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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Adéla jeste nevecerela" or "Nick Carter in Prague" or "Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet" or "Adele Hasn't Had Her Dinner Yet")

 

Directed by Oldřich Lipský
Czechoslovakia 1978

 

Within that bizarre flower lies a huge enigma,” muses Nick Carter, America’s Greatest Detective (Michal Dočolomanský), called to Prague to investigate the case of a missing dog and instead winding up in the jaws of a giant carnivorous plant controlled by his old nemesis, The Gardener (Miloš Kopecký), in Czech director Oldřich Lipský’s beloved cult hit. Inspired by the Nick Carter dime novel detective stories created by John R. Coryell, Adela is an irresistible slapstick combination of 19th century James Bond gadgetry, Little Shop of Horrors, Blake Edwards circa The Pink Panther Strikes Again and Louis Feuillade silent serials like Fantomas and Judex. In other words, a sheer delight. The second major comic hit from director Lipský and writer/animator Jiří Brdečka after their musical western spoof Lemonade Joe (1966), Adela features much of the same cast as their third and final satire The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians (1981) including leads Dočolomanský, Kopecký and the wonderful Rudolf Hrušínský as a Pilsner-drinking sausage-eating police commissar who invariably saves the day. A loving tribute to the bygone days of old-world Prague, the film is literally filled with surreal, poetic moments and machinery – a balloon chase on a flying bicycle, a solar rifle, flowering vines serving tea – with the best by far being the Audrey-like man-eating plant designed and animated by the legendary Jan Švankmajer (who also contributed to Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians several years later). Look for famed Czech actress Olga Schoberová (Lemonade Joe, Who Killed Jessie?, Hammer’s The Vengeance of She) in a brief but memorable role as cabaret dancer Irma the Cat.

***

Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet (1978), directed by Oldřich Lipský, is a surreal Czech comedy that skewers American detective pulp fiction. Set in an ornate, early 20th-century Prague, it follows Nick Carter (Michal Dočolomanský), a flamboyant U.S. sleuth hired by Countess Thun to find her missing Great Dane. Armed with steampunk gadgets like a flying bike, Carter partners with the beer-loving Commissar Ledvina (Rudolf Hrušínský) to unravel a bizarre case. Their trail leads to Baron von Kratzmar (Miloš Kopecký), Carter’s old foe “the Gardener,” who’s feeding victims to Adela - a carnivorous, Mozart-obsessed plant animated by Jan Švankmajer’s stop-motion wizardry. Blending slapstick, satire, and a touch of menace, this 102-minute romp unfolds against Prague’s gaslit charm, scored by Luboš Fišer’s playful tunes. A hit in Czechoslovakia during the repressive “Normalization” era, it’s a gleefully absurd cult classic about detective bravado, villainous flora, and one hungry plant.

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 1st, 1978

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Review: Deaf Crocodile - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Deaf Crocodile - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:47:10.132
Video

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 43,054,458,585 bytes

Feature: 30,904,980,864 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.84 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio Czech 1532 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1532 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Deaf Crocodile

 

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 43,054,458,585 bytes

Feature: 30,904,980,864 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.84 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

New audio commentary by Czech film expert Irena Kovarova of Comeback Company and Czech film critic and screenwriter Tereza Brdečková
Four rare Jiří Brdečka animated shorts:
• Badly Drawn Hen (Špatně namalovaná slepice / Gallina Vogelbirdae - 13:40) – 1963
• Forester’s Song / To The Forest (Do lesíčka na čekanou - 9:34) – 1966
• The Miner’s Rose (Horníkova růže - 8:05) – 1974
• What Did I Not Tell The Prince (Co jsem princi neřekla - 9:33) – 1975


Blu-ray Release Date: February 11th, 2025

Standard Blu-ray Case inside slipcase

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Deaf Crocodile Blu-ray (March 2025): Deaf Crocodile have transferred Oldřich Lipský's Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New restoration from the original camera negative and sound elements by the Národní filmový archiv, Prague." It is on a dual-layered Blu-ray disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The film is set in the early 20th century, and its look reflects this period with great attention to detail. The costumes, decor, and architecture are all reflective of the time, evoking an early 1900s European atmosphere. There’s a rich use of period clothing, from suits and gowns to accessories like hats and jewelry, which help to transport the audience to this specific era. The visual tone often complements the lightheartedness and absurdity of the story. There are moments of exaggerated action, slapstick, and quirky visual gags, where the camera work and timing contribute to the fun. The film employs a vibrant color palette, with soft hues, warm tones, and rich textures throughout. This is picked up well by the 1080P transfer. The costumes are well-tailored, often in muted pastels, while the interiors of rooms feature dark wood furniture and rich fabrics, creating a somewhat luxurious but still charmingly understated feel. The contrast supports the film well, detail (in occasional close-ups) is pleasing and there are instances of depth. The HD presentation on Blu-ray is clean and consistent throughout. .

NOTE: We have added 70 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Deaf Crocodile use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original Czech language. Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet 's audio plays an essential role in creating the film's whimsical, lighthearted atmosphere while also contributing to its mystery and comedic elements. There is a delightful score by Lubos Fiser (Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians, Morgiana, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders) whose jazzy, lively tunes often emphasize the humor in the film's more absurd moments. The energetic brass and piano melodies reflect the playful, almost cartoonish nature of the characters and their interactions. It can sound a shade tinny in the uncompressed transfer - this may be authentic to the production. The audio is an integral part of its charm and appeal. The playful jazz score, exaggerated sound effects, snappy dialogue, and clever use of silence all work together to create a fun, lighthearted, and at times suspenseful atmosphere. The audio design not only complements the film's whimsical nature but also enhances the comedic timing and mystery at the heart of the story. The lossless transfer is flawless, if - as stated, a shade tinny. Deaf Crocodile offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Deaf Crocodile Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Czech film expert Irena Kovarová of Comeback Company and film critic and screenwriter Tereza Brdečková. They also did the commentaries on Deaf Crocodile's Prague Nights and Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians. Tereza's father wrote Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet. They delve into the collaborative relationship between director Oldřich Lipský and screenwriter Jiří Brdečka, highlighting their combined efforts in crafting the film's unique blend of satire and adventure. They touch on challenges faced during the Communist era, particularly the restrictions on filmmaking that focused on American themes, and how these constraints influenced the film's creation. They also address the trilogy of films by Lipský and Brdečka, drawing parallels and distinctions with Lemonade Joe and Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians. The commentary is highly informative and well worth the indulgence. Also included are four rare Jiří Brdečka animated shorts; Badly Drawn Hen (Špatně namalovaná slepice / Gallina Vogelbirdae) is from 1963 running almost 1/4 hour. It is an experimental piece, utilizing a rudimentary animation technique where the characters are intentionally "badly drawn." This style was a deliberate choice, subverting the polished animation common in the industry at the time. It aligns with the Czech New Wave's tendency to break from tradition and play with form, creating a surreal, quirky, and humorous tone. The rough, sketchy visuals are central to the film's comedic aspect, drawing attention to its simplicity and irony. Forester’s Song / To The Forest (Do lesíčka na čekanou) - runs 10-minutes from 1966 which showcases his talent for blending humor, visual storytelling, and an appreciation for literature. The Miner’s Rose (Horníkova růže) is from 1974 running 8-minutes. It follows the story of a modest and hard-working miner who stumbles upon a seemingly magical rose. The rose has the ability to bring beauty and wonder into his otherwise mundane life. However, the miner's encounter with the rose soon leads him into a complex situation, where the boundaries between fantasy and reality become blurred. The film explores themes of desire, beauty, the human condition, and the conflict between the ordinary and the extraordinary. It stands out as one of Lipský's works that showcases his ability to mix humor with deeper existential and social themes, typical of his unique style of filmmaking. Lastly is What Did I Not Tell The Prince (Co jsem princi neřekla) running 10-minutes from 1975. The short centers on a quirky and comedic story that involves a seemingly straightforward narrative with plenty of absurdity and fantasy elements typical of Lipský's work. Set against a backdrop of a fantastical kingdom, the plot revolves around a series of misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and comic situations. The limited deluxe Blu-ray edition of Deaf Crocodile's Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet offers a 60-page booklet including a new essays by film historian and expert on Central & Eastern European cinema Jonathan Owen (Avant-garde to New Wave: Czechoslovak Cinema, Surrealism and the Sixties) and film critic Walter Chaw (The Films of Walter Hill: Another Time, Another Place) plus excerpts from the 2015 book Jiří Brdecka: Life-Animation-Magic.

Oldřich Lipský's Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet combines multiple layers of absurdity, social commentary, and whimsy, typical of the director's style. By blending elements of farce with a subtle critique of society, the film creates a playful yet thought-provoking experience. The themes of mistaken identity, social satire, incompetence, and the blurring of reality with fantasy all contribute to the film's lasting appeal. It’s a delightful example of how Czech New Wave filmmakers used humor and the surreal to challenge traditional genres and offer a nuanced commentary on society. It thrives on its sense of whimsy and surrealism. The film’s mystery plot is largely secondary to the bizarre events that take place, and the slapstick humor, exaggerated character traits, and absurd situations take center stage. The surreal nature of the narrative, such as the over-the-top reactions of characters or the fantastical elements that serve no real purpose, enhances the playful and absurd atmosphere. This theme ties into a critique of societal institutions, especially the structures of authority and bureaucracy. The incompetence of Carter and the hotel staff reflects the absurdity of hierarchical systems, particularly in the way they often fail to address real problems. It plays well with Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians that is stylistically (proto-steampunk) atmospheric and inventive (Jules Verne) with a Sherlock Holmesian aspect that adds another layer of enjoyment while evoking Terry Gilliam's work - perhaps even Monty Python with Jan Švankmajer designs and certainly Wes Anderson. Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet is so enjoyable if you are in the right mood. The Deaf Crocodile Blu-ray from a new restoration with expert commentary and director shorts is extremely desirable. We absolutely recommend.

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

Deaf Crocodile - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


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Distribution Deaf Crocodile - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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