Hello, Fred The Beard

(Hallo Szpicbródka)


1978   >   musical/ comedy

The first Polish revue type musical.

A directing debut of the well-known operator Mieczysław Jahoda and Janusz Rzeszewski, an experienced creator of TV music and entertainment shows.

An impressive screenplay of the doyen of the Polish cinematography Ludwik Starski, who, before the war, was associated with the cabarets "Qui pro Quo" and "Czerwony Kot” that were used as a prototype for the “Czerwony Młyn” theater portrayed in the film.

The musical stars plenty of extraordinary Polish actors who give great performance even in cameo appearances.

The musical draws on a city legend about a gentleman burglar called “Szpicbródka” – a story of a failing revue theater where a mysterious and very wealthy investor appears.

Warsaw, the interwar period, “Czerwony Młyn” theater is standing on the brink of bankruptcy and is saved by a stinking rich Fred Kampinos, who pays off its debt. He embarks on preparations of a new, spectacular revue about Szpicbródka, untraceable and charming burglar. Nobody knows that, in the reality, Fred is Szpicbródka and that he is planning to rob a nearby bank, wishing to use the theater as his cover-up. Unexpectedly, the man becomes more and more involved in the performance and he also falls in love with a pretty artist Anita, which his business partners do not like. During a premiere that receives standing ovations Szpicbródka is captured by the police, however he quickly regains his freedom and escapes to Vienna together with Anita.

The film character “Szpicbródka” was based on the famous burglar Stanisław Cichocki. Starski used a few authentic events from his biography in the screenplay.

The most popular of all the songs in the film is “Nogi roztańczone” performed in a spectacular way by Irena Kwiatkowska.

Most of the actors were not dubbed, except for Gabriela Kownacka, who sings with the voice of Ewa Dębicka knonw from the “Alibabki” band.

One of the authors of choreography was a world famous choreographer and dancer Witold Gruca, who also plays a cameo role of a … choreographer. 

 


Crew:

director
Janusz Rzeszewski, Mieczysław Jahoda
script
Ludwik Starski
d.o.p.
Jan Laskowski
designer
Wojciech Krysztofiak, Władysław Wigura
costumes
Irena Biegańska, Władysław Wigura
editor
Jadwiga Zajiček
music
Maciej Śniegocki
cast
Piotr Fronczewski, Gabriela Kownacka,
Ewa Wiśniewska, Wiesław Michnikowski,
Włodzimierz Kwaskowski, Józef Nalberczak

Awards:

PFFF, Gdynia
Best Music Award (Nikodem Wołk- Łaniewski)
Materials: SD
Length: 94’

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