter

Shooting Script

Stanislav Strnad

Director of Photography

Josef Pávek

Second Unit Photography

Kamil Kadeřábek

Camera Operator

Václav Zajíček

Production Designer

Karel Černý

Assistent Production Designer

Michal Krška

Set Designer

Jaroslav Česal, Jan Hodný, Karel Kočí

Costume Designer

Vojtěch Kolařík

Film Editor

Miroslav Hájek

Assistant Film Editor

Magda Hájková, Helena Lehovcová

Sound Designer

Adolf Böhm

Production Manager

Karel Vejřík

Unit Production Manager

Miroslav Dousek, Dana Dudová

Unit Production Manager

Ivana Chobotová

Consultant

pplk. Jan Hrachovský, pplk. Karel Klečka

Cooperation

Alice Kracíková (klapka), Miroslav Jirsa (fotograf), Československá lidová armáda, štáb Čs. spartakiády 1980

Music

Music Performed by

FISYO, Orchestr Václava Hybše (Music Conducted by Václav Hybš)

Production info

Original Title

Kluci z bronzu

Czech Title

Kluci z bronzu

English Title

The Bronze Boys

Working Title

Potlesk pro chlapy

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1980

Production Year

1980

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 12 May 1980
start of filming 18 June 1980
technical Screenplay approved 24 July 1980
end of filming 19 December 1980
projection approval 30 December 1980
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1990

Premiere

premiere 26 June 1981 /suitable for youths/

Studio

Barrandov

Creative Group

Dramaturgická skupina Miroslava Hladkého, Miroslav Hladký (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

92 min

Original length in metres

2 640 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