Krok do tmy

I recommend watching this film with green glasses because the vitrage suits this pure studio film with refined taste. This wonderful crime drama lasciviously combines the theme of money laundering with the endearing game of one of the most interesting couples in pre-war cinema. Rolf Wanka, with his tiny mustache, is the modern Douglas Fairbanks of Czech cinema. He smiles and jokes and flirts with his servant, he is an athlete, and also the forerunner of James Bond. Adina Mandlová is a spicy childish blonde who knows she looks good when she's scared, she babbles adorably, and she also knows how to make wonderful use of the brooch on the expensive dip in her cleavage. She replaces this one more than once, ideally with men's pajamas. Rolf is at his most fabulous in the same scene in his negligee, playing the seal and his faithful servant Grapefruit the nail hammer. Czech cinema lost a lot when it had to say goodbye to him forever when he was in his peak form. Their counterpart is an excellent gang of subversive elements led by the beautiful Alena Frimlová, but for a certain period of time also Zvonimir Rogoz. I'm really at a loss as to who is the more wonderful dullard between Ladislav Herbert Struna or Jan W. Speerger is. Probably Speerger because he's got a better costume with a gambling visor. If I had to choose from comedy-oriented crime films from this time period, I'd go for A Step into the Darkness, followed by the original Edgar Wallace adapted by Karel Lamač, where Martin Frič first approached this genre as an assistant director in The Informer. (02.07.2010)

A Czech film and noir? That's not quite the connection you think of when talking about this genre. But the film A Step into the Darkness proves that it is possible, even if it is in the classic Czech way, and therefore with humor, which is something I don't really like in noir. But it's not bad and I'm glad I discovered this Czech gem for myself. (06.08.2017)