The Portrait (1948)

The Portrait (1948)

1948-01-09 Czechoslovakia 87 Min. PG-13
6.5 2 votes

Overview

People are afraid of the usurer Chazaj and are convinced that he is the bearer of evil. One day Chazaj pays a visit to the poor artist Simon Jordán and asks him to paint his portrait. Simon agrees but as he progresses with the work his mind conjures up terrible thoughts and in the end he commits suicide. The portrait looks lifelike and Chazaj is content with the results. After Chazaj's death the picture changes hands and brings misfortune to all who own it. The last victim is the young painter Roman who buys Chazaj's portrait in a bazaar. He finds a treasure in the frame and begins to live well off it. The comfortable life suits him so well that he rejects his original artistic aims and becomes a painter of fashionable kitsch.

Cast

Otomar Krejča is Simon Jordán / Stepán Jordán
Simon Jordán / Stepán Jordán
Luba Skořepová is Martina Jordánová
Martina Jordánová
Vladimír Šmeral is Painter Roman
Painter Roman
Ladislav Kulhánek is Professor Mikulás
Professor Mikulás
Karel Dostal is Extortioner Chazaj
Extortioner Chazaj
Rudolf Deyl is Jáchym
Felix le Breux is Marcel Bernard
Marcel Bernard
Růžena Šlemrová is Mrs. Viktorová
Mrs. Viktorová
Ludmila Píchová is Líza Viktorová
Líza Viktorová
Emil Bolek is Bussinesman Viktor
Bussinesman Viktor
František Holar is Mr. Zemblovský
Mr. Zemblovský
Viktor Očásek is Merchant Image
Merchant Image