#A Report on the Party and the Guests 1966 film review

[czechfilmreview]

A Report on the Party and the Guests (O slavnosti a hostech) - Jan Němec, 1966

A Report on the Party and the Guests (O slavnosti a hostech) – Jan Němec, 1966

Political satire can take many forms, but sometimes all that’s required is some actors, a few tables and chairs, and a patch of woodland. That’s all Jan Němec needed for A Report on the Party and the Guests, his abstract but high impact critique of life under communist rule in Czechoslovakia. It was considered scathing enough that it allegedly had Antonín Novotný, the president at the time,…

[natehoodreviews]

400 Words on A REPORT ON THE PARTY AND THE GUESTS [1966] ★★★½

Perhaps the most famous movie scheduled for competition at the ill-fated 1968 Cannes Film Festival was Miloš Forman’s absurdist parable The Firemen’s Ball. Remembered as a touchstone of the Czechoslovak New Wave, it skewered the country’s Communist authorities with a highly allegorical story of a small town volunteer fire department trying and failing to throw an annual ball, raffle, and beauty pageant. But curiously, it wasn’t the only Czech film in competition that year that hid withering criticisms of authoritarian regimes within surrealist allegory. The other was Jan Němec’s A Report on the Party and the Guests, a film which countered Forman’s smirking cynicism with defiant anger. The film centers on seven urban socialites picnicking in the countryside. In the middle of their revels, they’re shanghaied by a group of thugs who force them to stand in a circle drawn in the dirt and be interrogated by a cruel, mentally unbalanced man-child named Rudolf (Jan Klusák). When one of the seven gets fed up and steps outside the circle he’s swiftly captured and beaten. Properly chastened, the group is rescued by an unnamed host (Ivan Vyskočil) who shepherds them to his daughter’s wedding party at a nearby lake which is also serving as his birthday celebration. Once there, the seven vacationers endure even more bizarre behavior as the host’s violent mood swings cause him to snap at imagined slights. Eventually the seven notice that one of their party has fled, and when the host leads the other guests off into the woods to hunt him down with dogs they try their best to ignore their former friend’s fate. Němec was extremely careful to avoid any overt political finger-pointing, and as such the film contains almost no one-to-one symbolism. (The closest he came was casting Vyskočil—who looked suspiciously like Lenin—as the host. The Rudolf character who’s revealed to be the host’s adopted son could also stand in for any number of spoiled Communist scions like Vasily Stalin.) Nevertheless, the film was banned by Czechoslovak authorities and Němec forced to flee the country. Unlike Forman, Němec was never able to translate his talents into Hollywood success, so his reputation—and his films—never reached the same heights as his fellow Czech. And though Report doesn’t match the comedic brilliance and audaciousness of The Firemen’s Ball, it remains an important piece of Communist-era Czechoslovak filmmaking.

[lacrimis]

Helmut Fischer was the son of a businessman and a tailor and grew up in the Munich district of Neuhausen in Donnersbergerstraße 50a, where he also went to school. When the secondary school rejected him, he joined Otto Falckenberg's drama school, which he quit after a short time. In the subsequent period Fischer worked as a theater actor. In 1952 was his stage debut at the Würzburg city theatre as Albrecht III in Friedrich Hebbel's Agnes Bernauer. The reviews were devastating.

For almost 20 years Fischer remained largely unknown and had to deal with minor supporting roles. Among other things, he worked at the Munich "Oktoberfest" at the Zuban show as part of a zebra's behind. In 1953 he married the dancer Utta Martin, with whom he lived up to his death (44 years). In 1961 saw the actor's debut in Bavarian Television: as a hairdresser in Ludwig Thoma's comedy Die Lokalbahn. Fischer described himself as "terrible" and said in retrospect: "Richtig g'schämt hab' ich mich, wie überzogen ich damals g'spielt hab (I was terribly ashamed about my totally excessive acting)". As he was under-worked with acting alone, Fischer also worked as a film critic for the Munich Abendzeitung.

In 1972 he played in the Bavarian Television's first episode of the Tatort series, as assistant to then-time Inspector Veigl (played by Gustl Bayrhammer). When Veigl was "retired" in 1981, Fischer was "promoted" to Commissioner Ludwig Lenz and as such he solved a total of seven cases until 1987. In 1974 Helmut Fischer, in his favourite café Münchner Freiheit met director Helmut Dietl. The latter recognised his friend's true talent and in 1980 gave him a major role in the TV series Der ganz normale Wahnsinn in which Fischer for the first time got to play a manquéed playboy.

Memorial for "Monaco Franze" (Helmut Fischer) at Münchner Freiheit The final breakthrough came in 1983 with Helmut Fischer's series Monaco Franze – Der ewige Stenz. Again Helmut Dietl was the director, Patrick Süskind cooperated on the scripts to almost all episodes. In the series, which has now reached cult status among fans, Fischer alongside Ruth Maria Kubitschek, Christine Kaufmann, Karl Obermayr [de] and Erni Singerl [de] in inimitable way embodied an easygoing dandy, charmer and ladies' men, who always manages to master awkward situations with a sheepy smile. Famous sayings by the character role like "A bisserl was geht immer (Anything goes)" were adapted into daily language use. Matching this, Fischer also recorded a successful single titled "Spatzl (Schau wia i schau)) (Sweetheart (Look like I'm looking))".

From now on, the actor was busy with roles whose character were always based on Stenz though. Until the end of his life Fischer kept assuring that the figure of Monaco Franze had nothing to do with his real life. In the mid-1980s, Fischer played with Thomas Gottschalk and Michael Winslow in the two Zärtliche Chaoten films, from 1987 to 1992 he could be seen as "Josefbärli" along Veronika Fitz and Ilse Neubauer in the series Die Hausmeisterin (The House Keeper). Fischer enjoyed his last success in the series Ein Schloß am Wörthersee (A castle on the Wörthersee), where he played the absentminded estate manager Leo Laxeneder, and as the fictitious mayor of Hohenwaldau, Peter Elfinger in Peter and Paul alongside Hans Clarin.

In 1993 Helmut Fischer was diagnosed with cancer. He kept this diagnosis largely secret, only his wife Utta knew about it. In 1996, the actor underwent treatment by the well-known and controversial cancer specialist Julius Hackethal. In November he celebrated his 70th anniversary with a great number of friends and colleagues. At the occasion the told the press: "Das Leben macht sich ja mehr und mehr aus dem Staub (Life is more and more buzzing off)". Eight months later Fischer, to the surprise of the common public, died in Chiemgau. More than 1,000 people participated in the funeral service at the mortuary of Munich's northern cemetery and the subsequent funeral at the Bogenhausen cemetery (gravesite no. 2-4-2) on 19 June 1997. In his funeral speech Munich's Lord Mayor Christian Ude, a friend and neighbour of Fischer, said: "... Populär war er in ganz Deutschland - in München wurde er geliebt. (He was popular throughout Germany - in Munich, he was loved.)"

Filmography :

1958 – Cherchez la femme (Curse the Women); with Helen Vita

1959 – Hunting Party; with Angelika Meissner and Wolf Albach-Retty

1960 – Oh! This Bavaria!; with Liesl Karlstadt and Ludwig Schmid-Wildy

1960 – Die vor die Hunde gehen (Those Who go to the Dogs)

1962 – Florence und der Zahnarzt (Florence and the Dentist)

1970 – Der Röhm-Putsch (Night of the Long Knives); with Hans Korte and Gustl Bayrhammer

1978 – Sachrang (Order of the Case); with Gustl Bayrhammer

1978 – The Unicorn

1978 - Derrick - Season 05, Episode 04: "Ein Hinterhalt"

1979 – Blauer Himmel, den ich nur ahne (Blue Heavens which I can but sense); with Jörg Hube and Hans Stadtmüller

1979 – Der Durchdreher; Director: Helmut Dietl

1980 – Die Undankbare (The Ungrateful)

1984 – Mama Mia – Nur keine Panik [de] (Mamma mia - don't panic); with Uschi Glas and Thomas Gottschalk

1987 – Hexenschuß (Lumbago); with Birte Berg and Beppo Brem

1987 – Zärtliche Chaoten (Tender Chaotics); with Thomas Gottschalk and Michael Winslow

1988 – Starke Zeiten (Hard Times); with Karl Dall, Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff and David Hasselhoff

1988 – Zärtliche Chaoten 2; with Thomas Gottschalk und Michael Winslow

1989 – Jede Menge Schmidt (Lots of Schmidt); with Anja Schüte

1992 – Der Unschuldsengel (Innoncent as an Angel); with Hans Clarin and Iris Berben

1993 – Probefahrt ins Paradies (Test Run to Paradise)

1995 – Drei in fremden Kissen (Three in Foreign Sheets); with Hans Brenner and Fritz Wepper

1996 – Drei in fremden Betten (Three in foreign Beds); with Fritz Wepper and Heidelinde Weis

1997 – Fröhlich geschieden (Happily divorced); with Rainhard Fendrich

TV series :

Funkstreife Isar 12 (Patrol Car Isar 12); with Wilmut Borell and Karl Tischlinger

Graf Yoster gibt sich die Ehre (Count Yoster); with Lukas Ammann and Wolfgang Völz

1972–1981 – Tatort; as Kommissar Veigl's (Gustl Bayrhammer) assistant Ludwig Lenz, with Willy Harlander

1981–1987 – Tatort; as Hauptkommissar Ludwig Lenz

Tatort series as visiting commissioner in:

1968 – Die seltsamen Methoden des Franz Josef Wanninger (The Strange Methods of F. J. Wanninger) - Die Beschützer(The Protectors); TV police series

1972 – Gestern gelesen (Read Yesterday)

1978 – Derrick - Ein Hinterhalt (An Ambush); TV police series with Horst Tappert and Fritz Wepper

1979 and 1986/1987 – Der Millionenbauer (The Million Mark Farmer); with Walter Sedlmayr and Veronika Fitz

1979 – Fast wia im richtigen Leben (Almost like Real Life); with Gerhard Polt

1979 – Der ganz normale Wahnsinn (The Ordinary Madness)

1982 – Meister Eder und sein Pumuckl - Die abergläubische Putzfrau (The Superstitious Cleaner); Children's series

1983 – Krimistunde (Thriller Time)

1983 – Monaco Franze – Der ewige Stenz; with Ruth Maria Kubitschek

1983 – Unsere schönsten Jahre (Our best Years); with Uschi Glas and Elmar Wepper

1986 – Das Traumschiff (The Dreamliner); guest role

1986 – Rette mich, wer kann (Save Me who Can!); with Gundi Ellert

1987–1992 – Die Hausmeisterin (The House Keeper); with Veronika Fitz

1992 – Lilli Lottofee [de] (roughly: Lilli the Lottery Game Fairy); with Senta Berger

1992–1993 – Ein Schloß am Wörthersee (A Castle on Wörthersee); with Uschi Glas

1993–1994 – Peter und Paul (Peter and Paul); series with Hans Clarin

1996 – Wir Königskinder; with Fritz Wepper

1972 Münchner Kindl

1973 Weißblaue Turnschuhe (White and blue Sneakers)

1973 Tote brauchen keine Wohnung (Dead Persons need no Flat)

1974 3:0 für Veigl (3-0 for Veigl)

1975 Als gestohlen gemeldet (Reported stolen)

1975 Das zweite Geständnis (The second Confession)

1976 Wohnheim Westendstraße (Westendstraße Boarding House)

1977 Das Mädchen am Klavier (The Girl at the Piano)

1977 Schüsse in der Schonzeit (Shots during Closed Season)

1978 Schlußverkauf (Sale-out)

1978 Schwarze Einser (Black Ones)

1979 Ende der Vorstellung (End of the Show)

1979 Maria im Elend (Miserable Maria)

1980 Spiel mit Karten (A Card Game)

1981 Usambaraveilchen (Saintpaulias)

1981 Im Fadenkreuz (In the Crosshairs)

1982 Tod auf dem Rastplatz (Death on the resting place)

1983 Roulette mit sechs Kugeln (Roulette with six Bullets)

1984 Heißer Schnee (Hot Snow)

1985 Schicki Micki (Fancy)

1987 Die Macht des Schicksals (The Power of Fate)

1987 Gegenspieler (Opponent)

1976 Transit ins Jenseits (Transit to the Afterlife)

1977 Wer andern eine Grube gräbt (Harm set, Harm get)

1979 Der King (The King)

1987 Wunschlos tot (Perfectly Dead)

Stage plays :

1952 – Agnes Bernauer - at the Würzburg city theatre

1953 – Diener zweier Herren (Servant of Two Masters) - am Stadttheater Würzburg

1964 – Die großen Sebastians (The Great Sebastians) - at the Kleine Komödie in Munich

1966 – Italienische Nacht (Italian Night) - at Residenz Theatre

1969-1970 – Jagdszenen aus Niederbayern (Hunting Scenes from Lower Bavaria) - Münchner Kammerspiele

1975 – Fast wie ein Poet (Almost like A Poet) - at Residenz Theatre - Director: Rudolf Noelte

1984-1985 – Waldfrieden (Peace in the Woods) - Münchner Volkstheater

1984-1985 – Die Brautschau (Looking for a Wife) - am Münchner Volkstheater mit Hans Brenner

On Fischer's favourite spot in the garden of café Münchner Freiheit in Schwabing, a bronze monument by Nicolai Tregor Jr. was revealed which depicts Fischer in his famous role as Monaco Franze.

[natehoodreviews]

2020 Year End Compilation

CLASSIC FILM REVIEWS (IN ALPHABETIC ORDER OF RATING)

Columbus [2017] ★★★★★

Tokyo Olympiad [1965] ★★★★★

War and Peace [1966-67] ★★★★★

Castle of Sand [1974] ★★★★½

The Champ [1931] ★★★★½

The Circus [1928] ★★★★½

The Fabulous Baron Munchausen [1962] ★★★★½

A Face in the Crowd [1957] ★★★★½

The Fearless Hyena [1979] ★★★★½

A Ghost Story [2017] ★★★★½

Gloria [1980] ★★★★½

Grand Prix [1966] ★★★★½

The Hellbenders [1967] ★★★★½

In the Family [2011] ★★★★½

Jason and the Argonauts [1963] ★★★★½

Mikey and Nicky [1976] ★★★★½

Now, Voyager [1942] ★★★★½

Paper Moon [1973] ★★★★½

The Pawnbroker [1964] ★★★★½

The Return [2003] ★★★★½

Salesman [1969] ★★★★½

Statues Also Die [1953] ★★★★½

The World [2004] ★★★★½

Blackmail [1929] ★★★★

The Covered Wagon [1923] ★★★★

The Dark Past [1948] ★★★★

Dry Wood [1973] ★★★★

Fall Guy [1982] ★★★★

The Front Page [1931] ★★★★

The Hanging Tree [1959] ★★★★

Hope and Glory [1987] ★★★★

Invention for Destruction [1958] ★★★★

A Japanese Tragedy [1953] ★★★★

Journey to the Beginning of Time [1955] ★★★★

My Brother's Wedding [1983] ★★★★

Never Let Me Go [2010] ★★★★

The Passenger [1975] ★★★★

The Sniper [1952] ★★★★

Songs My Brothers Taught Me [2015] ★★★★

Tight Spot [1955] ★★★★

The Wind [1928] ★★★★

Xiao Wu [1997] ★★★★

Angels Over Broadway [1940] ★★★½

Antonio Gaudí [1984] ★★★½

The Baker’s Wife [1938] ★★★½

The Blood of Jesus [1941] ★★★½

The Brothers Rico [1957] ★★★½

Capricious Summer [1968] ★★★½

Cluny Brown [1946] ★★★½

Cowboy [1958] ★★★½

Daddy Longlegs [2009] ★★★½

Death in the Garden [1956] ★★★½

Excalibur [1981] ★★★½

Eyes of Laura Mars [1978] ★★★½

The Flying Ace [1926] ★★★½

The Funeral [1984] ★★★½

Hedwig and the Angry Inch [2001] ★★★½

High Hopes [1988] ★★★½

Holiday [1938] ★★★½

Housekeeping [1987] ★★★½

Klute [1971] ★★★½

The Lineup [1958] ★★★½

Medium Cool [1969] ★★★½

Parade [1974] ★★★½

The Pearls of the Crown [1937] ★★★½

Peppermint Frappé [1967] ★★★½

The President’s Barber [2004] ★★★½

Rebels of the Neon God [1992] ★★★½

A Report on the Party and the Guests [1966] ★★★½

The Sheltering Sky [1990] ★★★½

The Shooting [1966] ★★★½

Slightly French [1949] ★★★½

The Song of Songs [1933] ★★★½

The Story of Temple Drake [1933] ★★★½

Story of Women [1988] ★★★½

Teorema [1968] ★★★½

Trigger, Jr. [1950] ★★★½

Tunes of Glory [1960] ★★★½

Unknown Pleasures [2002] ★★★½

The Watermelon Woman [1996] ★★★½

The Whole Town's Talking [1935] ★★★½

Wishmaster [1997] ★★★½

Captain from Castile [1947] ★★★

Death in Venice [1971] ★★★

DeN [2001] ★★★

Fairytale [2017] ★★★

A Fistful of Dollars [1964] ★★★

The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice [1952] ★★★

The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid [1972] ★★★

Monstrum [2018] ★★★

Olivia [1951] ★★★

Party Wire [1935] ★★★

Repast [1951] ★★★

Sugar Hill [1974] ★★★

A Taxing Woman [1987] ★★★

Anna Christie [1930] ★★½

Black Peter [1964] ★★½

Johnny O’Clock [1947] ★★½

A Man Called Peter [1955] ★★½

Meatballs [1979] ★★½

Min and Bill [1930] ★★½

Ocean's Eleven [1960] ★★½

Spiritual Kung Fu [1978] ★★½

The Wilby Conspiracy [1975] ★★½

Affair in Trinidad [1952] ★★

Cat Ballou [1965] ★★

If You Could Only Cook [1935] ★★

Little Old New York [1923] ★★

The Magus [1968] ★★

My Lucky Stars [1985] ★★

Phase IV [1974] ★★

Under the Sun of Satan [1987] ★★

Absurd [1981] ★½

Doctor Dolittle [1967] ★½

Evel Knievel [1971] ★½

The Grief of Others [2015] ★½

Half a Loaf of Kung Fu [1978] ★½

Husbands [1970] ★½

Joan of Arc [1948] ★½

Supernatural [1933] ★½

Connecting Rooms [1970] ★

Fearless Hyena Part II [1983] ★

Stray Dogs [2013] ★