Directed by:
Martin FričScreenplay:
Václav WassermanCinematography:
Václav VíchCast:
František Smolík, Vlasta Burian, Antonie Nedošinská, Ela Poznerová, Alexander Třebovský, Ella Nollová, Čeněk Šlégl, Gustav Hilmar, Vladimír Smíchovský (more)Plots(1)
After years of grind Martin Žemla finally manages to open his own grocer's shop. His neighbour, Šustrová the widow, manoeuvres the kind and gentle Žemla into marrying her daughter Pavlína. But she feels a mere grocer is not good enough for her and tells him on their wedding night that she does not like him and makes him sleep in the backroom of the grocer's shop. Retired horse master Kyllian often comes into Žemla's shop. He abuses Žemla's hospitality and drinks and eats there on tab. Žemla is upset by the flagrant selfishness of the two women. He also has to tolerate them devouring all his groceries. When the widow falls ill Pavlína allegedly goes to visit her at the hospital, but in fact she meets a young officer. Then Šusterová comes out of hospital. Pavlína tries to coax Žemla into her bedroom but he refuses. He finds out by chance from her mother that Pavlína is pregnant. He realises his wife has been unfaithful. He surveys his miserable life and his empty shop and poisons himself by eating match heads. The police come the next day and find him dead. Kyllian profits from the confusion and erases the tab on which his debts are recorded. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![František Smolík](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270440_1d0546.jpg)
František Smolík
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Higher Principle (1960)
School Is the Foundation of Life (1938)
Today for the Last Time (1958)
![Vlasta Burian](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268543_d19361.jpg)
Vlasta Burian
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
He Stood at the Till (1939)
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King... (1954)
Station Master (1941)
![Antonie Nedošinská](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268533_fd7e4c.jpg)
Antonie Nedošinská
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Nebe a dudy (1941)
Girl in Blue (1939)
Capek's Tales (1947)
![Ela Poznerová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/274/274690_872612.jpg)
Ela Poznerová
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Romeo, Juliet and Darkness (1959)
Poor Girl (1929)
Jejich den (1962) (TV movie)
![Alexander Třebovský](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/275/275388_888a01.jpg)
Alexander Třebovský
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Anton Špelec, ostrostřelec (1932)
Battalion (1927)
Der falsche Feldmarschall (1930)
![Ella Nollová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/275/275305_5c1d27.jpg)
Ella Nollová
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Journey into the Depth of the Student's Soul (1939)
Eva Fools Around (1939)
The Blue Star Hotel (1941)
![Čeněk Šlégl](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/269/269858_6e5ddd.jpg)
Čeněk Šlégl
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
He Stood at the Till (1939)
School Is the Foundation of Life (1938)
Station Master (1941)
![Gustav Hilmar](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/271/271653_eb356c.jpg)
Gustav Hilmar
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Higher Principle (1960)
Journey into the Depth of the Student's Soul (1939)
School Is the Foundation of Life (1938)
![Vladimír Smíchovský](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/275/275385_d3650d.jpg)
Vladimír Smíchovský
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Skeleton on Horseback (1937)
Girl in Blue (1939)
Baron Munchhausen (1940)
![Milka Balek-Brodská](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268525_fa5dc8.jpg)
Milka Balek-Brodská
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
The Good Soldier Schweik (1956)
Ducháček Will Fix It (1938)
The Sins of Love (1929)
Anna Vávrová-Hlaváčková
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
The Respectable Ladies of Pardubice (1944)
Barbora Hlavsová (1942)
The World Is Ours (1937)
Béďa Pražský
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Life Is a Dog (1933)
Dům na předměstí (1933)
U snědeného krámu (1933)
![Darja Hajská](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268529_c4b319.jpg)
Darja Hajská
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
Men About Town (1969)
Station Master (1941)
Terezie Třebovská
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Morality Above All Else (1937)
Battalion (1927)
U snědeného krámu (1933)
![Josef Oliak](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/841/168841604_vkhkcp.jpg)
Josef Oliak
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
The Emperor's Baker - The Baker's Emperor (1951)
Ducháček Will Fix It (1938)
The Sins of Love (1929)
![Karel Schleichert](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/275/275363_590d6f.jpg)
Karel Schleichert
Austrian Empire
Best movies:
The Lumberjack (1922)
The Sins of Love (1929)
Anton Špelec, ostrostřelec (1932)
Josef Sládek
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Anton Špelec, ostrostřelec (1932)
The World Where One Goes Begging (1938)
The River Is Performing Magic (1945)
Karel Český
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Life Is a Dog (1933)
U snědeného krámu (1933)
Výdělečné ženy (1937)
Kamila Rosenkranzová
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
His Majesty's Adjutant (1933)
Lelicek in the Services of Sherlock Holmes (1932)
Dům na předměstí (1933)
![Jiřina Vávrová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/276/276231_e998ad.jpg)
Jiřina Vávrová
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Skeleton on Horseback (1937)
Distant Journey (1948)
The Inspector General (1933)