Summary
This clip-based retrospective, connected via a skeleton of newly-filmed scenes, has a somewhat unusual back-story: the Semafor Theatre, whose ensemble cast contributes to this film, operated at the site of the former Nové divadlo – Oldřich Nový’s home stage. However, since the key figure at the Semafor Theatre, Jiří Suchý, was banned from appearing on the silver screen for his political views, this project, conceived by director Rudolf Adler, was taken over by Vladimír Čech, who was somewhat less squeamish about working under regime duress. The year of 1980 thus yielded an escapist film about one of the most popular Czech actors of the first half of the 20 century – albeit one which does not feature a newly-filmed appearance from Nový himself, who was 81 at the time, and had already retired from acting. The story sees prominent contemporary actors, singers and musicians attending a birthday party held for the interwar star. Renditions of Nový’s songs alternate with sequences from his films and recordings of the actor’s voice.
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