Summary
This feature-film debut from director Otakar Fuka represents the start of his career-long interest in crime genre films. Fuka would later return to this sphere with Zlaté rybky (The Gold Fish, 1977), Příliš velká šance (Too Big a Chance, 1984) and Černá punčocha (Black Stocking, 1986). The protagonist of this adaptation of the novel Pozlacené mříže (Gilded Bars) by Jiří Brabenec and Zdeňek Veselý is retired police detective Gaudl. He has justified suspicions that the death of his niece Hedvika was not down to an unhappy accident, but the result of a premeditated murder carried out by husband Jiří. Also on the trail of Jiří is his young lover Daniela... The film climbs above your average fare mainly thanks to a strong cast. Gaudl is portrayed by Vladimír Šmeral, while the part of the accused husband goes to Jiří Adamíra. Slávka Budínová plays tragic wife Hedvika.
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