Lets Be More Clever Next Time, Buddy!

Summary

This 1982 comedy about freshly released thieves unsuccessfully trying to better their lives turned out to be the last film entered into director Petr Schulhoff’s filmography. Schulhoff thus wound up a decade of making films primarily devoted to satirical narratives dealing with all manner of abuses and difficulties in a modern socialist society. The filmmaker particularly focused on bruised inter-human relationships. This is seen in his comedy Hodíme se k sobě, miláčku…? (Are We a Good Match, Darling?, 1974), which squeezes fun out of a computer selecting life partners; his double critique of the petty bourgeoisie via the films Zítra to roztočíme, drahoušku…! (We'll Kick Up a Fuss Tomorrow, Darling!, 1976) and Co je doma, to se počítá (What I Have I Hold, Gentlemen!, 1980); and in his satire on misanthropy, Já už budu hodný, dědečku! (I’ll Be Good, Old Man!,1978). He was, however, also ridiculing the fraudulent practices in which state enterprise recruiters indulged (Já to tedy beru, šéfe! [O. K., Leave it to Me, Boss...!, 1977]). The comedy Příště budeme chytřejší, staroušku! (Lets Be More Clever Next Time, Buddy!) deals with both thematic areas – on the one hand it gives an account of the relationship between two crafty repeat offenders, while on the other it describes the dirty tricks cunning socialist asset strippers use to enrich themselves… The thieves Karel Vašátko and Gustav Makovec vainly try to start a new life after having been released from prison. However, they are surrounded by legions of enticers who foil their honest endeavours. Their experiences in the car repair shop and with a delivery drivers' enterprise kindle fresh creativity in their minds. This prompts them to once again start actively stealing from their naïve fellow men. Their plans, however, never work out in the way they wish and their crimes start to turn against their own fortunes. But they quickly stop mulling over how they might lead a decent life – it is, after all, all a matter of being wiser the next time… Schulhoff, who also wrote the screenplay, produced a simple story about criminals being deceived to serve as the backbone of what is a light folk comedy. The main parts are taken by Karel Augusta and František Peterka, an actor whom, as one of the director’s favourites, appeared in the majority of Schulhoff's films. Schulhoff also allotted parts to very much tried and tested Czech comedy actors Helena Růžičková, Jan Skopeček and Vladimír Hlavatý.

Synopsis