Margit Dayka Movies

Flashbacks stimulated during one day and night are experienced by a man and his new wife who live as boarders in the home of a war widow and her young son. The boy's father, a heroic doctor who served in the resistance during World War II, was a widely recognized hero, and the young newlyweds have been asked by the widow to travel to a nearby village to be present at the dedication of a memorial plaque in his honor. Already thoroughly tired of his legend, they are forced to sit through lengthy reminiscences by many people who knew him. Some of these tales bring up painful bits of family history, as when a pair of sisters who were in love with the dashing doctor recount how they were separated from him by the boy's mother. However, being immersed in the human side of his father's legend removes the shadow that has dogged the young boy, and the newlyweds also emerge happier with one another. This story is based on a play by Imre Szasz. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

This lavish Hungarian film chronicles the exploits of a Magyar Casanova in the early years of the 20th century. Sensual Szindbad (Zoltan Latinovitz) leaves behind broken hearts and fond memories when he moves from one woman to another. Some of them, overwhelmed by their tragic attachment, seek to have him join them in a suicide pact, others carelessly toss their lives away. He remains fundamentally untouched, but he finally gets his comeuppance at a grand dinner in a fine restaurant. The headwaiter confides in him at great length about troubles he is having with his wife, who was one of Szindbad's conquests. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Set in 1922 when the world was quite different, this conventional drama by director Laszlo Ranody looks at the mix of one's economic station in life and the nature of romantic love. A young servant in a wealthy family is carrying on an affair with a woman who works for the same household. Even though he has this female "friend," he harbors a deep desire for the lady of the house, someone far beyond his reach on the economic and social scale. He is torn between his feelings for both women, and then he finds out that his friend who is clearly in love with him, is pregnant. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Adapted from the Hungarian folk play by Ede Toth, A Falu Rossza is set in the 19th century. When fickle and flirtatious Rozsi (Margit Dayka) refuses to marry local lothario Sandor (Zoltan Greguss), he drinks himself into a stupor and makes an ass of himself. Ostracized by the community, Sandor spends the rest of the film trying to redeem himself. When he finally gets back in the good graces of his neighbors, he realizes that his childhood sweetheart Tercsi (Erzai Somogyi) was the right girl for him all along. A Falu Rossza is also known as The Disgrace of the Village. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Az Ember Neha Teved (Mistakes Will Happen) is a cookie-cutter Hungarian comedy about a poor heroine and a rich hero. Anna Tokes plays Anna, the daughter of near-bankrupt radio manufacturer Illes (Julius Gozon). Gross, greedy lawyer Papp (Julius Csortos) agrees to bail out Illes financially, but only if Anna will marry him. He gives her a diamond brooch to bind the bargain, whereupon the bauble is stolen by a pickpocket (Gero Maly). He passes the brooch on to streetwalker Zizus (Margit Dayka), who in turn loses it in the home of wealthy, bibulous young wastrel Andreas Pakay (Antal Pager). When he sobers up the next morning, Pakay can't remember any of the events of the night before. He does know that there was a girl in the house, and that the girl left her brooch behind. Now there's nothing for it but to trace the brooch to its owner, and guess what happens next? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rakoczi Indulo (Rakoczy March) is based on The Daughter of the Nabob of Dolova, a novel by Ferenc Herceg. Gable-like leading man Paul Javor stars as First Lieutenant Tarjan, who falls in love with the vixenish Vilma (Margaret Dayka). Since Vilma is the sister of Tarjan's superior officer and the daughter of a nobleman, our hero has to work overtime to be worthy of her love. When Vilma's father announces that the girl will marry another, Tarjan reluctantly walks out of the relationship -- and walks into a duel with Vilma's brother, who feels that his sister's honor has been impugned. All is forgiven when Tarjan makes a self-sacrificial gesture that allows everyone to save face. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi