The Rolf Wanka Collection (4DVD) - DVD

Irča's Romance
Director: Karel Hašler, 1936, 89 min, b&w
A melodrama that, alongside its romantic story, also captures the beauty of 1930s Dubrovnik. It's a pulp-fiction tale about Irča Miňovská, the daughter of a car factory director, who falls in love with a mechanic named Lexa. However, their relationship is not meant to be. The film was based on the immensely popular novel by Josef Roden. Rolf Wanka was cast in the leading role, his popularity at the time rivalling that of Hollywood stars.
Starring: Rolf Wanka, Jiřina Steimarová, Theodor Pištěk, František Paul, Truda Grosslichtová, Antonie Nedošinská, Čeněk Šlégl, Jan W. Speerger, Jan Sviták, Eliška Pleyová, Ella Nollová

A Step into the Dark
Director: Martin Frič, 1938, 83 min, b&w
A detective comedy based on a story by Eduard Fiker, starring Rolf Wanka and Adina Mandlová in the lead roles. With this film, director Mac Frič responded to the demand for Czech films in this genre, which were missing from the market. Together with Eduard Fiker and František Čáp, he succeeded in creating a thrilling film that has not lost its charm even today.
Starring: Rolf Wanka, Václav Trégl, František Smolík, Adina Mandlová, Zvonimir Rogoz, Alena Frimlová, Theodor Pištěk, Růžena Šlemrová, František Kreuzmann

Líza's Flight to Heaven
Director: Václav Binovec, 1937, 101 min, b&w
A film in which the beautiful Zdenka Sulanová, with her innocent, angelic face, touches the audience's hearts as Eliška Irovská. She is an orphan sent to a poorhouse in Ptačice, where Dr Petr Tumlíř (R. Wanka) takes her under his wing. Despite the ridicule from other children and the hardships she must endure, she eventually shows everyone that she deserves admiration. She becomes the star of a theatre show, where she charms everyone with her singing.
Starring: Zdenka Sulanová, Rolf Wanka, Zita Kabátová, Jiří Plachý, Růžena Šlemrová, Bedřich Vrbský, Bedřich Veverka, Karel Černý, Ella Nollová, Rudolf Hrušínský, Jaroslav Marvan

Mother Kráčmerka
Director: Vladimír Slavínský, 1934, 108 min, b&w
A film adaptation of novels by Popelka Biliánová, which is a masterclass in acting from Antonie Nedošinská and Theodor Pištěk. The comedy tells the story of the Kráčmer family, who experience something others only dream of. A winning lottery ticket brings them a huge fortune, and the greengrocers become high society. Of course, such a change brings a host of new situations, which the couple deals with in their own way.
Starring: Antonie Nedošinská, Theodor Pištěk, Hana Vítová, Rolf Wanka, Blanka Waleská, Jan W. Speerger, Bedřich Vrbský, Ladislav Pešek, Richard F. Branald, Pavel Demel, Vladimír Novotný, Věra Ferbasová, Ella Nolová