Summary
The television detective series Hříšní lidí města pražského (The Sinful People of Prague, 1968) was so successful that its fans could not wait to see police counselor Vacátko and his murder squad on the silver screen. That film, Partie krásného dragouna (Game of a Handsome Dragoon), was based on several TV episodes: Pěnička a Paraplíčko (Burglar and Umbrella, 1970), Vražda v hotelu Excelsior (Murder at the Hotel Excelsior, 1971) and Smrt černého krále (The Death of the Black King, 1971). It also drew on a book by Jiří Marek, giving rise to a costume tragicomedy in which a lieutenant of the dragoons, Rudi Macháček, a slick ladies’ man, is suspected of murdering wealthy women. Another suspect is circus performer Zuzánek, the nephew of one murder victim... As with the TV series, experienced writer-director Jiří Sequens relied on the atmosphere of old Prague and solid performances from actors Jaroslav Marvan, Josef Bláha and Joseph Vinklář as First Republic-era criminal detectives. Josef Abrhám excels in the role of philandering Macháček. Jiří Holý, as Zuzánek, yet again plays a villain.
Read more
