''Muži v offsidu'' is a 1931 Czechoslovak sports comedy film directed by

Svatopluk Innemann Svatopluk Innemann (18 February 1896 – 30 October 1945) was a Czechs, Czech film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and actor. He was one of the pioneers of Czech cinema. Biography and works Innemann, was a son of the Czech dir ...

, based on a novel by

Karel Poláček Karel Poláček (22 March 1892 – 21 January 1945) was a Czech writer, humorist and journalist of Jewish descent. Life He was born in Rychnov nad Kněžnou into the family of a Jewish merchant. He attended the gymnasium there, but did poor ...

Production

Karel Poláček's comedic novel was a bestseller in Czechoslovakia. The movie was made only because there was an open timeslot with no production planned in Barrandov studios that needed to be filled. Director Innemann read the book and the screenplay was finished just a week later.

Josef Rovenský Josef Rovenský (17 April 1894 – 5 November 1937) was a Czech-Jewish Siegbert Salomon Prawer, ''Between Two Worlds: The Jewish Presence in German and Austrian Film, 1910-1933'', Berghahn Books (2007), p. 213 film actor and director. He app ...

was considered for the role of Načeradec, but Poláček insisted his friend

Hugo Haas Hugo Haas (19 February 1901 – 1 December 1968) was a Czech film actor, director and writer. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1926 and 1962, as well as directing 20 films between 1933 and 1962. Life and career Haas was born in B ...

should play the part.

Cast

as Richard Načeradec * Jožka Vanerová as Hedvika Načeradcová *

Felix Kühne Felix may refer to: * Felix (name), people and fictional characters with the name Places * Arabia Felix is the ancient Latin name of Yemen * Felix, Spain, a municipality of the province Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, ...

as Uncle Ignác Kauders *

Jindřich Plachta Jindřich Plachta, born Jindřich Šolle (1 July 1899 – 6 November 1951) was a Czechoslovak film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1926 and 1951. Selected filmography * '' The Lovers of an Old Criminal'' (1927) * '' Fathe ...

as Tailor Emanuel Habásko * Eman Fiala as Eman Habásek *

Betty Kysilková Betty or Bettie is a name, a common diminutive for the names Bethany and Elizabeth. In Latin America, it is also a common diminutive for the given name Beatriz, the Spanish and Portuguese form of the Latin name Beatrix and the English name Bea ...

as Widow Ouholičková * Theodor Pištěk as Barber Alois Šefelín *

Ella Nollová Ella may refer to: * Ella (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Places United States * Ella, Kentucky, an unincorporated community * Ella, Oregon, an unincorporated community * Ella, Pennsylvania, an unincorporat ...

as Šefelín's wife * Jiřina Štěpničková as Seamstress Emilka Šefelínová *

Jaroslav Vojta Jaroslav Vojta (27 December 1888 – 20 April 1970) was a Czechoslovak film actor. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1921 and 1970. Selected filmography * ''Karel Havlíček Borovský'' (1925) * ''The Lantern'' (1925) * '' Hraběnk ...

as Antonín Hátle *

Růžena Šlemrová Růžena Šlemrová, née Růžena Machová (10 November 1886 – 24 August 1962) was a Czechoslovak film actress. She appeared in more than 70 films between 1914 and 1956. Selected filmography * '' Two Mothers'' (1921) * '' Affair at the ...

as Fashion salon owner Šmalfusová

Reception

The film was commercially very successful. It was the third most attended film of 1931 in Czechoslovakia after

Karel Lamač Karel Lamač (27 January 1897 – 2 August 1952) was a Czech film director, actor, screenwriter, producer and singer. He directed more than 100 films in Czechoslovakia, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Life Lam ...

's ''

Business Under Distress ''Business Under Distress'' ( cs, To neznáte Hadimršku) is a 1931 Czech comedy film directed by Karel Lamač and Martin Frič. A German version of the movie ''Wehe, wenn er losgelassen'' was released in 1932. Cast * Vlasta Burian as Popele ...

'' and

Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch (; January 29, 1892November 30, 1947) was a German-born American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as ...

's ''

The Smiling Lieutenant ''The Smiling Lieutenant'' is a 1931 American pre-Code musical comedy film directed by Ernst Lubitsch, starring Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert and Miriam Hopkins, and released by Paramount Pictures. It was written by Samson Raphaelson and ...

''. It made Hugo Hass a star overnight.

Sequel

In 1932 a sequel '' Načeradec, král kibiců'' was made by

Gustav Machatý Gustav Machatý (9 May 1901 – 13 December 1963) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He directed films in Czechoslovakia, USA and Germany including '' Erotikon'' and '' Ecstasy''. Life He was born Augustín Otokar Jan Mach ...

References

External links

* 1931 films Czech sports comedy films Czechoslovak black-and-white films 1930s sports comedy films Czech association football films 1931 comedy films 1930s Czech-language films 1930s Czech films {{1930s-comedy-film-stub