''His Excellency, The Shop Assistant'' () is a 1933

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Polish people, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken * Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin ...

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and Romance novel, romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Ro ...

film directed by

Michał Waszyński Michał Waszyński (29 September 1904 – 20 February 1965) was first a film director in Poland, then in Italy, and later (as Michael Waszynski) a film producer, producer of major United States, American films, mainly in Spain. Known for h ...

.''Jego ekscelencja subiekt''
at the Internet Polish Movie Database

About the movie

The title role was played by Eugeniusz Bodo, the leading lover of pre-war Polish cinematography. The songs "Tyle miłości" and "Złociste włos" come from the film. The film was shot during the Great Depression, to which references were found in the film. The photos were taken in Warsaw ( Bogusław Herse Fashion House at Marszałkowska Street,

Café Adria Café Adria was an entertainment complex and nightclub in Warsaw, which included an American bar, café, dance hall, restaurant and winter garden. It started operating in 1930 and during the 1930s it was also used as a location for filmmaking ...

at Moniuszki Street, Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, Traugutta Street, Kolonia Staszica and Kolonia Lubeckiego in Ochota ). The subtitles in the film are in the form from before the Polish spelling reform of 1936.

Plot

Jerzy is an adored sales assistant at the exclusive Bogusław Herse Fashion House in Warsaw. With

New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve refers to the evening, or commonly the entire day, of the last day of the year, 31 December, also known as Old Year's Day. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinkin ...

approaching, Jurek " borrows" an evening outfit (a

tailcoat A tailcoat is a knee-length coat (clothing), coat characterised by a rear section of the skirt (known as the ''tails''), with the front of the skirt cut away. The tailcoat shares its historical origins in clothes cut for convenient horse-riding ...

) from a shop mannequin at work and heads out into the city. He accidentally helps a woman who has fallen in the street and ends up accompanying her to a New Year's Eve ball for the upper classes at the Porecki residence. A series of funny misunderstandings lead to the guests mistaking him for the well-known and highly respected counselor Chełmoński. Jurek does not correct this mistake because he is busy

courting Courtship is the period wherein some couples get to know each other prior to a possible marriage or committed romantic, ''de facto'' relationship. Courtship traditionally may begin after a betrothal and may conclude with the celebration of marria ...

the hosts' daughter, Ania. The young couple quickly fall in love. The clerk continues to pretend to be an "

excellency Excellency is an honorific style (manner of address), style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder ...

" until he realizes that his and Miss Porecka's love has no future. It turns out that Ania's parents intend to marry her off to a so-called good match—someone with high social and financial status. The Poreckis are in a dire financial situation and hope that their daughter's wealthy marriage will save them. The lovers are forced to part ways, but a series of coincidences and Jurek's determination cause their fate to take an unexpected turn. Ania's future husband, Kracht, turns out to be a conman who is only interested in her

dowry A dowry is a payment such as land, property, money, livestock, or a commercial asset that is paid by the bride's (woman's) family to the groom (man) or his family at the time of marriage. Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price ...

. A confrontation ensues, during which Jurek teaches Kracht a lesson. In the end, Ania and Jurek stay together, and the manager of the fashion house promises Jurek a salary five times higher.

Cast

Eugeniusz Bodo Eugeniusz Bodo (born Bohdan Eugène Junod; 28 December 1899 7 October 1943) was a film director, producer, singer, pianist and one of the most popular Polish actors and comedians of the interwar period. He starred in some of the most popular Pol ...

... Jurek Czermoński, the shop assistant *

Konrad Tom Konrad Tom (9 April 1887 – 9 August 1957), born Konrad Runowiecki, a Polish Jewish actor, writer, singer and director, born in Warsaw. Wrote song lyrics in Polish and in Yiddish for stage, film and cabaret, including '' szmonces''. His wife was ...

... Mr. Porecki *

Mieczysława Ćwiklińska Mieczysława Ćwiklińska-SteinsbergĆwiklińska was the maiden name of Ćwiklińska's grandmother, Anna Trapszowa. (née Mieczysława Trapszo, ; 1 January 1879 – 28 July 1972) was a Polish film actress, stage actor, and singer. She was often n ...

... Mrs. Idalia Porecka * Ina Benita ... Ania Porecka *

Wiktor Biegański Wiktor Julian Biegański (16 November 1892 – 19 January 1974) was a Polish actor, film director and screenwriter. He appeared in 24 films between 1919 and 1966. He also directed eleven films between 1921 and 1929. Selected filmography Act ...

... Warehouse Director * Andrzej Bogucki *

Helena Buczyńska Helena Buczyńska (1894–1957) was a Polish actress. Selected filmography * ''His Excellency, The Shop Assistant'' (1933) * ''Granny Had No Worries'' (1935) * ''Profesor Wilczur'' (1938) * ''The Vagabonds (1939 film), The Vagabonds'' (1939) * ...

Zygmunt Chmielewski Zygmunt Chmielewski (16 May 1894 – 26 May 1978) was a Polish film actor. He appeared in 35 films between 1921 and 1960. Selected filmography * '' His Excellency, The Shop Assistant'' (1933) * ''Czy Lucyna to dziewczyna ?'' (1934) * '' Có ...

... Kracht *

Feliks Chmurkowski Feliks Chmurkowski (18 May 1896 – 16 April 1971) was a Polish film actor. He appeared in more than 30 films between 1933 and 1971. Selected filmography * ''His Excellency, The Shop Assistant'' (1933) * ''Każdemu wolno kochać'' (1933) * ...

* Ewa Erwicz *

Ludwik Fritsche Ludwik Fritsche (17 August 1872 – 4 September 1940) was a Polish film actor. He appeared in more than 25 films between 1922 and 1940. Selected filmography * ''The Unspeakable'' (1924) * ''Pan Tadeusz'' (1928) * ''A Strong Man'' (1929) * ' ...

... The Valet *

Zofia Kajzerówna Zofia is a Slavic given name of Old Greek origin, meaning wisdom. It is a variant of Sofia. Famous people with the name Zofia: * Anna Zofia Sapieha (1799–1864) * Maria Zofia Sieniawska * Zofia Albinowska-Minkiewiczowa (1886–1971) * Zofia Balt ...

Henryk Rzętkowski Henryk Rzętkowski (15 April 1901 – 10 January 1972) was a Polish film actor. He appeared in more than 25 films between 1924 and 1960. Selected filmography * ''Pan Tadeusz'' (1928) * ''Księżna Łowicka'' (1932) * '' His Excellency, The ...

Irena Skwierczyńska Irena Skwierczyńska (26 April 1897 – 15 May 1984) was a Polish film actress. She appeared in more than 25 films between 1933 and 1971. Selected filmography * '' His Excellency, The Shop Assistant'' (1933) * '' Prokurator Alicja Horn'' (1 ...

... Acting Director * Zofia Ślaska *

Stefan Szczuka Stefan may refer to: * Stefan (given name) * Stefan (surname) * Ștefan, a Romanian given name and a surname * Štefan, a Slavic given name and surname * Stefan (footballer) (born 1988), Brazilian footballer * Stefan Heym, pseudonym of German writ ...

Alina Żeliska Alina is a feminine given name with multiple origins in different cultures. It might be a form of Aline, which originated as a shortened form of Adeline, meaning ''noble''. It has been used in Scotland as a feminine version of Alistair, the Scot ...

References

External links

* * 1933 films 1930s Polish-language films Polish black-and-white films Films directed by Michał Waszyński 1933 romantic comedy films Polish romantic comedy films Films set in Warsaw {{1930s-romantic-comedy-film-stub