Christian (1939 film)

Christian
Czech poster
Directed by Martin Frič
Produced by Miloš Havel
Written by Eduard Simácek
Josef Gruss
Starring Oldrich Nový
Music by Sláva Eman Nováček
Cinematography Ferdinand Pecenka
Edited by Jan Kohout
Distributed by Lucernafilm
Release date
  • 8 September 1939 (1939-09-08)
Running time
 96 minutes
Country Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Language Czech
Budget 675,000 KČs[1]

Christian (Czech: Kristián) is a Czech comedy film directed by Martin Frič.[1] It was released in 1939. The film is based on a French play.

On the first of every month, a mysterious guest, who goes by the name Kristián, appears in the fashionable Orient Bar. He tips lavishly, and on every visit, his tales of foreign travels charm a new woman into falling for him. After every conquest, however, he slips away, vanishing poignantly but harmlessly into the night—until a dropped business card betrays his identity. Thanks to the clue, his latest conquest, Zuzana, discovers that by day Kristián is merely Alois Novák, a mousy travel agent with a wife, and Zuzana decides to take humorous revenge. The result is a witty movie that calls to mind American screwball comedies of the same era such as The Lady Eve and The Awful Truth.[2] In real life, the actresses who played Zuzana and Novák's wife were friends, and during World War II they competed for the affections of the producer Willy Söhnel.[1]

Production

The film is based on a play by Yvan Noé.[3] Shooting of the film took 23 days and cost 675,000 Crowns. The film premiered on 8 September 1939.[1]

Plot

Alois Novák is an uninspired clerk married to Marie. He lives a boring life and wants to feel adventure. Once in a month he attends Orient bar disguised as a rich traveller Kristian and seduces beautiful and elegant women and then leaves them broken-hearted. One day he meets Zuzana. She sees through his game and doesn't let herself fooled. She starts to search for him which leads to many comical situations. She eventually finds him and makes Novák to return to reality. Novák leaves his Kristián persona but becomes more confident person and more loving husband for his wife.

Cast

  • Oldrich Nový as Alois Novák alias Kristian
  • Natasa Gollová as Marie Nováková
  • Raoul Schránil as Fred
  • Bedrich Veverka as Petr
  • Adina Mandlová as Zuzana Rendlová - Fred's fiancée
  • Jára Kohout as Josef Novotný - official travel agency
  • Anna Steimarová as Marie's aunt
  • Jaroslav Marvan as Král - Travel agency manager
  • Cenek Slégl as Dandy with hanky
  • Josef Belský as Orient bar manager
  • Frantisek Paul as Robert - waiter
  • Jan W. Speerger as Barman

Release

The film premiered on 8 September 1939. It remained in cinemas for 5 weeks. The film had second premiere after World War II but scenese that include Adina Mandlová and Jára Kohout were cut from the film.[1]

Possible sequel

Oldrich Nový wanted to collaborate with Martin Frič on a sequel called Christian Returns. Plans for sequel also appeared after deaths of Martin Frič and Oldrich Nový. Karel Gott and Jiří Lábus were speculated to star in the film. None of these plans led to production of the film.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kristián". csfd.cz. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  2. ↑ "Kristián. 1939. Directed by Martin Fric". Museum of Modern Art. April 20, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Kristian (1939)". Filmový přehled (in Czech). Retrieved 3 May 2018.
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