Walter Schorsch

The doomed love of a city girl caught in the vise of poverty is detailed in Vavra’s fluid, romantic work, one of the most elegant creations of the Czech Modernist era... The film lingers over its characters’ habitats and haunts, finding psychological truths in what each owns or desires, and countering every Hollywood-ready scene of gleaming restaurants and dazzling penthouses with realist moments of employment lines and crammed flats. Vavra’s classical camerawork and aura of romantic defeatism give Virginity a force comparable to the master of this genre, Hollywood’s Frank Borzage. (BAM/PFA)

The Golem, a giant creature created out of clay by a rabbi, comes to life in a time of trouble to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution.

Professor Karas is widely known as enthusiastic propagator of the motto "Morality Above All Else". He guides his students as well as his own family to live a morally decent life. One day he has an unexpected visit. It's his illegitimate daughter Vera, who is proof of his thoughtless youth. Mr. Karas know that she can ruin his image, thus he decides to keep her a secret and asks her to leave. Instead of leaving she takes a position of a governess in his own family without letting him know. Mr. Karas realizes that he must reveal the truth sooner or later, but he doesn't have enough courage to do so. As he postpones it, he is more and more scared to come to his own home.

Wealthy and ill Petr Kornel (Karel Hasler) is not pleased with the carousing lifestyle of his nephew. He stops supporting him financially and demands that he change his name. Out of gratitude Kornel bequeaths a substantial sum of money to his nurse Alice (Adina Mandlová) with the condition that she marries. Petr Suk (Hugo Haas), as the nephew is now named, visits the doctor. In the waiting room his X-ray is mistakenly switched with one of another patient's. On the basis of this he presently learns that he is seriously ill and has only one day of life left to him.

One of the few European films of the 30s to criticize the Nazis, even if they couldn't be directly named due to censorship: Gangsters with gray hats stir up trouble in what is obviously the Sudetenland.

The Kráčmer couple work diligently in the vegetable garden. They are saving for a dowry for their only daughter, Betynce, who is in a serious relationship with the doctor Zdeborský. Inspired by a newspaper report, they decide to buy Kráčmer a lottery ticket. Kráčmerka brings it home crying because she feels like she has thrown away all her possessions. After a sleepless night, she goes to the store to return the ticket. However, it is too late, the draw has already been made...

Orphaned Zdeňka Štěpánová helps her foster parents in Moravia at an inn. One day she learns that she is to be taken in by the owner of a toy factory, Miloš Kavan, who will fulfill her father's last wish. At the same time that Kavan and his housekeeper Mrs. Julie are expecting Zdeňka, their caretaker's little niece Hanička arrives. Mrs. Julie initially considers her her protégé, because she has no idea that Zdeňka is already a grown-up girl...

The story of high school students, talented Jan and Karel, who has a problem with math. Their life affects pedantic professor of mathematics Klec, that goes with them on a school trip, which escalates the conflict between them. Jan wants to escape, but Professor Donat will discourage him. Karel fails the exam of mathematics and decides to commit suicide.

Even though the heroine works as a seamstress, she would like to become a designer. And she really has the talent, even a businessman from Paris shows interest in her. But many things turn out to be different than they seem at first. This applies to people and love.

Attorney František Uher is known for his patriotic mindset and active assistance in disputes between the Czechs and the Austrian justice system. One of his clients is the poet Šulc, who, while staying with Uhry, discovers that the lawyer's wife Anna is flirting with Uhry's cousin Hojer. When Anna does not respond to Šulc's warning, the poet draws attention to Anna's relationship with Uhra. Uher wants to know the truth, so he returns early from a business trip and actually catches Anna cheating. Disappointment brings him to the "Batalion" pub in Old Prague, where Šulc also used to go some time ago. Here, Uher becomes a mentor to the poorest, but gradually falls into alcoholism. He once again finds strength and stands on the side of justice when he accuses the police in court of murdering poor Lojzík, who wanted to marry the unfortunate waitress from "Battalion" Mimi. After appearing in court, Uher is arrested and "Battalion" is closed. After his release, Uher becomes an organist...

The determined Mrs. Barbora Čápová, the owner of a goose farm in Brousilov, is trying to get her daughter married. The advertisement receives a whole box of responses, so the caring mother has plenty to choose from. Pavel Stehlík appears to be the most suitable candidate, and since her daughter also likes him, a famous party is held. The newlywed is not proud of the fact that he is literally drowning in debt. Moreover, he gets along suspiciously well with his father-in-law, and the two have all sorts of falling out. After some time, they set off on a trip to Prague together. As if by chance, Mrs. Barbora is on the same trip that same day - and meets her husband at a variety show, where she went with an old acquaintance. She promises cruel revenge on the unfaithful man, but her plans are thwarted by a completely unexpected event...

Alois Kohout is a high school professor, a despotic family tyrant and a terror before whom everyone trembles in panic. And yet there is a man who can knock down the professor's pride, restore his family's freedom and, on top of that, take the professor's daughter to a peaceful marriage haven...

A comedy about a caring protector of the family who had help, good advice and understanding for everyone. No one in the family calls Anna Svojanovská anything other than Kvočna - everyone is used to running under her protective wings as soon as any problems arise. And what a blessing this mother and grandmother has to deal with!

This Czech sophisticated romantic comedy, filmed by director Anton also in a parallel French version ("Une petite femme dans le train"), casts beautiful Czech star Baarova in the role that Meg Lemonnier played in the Gallic version.

A young man named Láďa Tůma, along with his inheritance from his wealthy uncle, also acquires his uncle's favorite butler, Vlastimil Chytráček, with whom he must sign a one-year employment contract. This is a condition for receiving the inheritance. Chytráček takes care of his new master as devotedly as he took care of his uncle. However, this brings many complications for the young man - both at work and in love...

Slightly ironic comedy of wretches, who come to understand the rich and are able to accept charity, and also about how love and work prevail over the factory owner's son.