Gyula Csortos Movies

Fekete Gyemantok is based on a novel by Maurice Jokal. The title translates as Black Diamonds, a reference to the Hungarian coal-mining community where the story takes place. Amidst political, economic and labor-relations intrigue, a triangular romance develops involving Ivan (Paul Javor), Evila (Zita Szeleczky) and Felix (Eugene Torzs). Since Felix is the villain of the peace, the outcome of the "love stuff" is predetermined from the start. Director Ladislao Vajda does wonders with an obviously tight budget, especially during the elaborate stock-exchange sequences. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

One wonders sometimes if there were any Hungarian films of the 1930s not directed by the ubiquitous Ivan Szekely! Adapted from a play by Lajos Zilaby, Egy Lany Elindul (A Girl's Start) represents another felicitous collaboration between director Szekely and star Eva Szorenyi. She plays Janka, a proper young working girl who puts in extra hours at the office to support her ne'er-do-well family. With the help of her wealthy friend Dido (Marita Mezey), Janka is able to pass herself off as an heiress during a posh weekend party. Through various means, Janka secures responsible jobs for her family at her hosts' estate, and in so doing straightens out everyone's problems. As a bonus, Janka lands rich but lazy young Briggy (Antal Pager) as her husband, ultimately teaching him the pleasures and values of good, hard, honest work. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Viki was adapted for the screen from the stage play by Adorjan Bonyi. Taking over from the stage version's Marika Roekk as the title character is Rozsi Barsony, an immensely popular Hungarian screen personality of the period. A headstrong, hoydenish young woman, Viki prefers to dress and act like a man. When she gets into an argument with the equally contentious Feri (Paul Javor), he fails to see through her disguise and challenges her to a duel, "man to man." Amazingly, the two antagonists go through with the duel -- whereupon Feri discovers Viki's true gender and instantly falls in love with her. Given Rozsi Barsony's voluptuous figure and omnipresent femininity, one can only assume that hero Feri is extraordinarily nearsighted. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A Megfagyott Gyermik was released outside of Hungary as The Frozen Child and Tomi. Child actor Gizi Percy stars as Tomi, who in the beginning of the film must stand by helplessly as his parents are persecuted by a rich relative. Running away from home after the death of his mother, Tomi nearly freezes to death but is rescued from this and subsequent perils when a building designed by his late father wins a huge cash prize at an architectural contest. Meanwhile, the nasty relative gets his comeuppance when his daughter Sutyi (Klari Adam), Toni's cousin, marries the man of her choice rather than the husband selected by her domineering daddy. The film ends with a few process-screen images of New York, as Tomi travels to America to triumphantly claim his father's prize. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The sentimental Hungarian drama Tommy owes quite a bit to Chaplin's The Kid. The principal character is an orphan boy, who spends the first few reels suffering under the tyranny of an evil grandfather. Tommy is rescued by a spinster aunt who, after landing a husband, is at last able to adopt the child. The film's most heart-wrenching scene finds young Tommy mourning by his mother's grave on a cold and windy night. Nodding off, he dreams he is reunited with her in Heaven -- which, considering the weather and his flimsy clothing, may very well happen. Tommy boasts excellent performances from two astonishingly gifted juvenile performers, Gizy Peczy and Klari Adam. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

You Will Be My Husband is the rather emphatic English-language title of this Hungarian romantic comedy. Irene Agal stars as Margit Balos, who arrives at the conclusion that married women are more attractive to men than bachelorettes. Thus, Margit pretends to be married, going so far as to claim that stuffy Dr. Dobokay (Paul Javor) is her husband. Though displeased by Margit's deception, Dobokay agrees to play along with her, and, waddya know, he actually falls in love with her! Maga Lesz a Ferjem certainly proved that Hollywood had no monopoly on cliches. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

En Voltam (I Did It) was based on Confession, a play by Rose Meller. Elma Bulla repeats her stage role as a young woman who takes the blame for a theft which she believes was committed by her lover. The ungrateful jerk assumes that she did commit the crime, and further supposes that she did it on behalf of his romantic rival. Throughout the rest of the film, Bulla tries to revoke her confession, only to find that no one will believe her. Only when the genuine culprit is revealed is Bulla cleared and reunited with her sweetheart -- though if ever there was a man unworthy of her devotion, it is surely this one! Devotees of newcomer Elma Bulla were thoroughly satisfied with this screen version of her theatrical triumph. ~ 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

Dunaparti Randevu (Romance At the Danube) offers yet another pair of ardent young lovers who pursue their romance despite her papa's objections. Once again, the hero (Imre Raday) is an impoverished writer, while the heroine (Zita Perczel) is the daughter of a rich man. And once again, the girl's father (Julius Kabos) refuses to bless the union until the boy "makes something" of himself. At the last moment, the hero manages to win over the father by writing a best-seller -- still another familiar plot device. And as expected, the acting honors are won by the father, played by ace Hungarian comic Julius Kabos. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Az Uj Foldesur (The New Squire) was based on a novel by popular Hungarian author Maurice Jokal, whose many works had previously been largely ignored. After the wars of 1848, a retired Austrian army officer "returns to the soil" as a gentleman farmer in Hungary in the 1850s. The old campaigner is the father of two daughters: One of the girls comes to a sad end thanks to the malfeasances of a handsome spy, but the other has a happier fate when she falls in love with a Hungarian POW. The underlying theme is brotherhood, as the formerly warring Austrians and Hungarians at last find a common ground. Az Uj Foldesur was nearly twice as expensive as the average Hungarian film -- but at $40,000, its budget was a drop in the bucket compared to a typical Hollywood production. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hippolyt, the Lackey was the second production to emanate from the Budapest studios of young-and-hungry Hunnia Studios. Former expressman Mattias Schneider may have recently come into a fortune, but he remains the same simple, down-to-earth soul he always was. But Mrs. Schneider is a social-climbing type, and she insists that their daughter Terka seek out a wealthy husband, even though the girl is in love with Schneider's employee Benedeck. To teach her husband and daughter the proper social attitudes and graces, Mrs. S. hires a butler named Hippolyt (portrayed by celebrated National Theatre of Budapest leading man Gyula Csortos) who has spent his life in service to the rich and famous. Hippolyt advices Schneider to join the "right" clubs, and as an added fillip, to take a young mistress, like any proper Hungarian gentlemen. Schneider takes Hippolyt's advice and invites a saucy showgirl named Mimi to his home, thoroughly destroying Mrs. Schneider's dreams of entering the aristocracy but somehow paving the way to a happy ending for Terka and Benedeck. Hippolyt, the Lackey was also lensed in a German-language version. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi