Jedenácté přikázání: Old School Comedy That Actually Sticks

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for black-and-white comedies that feel like they were filmed inside someone's living room, then yes. Watch it if you want something light but surprisingly sharp.

If you need high-octane pacing or complex camera movements, you’ll probably find this boring. It’s very much a product of its time—talky, stagey, and very focused on the local manners of the era.

There’s a specific energy to Jedenácté přikázání that feels familiar if you’ve seen The Gaiety Girl. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, but the chemistry between the cast is just… nice. It doesn’t feel forced, which is a rare treat for a film this old.

Jindřich Plachta is the anchor here. He has this way of looking at the camera that makes you think he knows exactly how ridiculous the situation is. It’s the kind of performance that holds up even when the plot starts to wobble a bit.

The small stuff

• The way the characters navigate a room is almost like a dance.
• The lighting in the parlor scenes is weirdly moody for a comedy.
• There is one hat worn by a background character that I cannot stop thinking about.
• The dialogue is snappy, even if you don't catch all the cultural puns.

It’s not as gritty or desperate as Mortal Clay, obviously. It stays in its lane. The movie doesn't care about being profound. It just wants to show you a bunch of people being mildly inconvenienced by their own egos.

There’s a moment near the middle where the pacing just hits a wall. It lingers on a dinner conversation that goes on way too long. You can almost see the actors waiting for their next cue. It’s a bit messy, honestly.

But then someone makes a face, or a door slams at the wrong time, and you’re back in it. It’s charming in a way that feels unpolished, which I prefer over the stiff stuff you see in later, more 'prestige' cinema. 🎬

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s just a funny little story about people who think they’re smarter than they actually are. Honestly, that’s usually enough for me.