Summary
Karel Václav Rais’ novel Pantáta Bezoušek (The Old Man Bezoušek) was first filmed by Karel Lamač in 1926. However, the sound film version, made 15 years later according to Karel Steklý’s screenplay by screenwriter, film editor and director Jiří Slavíček (son of painter Antonín Slavíček) went on to become much more popular. The lead character of the narrative is an ageing villager who arrives in Prague to visit his adult son (Ladislav Boháč). Simple-souled Bezoušek Sr. (Jaroslav Vojta) manages to achieve more than just an enjoyment of the delights of the capital city. His good heart goes a long way in helping his son’s sister-in-law Melanka (Vlasta Matulová) to realise her long-forbidden love for building assistant Králiš (Jan Pivec), something her strict father (Karel Hašler) would not approve of… The film strongly appealed to the patriotic feelings of Czech audiences living in the Protectorate, especially as it includes a fragment of Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride, Smetana’s opera), which characters go to see. German censorship responded immediately by banning any and all patriotic tendencies in Czech films.
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