Sign of the Anchor (Znamení kotvy)
| Program section: | Czechoslovak Noir |
|---|---|
| Directed by: | František Čáp |
| Year: | 1947 |
| Country: | Czechoslovakia |
| Length: | 99 min. |
| Cast: | Hana Vítová, Zdeňka Baldová, Vlasta Fabianová, Eduard Kohout, Zdeněk Štěpánek and others. |
Screening:
- 21. 8. 2026 | 12:45 - LoGyn Hall (castle - western room)
Production: Československá filmová společnost
Script/Based on: František Čáp, Jan Drda
Director of Photography: František Pečenka
Score: Jiří Srnka
This mystery film with the beautiful Hana Vítová in the main role, situated dominantly into a Bratislava port, is a solid competition for the first instances of filmic speculative fiction – together, a hypnotist with a foreign-sounding name, a vulnerable girl exploited by him, a young man trying to save her, and a mise-en-scene that would maybe fit even Cesare and Caligari create a movie unusual for its time and for the work of director František Čáp as well. The film boasts an impressive dark atmosphere and balances the fantastic, noir and, for Czechoslovak cinema somewhat atypical, sailor environments, with which comes a slight comic relief and singing. Though in the filmographies of its main cast the film may be slightly forgotten, it is supported by a line-up of quality acting – besides Vítová, the mainstays of Czechoslovak oldtimer’s film Zdeňka Baldová and Vlasta Fabiánová are worthy of the viewer’s attention; during their careers, they worked together several times (for the last time in the iconic Morale of Mrs. Dulská). (bk)
