Catacombs

After Adina Mandlová showed the entire tower block the nice things she’d bought from Podolská, my interest waned somewhat. Another way of looking at it is that Catacombs is the less boisterous of the Burian films, and while it is tasteful and mildly entertaining, it is also very moralistic and gives vent to bureaucratic mannerisms and blind following of authority. The melancholic mood is tempered to a lesser extent by the events at the ball and the teachers, but the overall experience is too bitter. This applies regardless of whether we perceive the premiere date or not. (02/16/2009)

Vlasta Burian truly is the King of Comedians, and in this film, he proves it by portraying a character who is genuinely cynical and even mean, yet irresistibly charming. Additionally, every other character in the film sets him up perfectly for his comedic moments, especially Jaroslav Marvan and Theodor Pištěk, although in Pištěk's case, even his silence often suffices. Vlasta Burian was simply an incredible entertainer. (01/08/2015)