It all starts when two men arrive at the asylum. Mr. Houdek, who goes to see little Honzik Slavata, the illegitimate child of his colleague, whom he wants to adopt, and young Standa Hurych, who takes up a position as a driver. The pretty nurse Magda mistakes Standa for his father and is angered by his reaction. However, when Mrs. Houdková insists that the adoption will not take place until the child's true father is known, Standa offers to help Magda track down the father. He immediately sets about the difficult task.
Acting
Vladimír Menšík's bumbling everyman energy carries every scene.
Production
Evocative Prague locations capture 1960s Czechoslovakia perfectly.
Director
František Daniel
Vladimír Menšík
řidič Standa Hurych
Gabriela Vránová
zdravotním sestra Magda
Felix le Breux
primář kojeneckého ústavu
Josef Kemr
Kuchař Houdek
Libuše Havelková
Houdkova žena
Věra Tichánková
zdravotní sestra Žižková
Valentina Thielová
prodavačka Marcela
Zdeněk Řehoř
Prošek
Václav Sloup
Karel, Standův kamarád
Iva Janžurová
Vlasta, Karlova žena
Milan Neděla
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Menšík became a Czech national treasure; this role typified his 'lovable loser' archetype that defined socialist-era comedy.
Director František Daniel later defected to America and became a prominent acting teacher—this early comedy shows his knack for performance dynamics.
XC
