Known for Acting
Filmed during the Nazi occupation, this panoramic drama set in a Prague department store follows the divergent destinies of four female coworkers, each of whom seeks happiness in a different way.
Thirteen people have gathered at Mayor Bartoš's. The company is uneasy about this number and therefore warmly welcomes the fourteenth guest, who is the new librarian Pavel Čtrnáctý...
A village shop owner is convinced by his children to move to Prague, where they say he'll be able to enjoy a fine retirement in a modern furnished apartment. Bored by life in Prague with nothing to do, the old man takes to helping a young widow in her stationery shop.
Rudolf Bartoš, the owner of a farm, quarry and factory, is extremely rich, however, he is unapproachable and irritable, and the dread of his employees. One day he falls down a steep slope by a river and hurts himself. The quarryman Fábera finds him groaning in pain and takes him to his cottage.
A lost lady's glove that connects several human destinies. The focus here is not on the lost part of the wardrobe, but on piano virtuoso Arne Brant, a man armed with a charming smile and surrounded by women, two of whom have particularly influenced his life. The first is the daughter of a famous can-can star, dancer Pavlína Doré-Zejdová, the second is Mařenka Berková, the main character of the film and a kind of Kristián in skirts. An orderly and well-bred daughter from an honorable family who lives her second life as a lady of high society. The lost glove complicates the situation for all of them considerably, but in the end she finds her rightful place, just like the heroes of the film...
Adam Kavalír returns from abroad to take over the family factory from his father. But as a consequence of his father's bohemian lifestyle the business is so far in debt that the Kavalírs even lose their villa and must find a place to sublet. Mrs. Trojanová is no longer up to managing her pension, the co-owner of which is none other than her peevish daughter Eva, and she is looking for a capable manager. Adam applies for the position and is accepted.
A pair of circus clowns, played by Vlasta Burian and Jaroslav Marvan, take in an abandoned child and care for them even when they have to make a living as street musicians. The grateful foundling loves his adoptive parents even in adulthood, when he struggles with both love and stolen loot that accidentally falls into their laps. However, the result is only a crudely sentimental comedy that is considered one of the weakest works of the king of comedians, although he also participated in the direction.
Antique dealer Samek lives a bachelor life. He financially helps his housekeeper raise her daughter Mána, who is learning to be a hairdresser in the countryside. On the recommendation of matchmaker Mudra, Samek decides to get married. Mána returns to Prague and Samek, who has not seen her for a long time, is enchanted by her charm. Mána has the opportunity to get a nice job, but she lacks knowledge of German. Samek offers to teach her while they go for walks together. During a German conversation on Petřín Hill, Mána catches the eye of electrician Vašek, who falls in love with her. He thinks that Mána does not know Czech, so he buys a German textbook so that he can speak to her. Soon the opportunity arises and the two young people confess their love. Samek is about to propose marriage to Mána. But Mána prevents him. She confides in him about her love and asks him to give Vašek a job...
The wealthy factory owner Osten has achieved his position thanks to his energy and diligence. However, he has one weakness - he cannot admit that he too must grow old one day. What scares him most is the thought of becoming a grandfather. To prevent this, he is willing to become a rival in love with his own son. One day, Jiří has had enough of his father's actions and decides to leave his house and his comfortable life. He even changes his name and starts working in a competing factory as an ordinary worker to prove to his father that he too is capable of working his way up from scratch. That is when Jiří meets the energetic seamstress Tonička, who is studying in the evenings to become an office worker. The young people are happy together, but the factory owner Osten comes between them. He offers Tonička a position as a secretary and is ready to win her over...
