Directed by:
Petr SchulhoffCinematography:
Bedřich BaťkaComposer:
Václav LídlCast:
Rudolf Hrušínský, Radoslav Brzobohatý, Bohuš Záhorský, Jarmila Smejkalová, Helga Čočková, Václav Lohniský, Soběslav Sejk, Ladislav Trojan, Zdeněk Hodr (more)Plots(1)
The first part of the loose detective trilogy with Major Kalaš was based on the spy novel by Eduard Fiker Kilometer Nineteen. Although there could be seen some tendentiousness in the end – given the original novel and the year of release (relaxed political times have just begun) – it still ranks in the domestic genre production among works above average. Forensic science that is used by the criminal police to capture the perpetrator of a mysterious murder on the Czech-German border gets an unexpectedly considerable room in the film. In the roles of the chief investigators excel Rudolf Hrušínský as major Kalaš and Radoslav Brzobohatý as lieutenant Varga. Both are characterized by the minimalist approach that corresponds perfectly with the high-skilled professionals with no personal life. The third “star” of the film is cameraman Bedřich Baťka, who, with the help of expressive lighting – and with absence of a number of establishing shots – has helped to build a disturbing atmosphere of the film. (Noir Film Festival)
(more)Cast
Rudolf Hrušínský
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Higher Principle (1960)
The Elementary School (1991)
Journey into the Depth of the Student's Soul (1939)
Radoslav Brzobohatý
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Král Krysa (1979) (theatrical recording)
Lucerna (1967) (TV movie)
All My Compatriots (1968)
Bohuš Záhorský
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Higher Principle (1960)
The Emperor's Baker - The Baker's Emperor (1951)
Lucerna (1967) (TV movie)
Jarmila Smejkalová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Vajíčko (1968) (TV movie)
Krvavá svatba (1987) (theatrical recording)
The Poacher's Foster Daughter or Noble Millionaire (1949)
Helga Čočková
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Partie krásného dragouna (1970)
Scalpel, Please (1985)
Awakening (1959)
Václav Lohniský
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Higher Principle (1960)
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
Witchhammer (1969)
Soběslav Sejk
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Kočičí hra (1982) (theatrical recording)
Hamlet (1986) (theatrical recording)
Naši furianti (1983) (theatrical recording)
Ladislav Trojan
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Run, Waiter, Run! (1980)
Forbidden Dreams (1986)
Blboun (2001) (theatrical recording)
Zdeněk Hodr
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Witchhammer (1969)
Mnoho povyku pro nic (1972) (theatrical recording)
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1961)
Jarmila Švabíková
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Vajíčko (1968) (TV movie)
The Good Soldier Schweik 2: Beg to Report, Sir (1957)
The Respectable Ladies of Pardubice (1944)
Bohuš Hradil
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Vlastimil Čaněk
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Assassination (1964)
You Are a Widow, Sir (1970)
Who Wants to Kill Jessie? (1966)
Pavel Spálený
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Give the Devil His Due (1984)
Dva na koni, jeden na oslu (1977) (theatrical recording)
Lucerna (1967) (TV movie)
Miroslav Nohýnek
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Poslední dopis (1973) (TV movie)
Muž v pozadí (1995) (series)
Signum Laudis (1980)
Ladislav Potměšil
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Forbidden Dreams (1986)
Alexandr Dumas starší (1970) (series)
Brouk v hlavě (2002) (TV movie)
Otto Šimánek
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Vajíčko (1968) (TV movie)
Men About Town (1969)
Invention for Destruction (1958)
Miloš Willig
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Witchhammer (1969)
Sňatky z rozumu (1968) (series)
The Valley of the Bees (1967)
Vladimír Čech st.
Russian Empire
Best movies:
Happy End (1967)
You Are a Widow, Sir (1970)
Waterloo (1967) (TV movie)
Vlastimil Fišar
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Král Krysa (1979) (theatrical recording)
Přišel na večeři (1981) (theatrical recording)
Alexandr Dumas starší (1970) (series)
Vladimír Huber
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
On the Trail of Blood (1969)
Funeral Ceremonies (1969)
Návrat pana Ryšánka (1971) (TV movie)