The Proud Priness
The Proud Princess
Animated Film
Voices of: Alena Vranova, Vladimir Raz, S. Neumann, Maria Sykorova, Jaroslav Senik, Miloe Kopecky, Oldrich Dedek, Karel Effa, Gustav Heverle and Josef Hlinomaz
Director; Borivoj Zuman
Scriptwriters: Bozena Nemcova, Henryk Bloch and Olrich Kautsky
Cinematography: Jan Roth
Composer: Dalibon Vackan Company
Rating: PG
Running Length:
Czech cinema is unique and some of its best films go back into the country’s past concerning royalty and the restrictions of being a royal. This tale concerns a prince. who has an eye on the royal princess. There are the usual comedy sequences to lighten the fact that love is definitely in the air---somewhere. This film was actually put together back in 1952, but redone twenty years ago in time for Czech Christmas and now, again, is re-released. It holds up. The storyline, voices of actors, action sequences and humor will be family movie-going for certain. The music by composer Dalibon Vckan is especially well done and the action sequences as done by Jan Roth can be breath taking at times.
As the story goes, the kind decides it is time for his daughter, the princess, to marry. However, try to find a suitor when she is so fussy. A back story, concerns the king’s loyal (perhaps not) money-keepers who are readily depleting the treasury. The princess may have a cute white dog as her companion, but the money-grabbers have a pet who guards their steals. Enter, a young king in disguise who decides the princess is for him. He enters as a gardener and before you can snap your fingers, they are on the run, away from the bad ones, and hid in a forest. What to do? They have to depend on the local peasants for help. However, when the princess finds out the gardener is a fake, watch action, she is angry.
What moves the film along are the lush forest scenes, the escapes by the princess and gardener, the evil tax collectors and the action scenes. Tender moments include a special flower grown by the gardener just for the princess. This is a flower that steals scenes. Music is exceptional and adds to the quality of the film that certainly holds up after being redone over twenty years ago.
The story of a princess and a young king is a common one in country tales, but the characters besides the main ones are of interest. The evil tax collector for one or the peasant couple who help out royalty for another slant on just who lives in the country you rule? The original film was made during a rough time in Czechoslovakia and it is surprising that it was made, much less still here for audiences of today to enjoy. Going into the spring and summer season, “The Proud Princess” is family entertainment.
Copyright 2026 Marie Asner
