Directed by:
Zdeněk Podskalský st.Cinematography:
Jaroslav TuzarComposer:
Evžen IllínCast:
Josef Bek, Lubomír Lipský st., Rudolf Deyl ml., Čestmír Řanda st., Jiřina Jirásková, Karel Máj, Jaroslav Heyduk, Karel Tomášek, Václav Trégl, Josef Beyvl (more)Plots(1)
Josef Košťál tells his fellow prisoners about the events that led to his sentence. He has been a friend with František Koloušek since their early childhood. Despite growing up in identical circumstances, one is fated to become a talented inventor and other a villain. When they were young, they were punished many times for František's inventions, which they together were making "alive", was only considered as a wrongdoing. As young men, they found themselves positions at an office where they spent several idle years thanks to an invention able to imitate work. After they were exposed, František left to study and Josef became the head of a department and later on director of a small factory. Fifteen years later, they met again. František took up work in the development unit of Josef's factory. He immediately discovered that Josef and the entire factory management claimed to have developed an automatic machine for which they intended to take financial reward and honours. In reality, there were people hidden in the machine. He was shocked but nonetheless constructed a genuine, operational machine to help his friend. At the ceremonial launch, the machine, never tested, failed and began to burn. The management accused Koloušek, but Košťál also went to prison because of broken fire safety equipment. After they are released from prison, the two friends meet again and together head towards a new beginning in life. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Josef Bek](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268676_c413b4.jpg)
Josef Bek
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Men About Town (1969)
Láska jako trám (1967) (TV movie)
The White Lady (1965)
![Lubomír Lipský st.](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268173_7324a0.jpg)
Lubomír Lipský st.
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Charleyova teta (1969) (theatrical recording)
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King... (1954)
Sváko Ragan (1976) (TV movie)
![Rudolf Deyl ml.](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270429_aa6385.jpg)
Rudolf Deyl ml.
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Lucerna (1967) (TV movie)
Lemonade Joe (1964)
The Good Soldier Schweik (1956)
![Čestmír Řanda st.](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268553_f1ccc9.jpg)
Čestmír Řanda st.
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Ikaros' Fall (1977) (TV movie)
Tažní ptáci (1983) (TV movie)
Ubohý pan Kufalt (1981) (TV movie)
![Jiřina Jirásková](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268374_433751.jpg)
Jiřina Jirásková
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Men About Town (1969)
Jára Cimrman Lying, Sleeping (1983)
Sňatky z rozumu (1968) (series)
![Karel Máj](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/274/274551_a9935a.jpg)
Karel Máj
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Ducháček Will Fix It (1938)
Válka vypukne po přestávce (1978) (theatrical recording)
I'll Give My Wife in Marriage (1941)
![Jaroslav Heyduk](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268664_b844a2.jpg)
Jaroslav Heyduk
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Byl jednou jeden dům (1974) (series)
The White Lady (1965)
Funeral Ceremonies (1969)
Karel Tomášek
Best movies:
Einstein kontra Babinský (1963)
![Václav Trégl](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268144_b1f8f7.jpg)
Václav Trégl
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
Těžká Barbora (1960) (theatrical recording)
Secluded, Near Woods (1976)
![Josef Beyvl](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/057/164057035_abaf60.jpg)
Josef Beyvl
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Joachim, Put It in the Machine (1974)
Hrdinové okamžiku (1961) (series)
The Chintamani Carpet and a Swindler (1964)
![Mirko Musil](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/271/271931_ac228d.jpg)
Mirko Musil
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Give the Devil His Due (1984)
Jako kníže Rohan (1983) (TV movie)
Sňatky z rozumu (1968) (series)
![Hanuš Bor](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/276/276186_b12b2b.jpg)
Hanuš Bor
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Stolen Airship (1966)
On the Comet (1970)
Chef Speciality (1999) (TV movie)
František Burda
Best movies:
Einstein kontra Babinský (1963)
![Květa Fialová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268312_e7d36c.jpg)
Květa Fialová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Charleyova teta (1969) (theatrical recording)
Vajíčko (1968) (TV movie)
Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973)
![Josef Hlinomaz](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268635_bd9592.jpg)
Josef Hlinomaz
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
The Emperor's Baker - The Baker's Emperor (1951)
Lemonade Joe (1964)
The Good Soldier Schweik (1956)
![Ilona Kubásková](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/275/275098_44da69.jpg)
Ilona Kubásková
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
The White Lady (1965)
Dařbuján a Pandrhola (1959)
The Poacher's Foster Daughter or Noble Millionaire (1949)
Dagmar Dvořáčková
Best movies:
Strictly Secret Premieres (1967)
Alibi on the Lake (1965)
Naše bláznivá rodina (1968)
![Bohuš Hradil](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/274/274311_459844.jpg)
Bohuš Hradil
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
![Zdeněk Jelínek](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/905/162905657_f5c122.jpg)
Zdeněk Jelínek
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Královská hra (1980) (TV movie)
Dnes ještě zapadá slunce nad Atlantidou (1978) (TV movie)
Cops and Robbers (2001) (series)
![Jaroslav Mareš](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/271/271373_c98f47.jpg)
Jaroslav Mareš
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Naši furianti (1983) (theatrical recording)
Ubohý pan Kufalt (1981) (TV movie)
Sňatky z rozumu (1968) (series)