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Life on the Hortobagy (1937)
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For a thousand years the Magyars have lived on their plains, guarded by distant mountains. Through the centuries they have remained horsemen, following their ancient callings hunting, fishing, and breeding livestock. This way of life, shaped by Nature and tradition, created a rich folk culture. But in the past century, agriculture has subdued their ancient pursuits. Hunting lands and pastures have become ploughed fields. Today, of the endless plains there are few patches to remain unaffected, and even the remotest swathes of land are crumbling before the iron of the Tractor. A thousand-year-old fairytale: this is Hungary. Ladies and Gentlemen, no sooner had we got acquainted with the tractor, and the gas drill, than a new machine, the film shooting machine, arrived at the Great Plain. It was the gentlemen coming along who brought it. They spent two summers with us, from spring to fall. We played roles forthem, but, nevertheless, we are no actors, but herdsmen and peasants. And we do present ourselves as what we are. We have grown fond of your machine, of the motion pictures, because it shows our ranch, our plain, our life the way they are. See you soon in the film, in our beautiful plain, which is called Hortobgy! Adapted and directed by George Michael Hoellering After the short story The Gloomy Horse by Zsigmond Moricz Music: Lszl Lajtha Camera: Lszl Schiffer Sound: Ferenc Lohr With the Budapest Concert Orchestra conducted by Viktor Vaszy The folk songs were collected by Lszl Lajtha. Produced in Hunnia Film Factory Tobis Klangfilm system Copy by Kovcs and Faludi Production Hllering-Film Jnos Czinege plays Jnos Czinege, a head csikos Mrs. Jnosn Czinege plays Jnos Czinege's wife lstvn Knysi plays Jancsi, Czinege's son Margit Szincsk plays Juliska, Czinege's daughter Mihly Nagy plays Mihly, Czinege's csikos Jnos Srkny plays lmre, Czinege's ranchman lstvn Veress plays Pista, the rich peasant boy lmre Kovcs plays lmre Kovcs, an old head csikos Mrs. lmrn Kovcs plays widow Srknyn Lajos Kelemen plays the mechanic Get back, this is the boundary. Your machine has taken away enough from us already. The rain has blurred the sign. I could not see it. Get away and open your eyes, or else you'll get a whipping. - Good morning, Mr. Mechanic! - Hi, Jancsi! - Will you find gas today'? - I hope so. - How much more iron pieces'? - Three will do. Jancsi, your father is just mounting the horse at the ranch. I must go with him to the village and to the market. Hurry up, or he kills me if he finds you here. Iam going. Give me some tools for my bicycle, because it needs mending. Here you are. - Thank you. - Farewell! Should Jancsi follow you'? To the devil with him, a csikos must be punctual. - Where is father'? - He is gone to the village. - Give me my boots. - You don't need them. Your father took Mihly. - And what about me'? - He said you should go to the devil. Iwill rather mend my bicycle. The herdsmen from the Hortobgy are here! Bring the horses to the breeding place. Not ready for the market yet'? Yes, Jnos, we'll come at once. Make yourself pretty! Pista is coming from Debrecen. I don't want him, father. Where is Jancsi'? - The kid wasn't there, when I left. - Have a drink, Jnos. - Who has come with you, father'? - Mihly. Get Mihly out of your head. Pista is the one for you. I will not have the conceited fool. L'll decide that. /n Ho/Tobg y the violet is in fu// bloom The cattle grazes happily in its blue... Its herdsman drinks his wine in the tavern The poor lift/e bird finds no rest It flies from one branch to the next... A lone/y guy as I am / find no rest either A lone/y guy as I am / find no rest either /'m a cowboy m yse/lj from top to toe, Not like others, who make it for sham. There my herd is grazing, My darling violet. There the y're grazing, There the y're grazing, Six gray foals alone, with no horseman. Al/ the six though, all the six though Wear copper fetters to force them. Come on darling, let's snatch those grey foals Rasp down, file ofi' those copper fetters. Hide the bicycle pump, father must not see it. Jancsi will be glad. To the devil with the bicycle! - I saved up three years for it. - A csikos doesn't need a bicycle! Everyone is catching horses for the market, while you play with that rubbishy machine. Come here, Jancsi. Embracing, embracing, Embracing my gray horse... - Come on, lmre. - l'm coming. L'll drive the big herd to market with Mihly, you drive the others. That's Jancsi's job, he is the csikos! I don't want a csikos with a bicycle. Anyway, do what I tell you. Here is my whip, you will need it at the market. - And you'? - I don't need it any more. - You don't need it any more'? - No. - All the best. - Thank you, good bye. - Mihly, ride back and fetch Jancsi. - l'm going. You can only stay here if your father allows it. Will you keep me fortoday'? Yes, but tomorrow l'll speak to your father. Is she going to the market too'? - Who'? - Srkny's widow. How should I know'? She has never been there. - Where are you going'? - To the market. - To Kovcs, the head csikos'? - Yes. - But you have never been there. - Now l'm going. Well, I never! She's going -- I want to see him once again before I die. That's a wonder, a real wonder! What does she want with old Kovcs'? He used to be her sweetheart before she married Srkny. Why didn't she marry Kovcs'? They made her marry the rich peasant. Kovcs was only a csikos back then. - And was the marriage a happy one'? - No. - You want to force me too. - Not l, and father means well. Drive faster, mother, and get over there to ride with Mrs. Srkny. L'll go to meet father on the ranch. Well, to meet father. Well! Well! All right then! - Hasn't Jancsi been here'? - Not today. Horsemen, herdsmen... Jancsi, there is your donkey. He always follows me. This place will turn into a menagerie. Broken the flask... for drink don 't ask... Stop the motor and come up here. Two mares are foaling. Two fine foals. He/yh-ho, no mother it was who raised this lift/e lass/e, He/yh-ho, hatched she was by a pigeon in the greenwood. N0 mothers e/derdown 0f silk does she need to c0 ver her, He/yh-ho, her shepherd /0 verS cloak will keep her cosy. - You can stay at home. - Now'? Having got myself ready'? - The old man wants Jancsi to come. - He has been gone a long while. - To the market'? - I don't know. - Perhaps he will come now. - I don't think so. - Juliska! - Mihly! - What are you doing here'? - I brought something for you and now I must go to the market. L'll help you to unload. It's a long time since we saw each other. A very long time. But there is something else, Mihly. - What'? - Father is at the market. - And...'? - He is preparing the betrothal. - What betrothal'? - Pista's and mine. Pista's and yours? Don't be afraid. They won't tear us apart. Iam going there, too. For 150 Pengs! - What are you doing here'? - I have come to you. - To me'? And your husband'? - He died a year ago. What do you want'? I want to see you again, for I won't live long either. I will take you to the Puszta ranch. You will live longerthere than alone in the village. /n Nag yi vain y I whoop about without pardon, S0 the maid shall hear it in her back-garden. I can't find Jancsi. He'll come by, have a drink. Why won't you dance too, like my father'? Iwill. I stood highest in my fatherk fa vor, Yet a rascal I turned for /0 ve S labor. My cloak has a round border, with red silk it is embroidered, When resting along my ways My cloak under my head lp/ace. /n the growing grass I hide, My /0 ve is v/o/et-b/ue-e yea', My heanj my hea/T must kill me, Who might be there to heal me ? Hello, Pista. He/yh-ho, no mother it was who raised this lift/e lass/e, He/yh-ho, hatched she was by a pigeon in the greenwood. N0 mothers e/derdown 0f silk does she need to c0 ver her, He/yh-ho, her shepherd /0 verS cloak will keep her cosy. - A pretty couple. - Yes. - You stand there and look on'? - He took her... - Why didn't you take her'? - You are right! Now the gypsy must play something for Juliska and me. Stop! Now you play for me. Don't stop, play on! - Now he plays for me. - Play on. - Now he plays for me... - For you'? - He will play for me! - No!! That's enough. You shall not dance anymore with my Juliska. My Britannica cigar, it fei/ out 0f m y pocket And me I fe/l out too, 0f m y sweethea/TS fa vor, But fallen out 0r no, /'// not be long bereft; though, For down in the new cofiee house, gay music sets the tone there. We must cover the machine. A storm is brooding. Is Jancsi with the horses? He left this morning with his bicycle. He'll get it! Nowl must go to the herd. Give me my fur, the storm is coming. - Fetch the pincers out of the pit. - I am bringing them. Stand clear! The beams are shifting! Free the horse! Give me a rope. Stay with the herd, I am going to the gas, the drill has collapsed. The drill has collapsed! Help here! I must put out the fire! He is alive. Thank God! The drill has collapsed, Jancsi is sure to be there. Hurry! My boy Jancsi is dead. No, he's alive, but we must carry him to the tent. Now Jancsi, have you had enough machines'? No, father, I want to be a mechanic. Can you understand that'? Let him be. If our sons don't take over the machines, they will lose the Puszta altogether. - Where is Crane, my horse'? - Struck dead by the beam. - Crane'? - Yes. Come on, Uncle lmre, let's bury him. - Father, you and Mihly bury him. - All right, Jancsi. - I am off to put him on the cart. - I shall come in a moment. - Can you see something'? - No. Iam sure something has happened. Look afterthe kid; I am off to bury Crane. Do so. The motor is working again, Mr. Mechanic. It needs some oil. It would make no sense to give oats to Daru - he will not stir anymore. Now you too belong to the machine. - I will do my best, Mr. Mechanic. And our machine must live always. - Okay, Jancsi. Iam sorry for the fine horse. As for you, you'll get - What'? - Juliska! Wow, I can't believe it! For twenty years I have cooked my soup alone, but it has never been so good as today. - May I marry Mihly'? - You may not you must. N0 mothers e/derdown 0f silk does she need to c0 ver her, He/yh-ho, her shepherd /0 verS cloak will keep her cosy. He/yh-ho, no mother it was who raised this lift/e lass/e N0 mothers e/derdown 0f silk does she need to c0 ver her He/yh-ho, her shepherd /0 verS cloak will keep her cosy. Lsz/o' Fe//r stole a steed From ofi' the black hillside From ofi' the black mountain - Caught he was in fetters chained. A bowl 0f gold, judge, /'// give thee, Pr/thee /et my brother free! A bowl of go/dS no good to me Let me share the night with thee. Lsz/o' Fe//r, dearest brother, Hear what said Judge H0rva't.' rather, I should spend the night with he - Then brother dear will you be free. Anna Fe//r, sister bra vest; D0 not thank him with your fa voura Your maidenhead he '// ha ve from thee, Yet send me t0 the gallows tree. Coachman, six steeds straight away, 7'0 the prison gates, I sa y! Lsz/o' Fe//r, /ump in fast Sleep at home 0r breathe your last! Coachman, straight away six steeds! Ofi' t0 Judge Horvats we must speed! He took from me my maidenhead, Yet my brother hanged t/// he was dead/ Your washing water to blood be turned, Your towel to fire, your skin be burned, /'d see your bread to stone turned hard, Your knife dart up and stab your heart! The End |
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