Czechtember gallops forward with Oldřich Lipský's madcap musical parody Lemonade Joe (1964). Adapted from Jiří Brdečka’s novel and play, the film stars Karel Fiala as the squeaky-clean pitchman of Kolalok Cola who rides into town to clean up the Wild West. Standing in his way is Miloš Kopecký as the dastardly Horác Badman—better known as Hogofogo. With tinted black-and-white visuals, slapstick invention, and a send-up of both Hollywood westerns and consumer culture, this is pure Lipský—irreverent, dazzling, and completely unforgettable.
Mike is joined by Jonathan Owen and Alistair Pitts to unpack this fizzy Czech classic.
Music:
"Limonádový Joe - Úvodní titulky k americké verzi" - American Dub Version
"Limonádový Joe - Prolog a výstup Horáce" - Zdenìk Dítì, Zdenìk Stránský, Skupina Vìtrník
"Limonádový Joe" - Žlutý pes
"To jsem ja, ten kovboj (Rhinestone Cowboy)" - Waldemar Matuska
Special Guests: Tereza Brdeckova, Irena Kovarova Guest Co-Hosts: Jonathan Owen, Emily Barney
On this special Czechtember episode we’re looking at Oldrich Lipsky’s 1981 film The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians. Based on the novel by Jules Verne from 1892, the film tells the story of Count Teleke of Toloko (Michal Docolomanský), a blowhard opera singer who, along with his manservant, stop by the village of where he learns about the nearby Devil’s Castle which is said to be haunted.
Jonathan Owen and Emily Barney join Mike to discuss this off-beat adaptation (and the other three adaptations of the same story around the same time. Tereza Brdeckova talks about her and her father's work while Irena Kovarova shares her work representing Czech cinema.
We continue our Czechtember month of murder and mayhem with Oldrich Lipsky's 1971 film Four Murders are Enough, Darling. The film stars Oldrich’s brother, Lubomir, as George Camel, a teacher who is mistaken for a murderer by two rival gangs who are fighting for a million dollar check.
The movie is the second filmed adaptation of the book by Ninad Brixy, Entry Forbidden to the Dead.