''Muži v offsidu'' is a 1931 Czechoslovak sports comedy film directed by Svatopluk Innemann, based on a novel by Karel Poláček.

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-JewishSiegbert 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 ap ...

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 ...

should play the part.

Cast

as Richard Načeradec * Jožka Vanerová as Hedvika Načeradcová * Felix Kühne as Uncle Ignác Kauders * Jindřich Plachta as Tailor Emanuel Habásko *

Eman Fiala Eman Fiala (15 April 1899 – 24 June 1970) was a Czech film actor and composer. He was born in Prague, Austria-Hungary (now the Czech Republic). He appeared in more than 160 films between 1918 and 1966. Selected filmography * '' Little Red ...

as Eman Habásek * Betty Kysilková as Widow Ouholičková * Theodor Pištěk as Barber Alois Šefelín * Ella Nollová as Šefelín's wife *

Jiřina Štěpničková Jiřina Štěpničková (3 April 1912 – 5 September 1985) was a Czech actress. She spent 10 years in prison for an attempt to illegally cross a border. Life Jiřina Julie Štěpničková was born on 3 April 1912 in Prague. She started act ...

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) * '' Hrabě ...

as Antonín Hátle * Růžena Šlemrová 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 Lamač ...

's '' Business Under Distress'' 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''. 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 Machat� ...

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