Czech Film Poster Gallery
The Merry Wives | Adina Mandlova | Linenbacked One - Sheet Movie Poster | 1940
The Merry Wives | Adina Mandlova | Linenbacked One - Sheet Movie Poster | 1940
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Extremely rare linen backed stone lithography One Sheet U.S. movie Poster featuring Czech actress Adina Mandlova in The Merry Wives (Cech Panen Kutnohorskych) also known as The Guild Of The Kutna Hora Virgins.
Adina Mandlová (28 January 1910 – 16 June 1991) was a prominent Czech stage and film actress, celebrated as one of the leading stars of 1930s and 1940s Czech cinema. Her career was marked by both her acclaimed performances and her involvement in numerous scandals and love affairs.
Adina Mandlová's film career began in 1932 with a small role in "Děvčátko, neříkej ne!," where she appeared as a model. That same year, she met actor Hugo Haas, who became her partner and cast her in his 1933 film "Life Is a Dog." She also worked as a model for fashion designer Ulli Rosenbaum. Haas persuaded her to turn down the lead role in Gustav Machatý's "Ecstasy" (1933), which ultimately made Hedy Lamarr famous. Mandlová and Haas ended their relationship in 1937. Her 1938 film "Holka nebo kluk?" was a commercial success, establishing her as a leading actress in Czechoslovakia.
During the early 1940s and World War II, Mandlová dated German film director Willy Söhnel of Barrandov Studios. Her public image suffered due to a false rumor that she was also involved with Reichsprotektor Karl Hermann Frank.
In 1942, she was offered a role in the German film "I Entrust My Wife to You," which she accepted after actor Heinz Rühmann personally requested her participation. Joseph Goebbels informed her that Hitler disapproved of Slavic-sounding names in German films, and "Mandl" sounded too Jewish. Consequently, Goebbels renamed her Lil Adina. After the film was completed, Frank sent a letter to Goebbels objecting to Mandlová's involvement in German cinema. As a result, she was blacklisted from both German and Czech films and could only perform in theaters.
Read more about the poster
Read more about the poster
Cech Panen Kutnohorskych" (released in the U.S. in 1940 as "The Merry Wives"), is a 1938 historical melodrama directed by Otakar Vávra. Set in late 16th century Czechoslovakia, the film centers on a town where valuable minerals are mined, attracting both honest workers and deceitful opportunists. The story follows an honest man condemned to death and the dubious offer of help from a corrupt nobleman, which comes with its own complications.
The movie stars Zdeněk Štěpánek, František Kreuzmann, Adina Mandlová (billed as "Introducing Adina Mandlová"), Antonie Nedošinská, and Ladislav Pešek. Notably, this serious melodrama delves into complex moral issues.
When the film was released in Czechoslovakia in 1938, it was well-received for its earnest storytelling. However, in 1940, Edgar E. Lloyd saw potential in distributing it in the U.S. but did so in a misleading manner. He renamed it "The Merry Wives," gave it the tagline "An adventure in ecstasy," and featured a provocative image of Adina Mandlová, who was third-billed in the original Czech release. The film was shown with subtitles in the U.S., and many viewers likely felt deceived by the misrepresentation.
More information
More information
POSTER DATE: 1940
SIZE APPROX: U.S. One Sheet | 27" x 41" / 69 x 104 cm
MOVIE ORIGIN: Czechoslovakia
AUTHOR: Unknown
ORIGINAL TITLE: Cech panen Kutnohorskych
DIRECTOR: Otakar Vavra
FOLDS: No
CONDITION: V-G/Fine
Overall, the poster was in very good condition prior to linen backing. The poster was very nicely backed, and displays well!
Poster info
Cech Panen Kutnohorskych" (released in the U.S. in 1940 as "The Merry Wives"), is a 1938 historical melodrama directed by Otakar Vávra. Set in late 16th century Czechoslovakia, the film centers on a town where valuable minerals are mined, attracting both honest workers and deceitful opportunists. The story follows an honest man condemned to death and the dubious offer of help from a corrupt nobleman, which comes with its own complications.
The movie stars Zdeněk Štěpánek, František Kreuzmann, Adina Mandlová (billed as "Introducing Adina Mandlová"), Antonie Nedošinská, and Ladislav Pešek. Notably, this serious melodrama delves into complex moral issues.
When the film was released in Czechoslovakia in 1938, it was well-received for its earnest storytelling. However, in 1940, Edgar E. Lloyd saw potential in distributing it in the U.S. but did so in a misleading manner. He renamed it "The Merry Wives," gave it the tagline "An adventure in ecstasy," and featured a provocative image of Adina Mandlová, who was third-billed in the original Czech release. The film was shown with subtitles in the U.S., and many viewers likely felt deceived by the misrepresentation.