When the Cat Comes (1963)
"Az prijde kocour" (original title)

Some people with a strange cat arrive in a small village. The cat wears glasses, and when someone takes them off, she can colour people, according to their nature and mood. The grown-ups of... See full summary »

Director:

Vojtech Jasný

Writers:

Jirí Brdecka, Vojtech Jasný (story),

Stars:

Jan Werich, Emília Vásáryová, Vlastimil Brodský

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jan Werich	...	Magician / Oliva
Emília Vásáryová	...	Diana (as Emilie Vasáryová)
Vlastimil Brodský	...	Teacher Robert
Jirí Sovák	...	School director
Vladimír Mensík	...	School janitor
Jirina Bohdalová	...	Julie
Karel Effa	...	Janek
Vlasta Chramostová	...	Marjánka
Alena Kreuzmannová	...	Fancha, Gossip
Stella Zázvorková	...	Ruzena
Jaroslav Mares	...	Restaurant owner
Jana Werichová	...	Chairman's wife
Ladislav Fialka	...	Stealer
Karel Vrtiska	...	Miller
Václav Babka	...	Policeman

Storyline

Some people with a strange cat arrive in a small village. The cat wears glasses, and when someone takes them off, she can colour people, according to their nature and mood. The grown-ups of the village consider the cat to be dangerous, but the kids just love her...

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Plot Keywords:

cat | metaphor | teacher | magician | surrealism | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Romance

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Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

20 September 1963 (Czechoslovakia)

Also Known As:

That Cat

Filming Locations:

Telc, Czech Republic

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmové studio Barrandov

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

School director: [subtitled version] Listen Robert, denoting your superior as a murderer in public doesn't seem like constructive criticism.

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Connections

Edited into Voskovec & Werich - paralelní osudy (2012)

User Reviews

Trip Into the Fantastic

A psychedelic look at human nature and the different desires that each person in a small village have. A cat that is accompanied by a circus troupe enters a small village and exposes what each person feels by showing them in different colors of emotions. Many in this small village are selfish and self centered except for the romantic teacher. The director uses a range of colors to show the different elements of human behavior. The teacher played by Vlastimil Brodsky is a hopeless romantic that falls in love with Cassandra, a member of the performing circus.

Az Prijde Kocour/Cassandra Cat(1963) is for everyone of different age groups. The children see the cat as the bearer of truth and the giver of unlimited imagination. The adults in the village see the cat as a threat because they are fearful of that truth that sees beneath the lies. The only adult who is not threatened by the cat is the romantic teacher. The cinematography is excellent and the music is good.

Cassandra Cat(1963) is not very different from the films of Terry Gilliam especially Time Bandits(1981), and Brazil(1985). The romantic angle of Az Prijde Kocour(1963) reminds me in many ways of similar scenes in Brazil(1985). Cassandra Cat(1963) is an ageless film by one of the masters of the Czech New Wave, Vojtech Jasny. The ending of the motion picture is sad. Emilia Vasaryova is arousing and sweet natured in the role of Cassandra.