was first screened in 1937. Interestingly, the novel was originally created as a film script, but when the producers despised Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz’s text, the author turned it into a novel. After its publishing success, the excellent poet Anatol Stern, who was also the screenwriter of the film “Professor Wilczur” – was commissioned to develop the film in 1938. Mostowicz also wrote a novel of the same name, which went on sale in 1939. Only in the case of the last part of the film trilogy – “Professor Wilczur’s Testament” – his script was used.
How did Professor Wilczur’s fate go on?
After the trial and regaining his memory, Professor Wilczur returns to his previous job and manages the clinic again. This state of affairs, however, does not suit Doctor Dobraniecki, who was previously his deputy and during the years of the mentor’s absence, he was the head of the center as the director. Together with his wife, he constantly plots to regain his position and when one of the operations does not go according to Wilczur’s wishes, he uses the situation to his advantage. Dobraniecki’s intrigues make the embittered professor decide to leave Warsaw and return to the provinces, because he feels really needed there. He is accompanied by doctor Łucja Pańska, who wants to stand by his side and support him.
Marysia, Wilczur’s daughter, also returns to the village at the same time. She is tired of the insistent courtship of a famous tenor, of whom Leszek is terribly jealous. He follows his wife and threatens to take their child with him. Standing against the wall, Marysia turns to her suitor for help, who immediately sets off. However, there is a serious road accident and the tenor is close to death. Here, Professor Wilczur enters the action, who performs a breakneck and even miraculous operation – but this one is so exhausting for him that it strongly affects his health. The professor is seriously ill and his distraught daughter takes care of him.
As if that wasn’t enough, doctor Dobraniecki’s wife shows up at their house unannounced and begs Wilczur for help. Her husband has been diagnosed with cancer, and only a professor-class specialist can do anything about it. Marysia does not want to agree, because she knows how bad her father is. However, he quietly slips away and, oblivious to the damage done to him, goes to operate Dobraniecki. The procedure requires superhuman effort from him and eventually Professor Wilczur dies in the hospital surrounded by helpless assistants. He says to his crying daughter: “Hush, hush, Marysia. I also deserve rest. I am happy. I could not dream of a more beautiful end than a soldier at the post fighting death.”
Kazimierz Junosza-Stępowski again played the main role in the film, and critics praised director Michał Waszyński for his technical skills and moderation in showing the melodramatic story. The production was so successful that it was decided to shoot a sequel, although the protagonist died, so Dołega-Mostowicz came up with the idea that in this installment he would focus on the character of Jemioł, who was Professor Wilczur’s devoted assistant. However, his efforts are not liked by everyone and he faces various difficulties.
In one of the hospitals, he meets Elżbieta – a woman who made him “morally self-degraded”. He tries to heal her, but despite his efforts, she dies. Meanwhile, Mistletoe is remembered by his companions from the times when he behaved reprehensibly. They begin to blackmail him and demand money for silence – otherwise they threaten to reveal past sins. The adamant Mistletoe refuses, and soon after the money disappears from the foundation’s coffers, and suspicion falls on him. “The official of the Foundation, Bronka, and her fiancé, the journalist Stefan, help to detect the perpetrators of the theft. Mistletoe finds the money. The fight with the bandits ensues. A shot is fired and Mistletoe falls dead. He paid for his rehabilitation with his life” – we read in the summary on the website
The film was shot in 1939. It was directed by Leonard Buczkowski, and the screenplay was written by Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz himself, who took an active part in creating the production. He also assigned himself an acting role and appears on the screen as the author, who is the narrator introducing the story. According to pre-war press reports, a novel of the same title was to appear, but the manuscript did not survive the war. “Professor Wilczur’s Testament” during the Nazi occupation was screened by the German Film und Propagandamittel Vertriebsgesellschaft (FiP) and in 1942 in cinemas for Poles. The production was still shown in 1947, but then all copies were lost. The author himself, already a corporal of the Polish Army, died on September 20, 1939 in Kuty. To this day, he remains one of the most widely read Polish writers.
After the war, Polish filmmakers forgot about “Znachorze” for many years. Half a century later, the director wanted to film the novel again, and he managed to complete the work on the set before the introduction of martial law. Its adaptation premiered on April 12, 1982, and still has the status of a cult film. It took another 40 years for someone to dare to read Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz’s novel. Directed by the debuting Michał Gazda, the film made in cooperation with the streaming platform is to premiere in mid-2023. The main role is played by Leszek Lichota.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
