Summary
In 1942, the director Martin Frič and screenwriter Karel Steklý added a fresh comedy to their joint filmography whose atmosphere does not reflect the horrific reality of the time (the movie was premiered just a few weeks after the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, which sparked a vicious Nazi backlash). The naïve official Valentin Plavec, who falls victim to a practical joke by his colleagues, became a reliable guide for audiences in dark times. Under the impression that he has won a million in the lottery, he succumbs to profligacy as everyone around him begins sucking up to him. As soon as the truth comes out, Valentin find himself on his own again. The only person who remains loyal to him regardless of the fictional state of his wallet is his fiancée Helenka, played convincingly by the tried-and-trusted Hana Vítová. The roles of Valentin's crafty colleagues, who get their comeuppance in a refined way from him after he is cured of his naïveté, were played by Ladislav Pešek and Eman Fiala.
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