Hyppolit, the Butler (Hyppolit a lakáj)

The digital restoration of "Hyppolit, the Butler"

was funded by the Hungarian Development Bank

Visual content digitalised and restored by the Hungarian Film Laboratory

Sound content digitally cleaned by the Hungarian Film Archive

The restored copy was prepared at the Hungarian Film Laboratory

Hyppolit, the Butler

based on a stage play of similar name by István Zágon

photography: István Eiben, Eduard Hösch set design: Max Heilbronner

music: Mihály Eisemann

directed by István Székely

cast:

Blackbird! Warbler! Gee up! For the love of God!

You are in a bad mood today.

What's wrong, Tóbiás? Run out of horsepower?

They're low on petrol but I'll soon fire them up!

Tell me when those fat sausages start to move!

This sausage could kick you out of that tin can.

- Hey, hey! - Hey, hey!

I hope you can see, Father, that we could sell those two horses.

Leave them alone. Your great-great grandfather

couldn't have set up this firm without them.

- Remember, mankind... - I know!

...can thank horses for its culture.

If Hannibal took an army of men on horseback to Moscow?

Papa, that wasn't Hannibal.

- Then who? - Napoleon.

- Who? - Napoleon.

He didn't take a taxi either!

Take a look at that!

Poor animals!

Don't feel sorry for the horses! It's theirjob.

Come in!

Good morning!

What's to report, Benedek?

There's a mistake in the calculation for the poultry delivery.

How many times have I said that Terka sees to international work?

Yes, sorry, but this is a local delivery...

Oh, local? Really?

- She does them too! - Let me have a look at that!

Sorry, but I think the first mistake is here.

I'm sorry

but the first mistake is that you are in these dreadful clothes again.

Really.

And there is a discrepancy of 100 pengő here.

That really is too much! You haven't even shaved!

True!

What do you want from this man?

- A manager really can't walk around looking like this! - No!

Wear formal attire tomorrow. Do you own any spurs?

- Indeed I do! - Grand! Put them on!

Don't come in here again without your spurs on!

Go and look for the original order!

Of course! May I?

I know that ring...

It's your mother...

Oh, mother!

Hello! Hello, Mama!

Hello, Mama! What's that, Mama? What about Terka? Yes...

Your mother wants to have a word with you.

Hello! What are you playing at, Terka?

Our dear friend Makáts has been sitting here waiting for you

for half an hour.

Half an hour and two minutes, madam, if you will allow me.

But I could sit for eternity for Miss Terka.

Very good!

How nice...

But you promised to come home early!

Tell him that I am busy.

You could also tell him to leave me alone.

Yes...

My daughter sends her warm regards.

It' my honour, madam...

You make me so happy.

And did Miss Terka say nothing else?

Oh, but she did.

She did? And what did she say if I may ask?

No... I don't want you to blush, Mr Makáts.

Oh, madam, I am flattered...

- My modesty forbids... - When are you coming home?

- But you had plans to play tennis. - I am far too busy, Mother.

Tell that Mr Makáts not to wait.

What do you mean he shouldn't wait? He has to wait! Hello! Hello!

Oh, she's put the telephone down.

For the love of God, understand

that the rubbish business depends on Makáts's uncle.

lfwe get it, you'll be a very rich girl.

I don't believe in this concession at all.

- I do! - You play tennis with him then!

Tennis? Is that a sport?

He can play me at cards, if he dares! I'll thrash him!

How are you playing? I opened with a quart

and I'll start with one hundred and thirty!

You can't play with that!

A round, a round!

Jozsi! A round of drinks!

A round for Mr Schneider!

It isn't so easy to be a driver, you know.

A driver depends on two things:

- his horse and his boss. - True.

Well you can always get on with a horse

because the beast has got a brain...

- But a boss like... - Right you are...

There you go, Tóbiás.

You see? It's the sixth beer that he's bought for me

when he knows that I don't like beer.

You really could invite us over sometime.

He could but his wife wouldn't let him!

We're not... We're not posh enough.

My wife? Am I afraid of my own wife?

I say what goes in my own house.

It's seven o'clock. We should be going!

What do you mean? I still have a beer to drink.

I wouldn't. It'll lead to trouble.

I want another beer!

Should I ignore the mistress's orders?

He can find himself another job tomorrow because

I'm going to sack him.

All I am saying is that it would be best to hurry.

Shut up because it looks like I'm going to sack you in the morning.

- You're too late. He can't hear you. - But I told him.

He can't complain because I've told him now.

Right you are! Don't you give in!

- Do I give in? Do I ever give in? - You shouldn't.

- But I'll have to be going! - You're scared of your wife!

Mátyás, you're scared of your wife!

I want to go now and that's different. If I want to go, I go.

But, Chairman, another glass...

- Long live the chairman! - Hear! Hear!

Song Slaughterers on deck! Maestro!

One, two, three...

Oh, beer is a drink to sing about...

But not that wine should be left out...

I don't want a butler. I want a chambermaid!

Oh, heavens! Who has a chambermaid nowadays?

- A respectable household has to have a butler. - Yes, yes.

But...

This butler served 27 years for a count.

Really?

Good evening, sir!

Very well then!

Is the table laid?

- Not yet, sir! - Not yet?

- Not laid at seven o'clock? - But, sir, the mistress...

- And? - He'll be there in half an hour.

- Good day to you. - Good day!

Your servant, sir.

- Who was that old fiddler? - He's the maid agent.

- Mama, you don't want another maid. - I do.

- You can't have enough maids. - Why not? Why not?

It only takes one to get supper in time.

I need two!

- One is too many for me. - Leave me alone!

Papa, I don't like the way that girl

takes so long saying goodbye to Istvan Benedek.

Me neither. I'm starving and she just stands there talking.

Thinking about your stomach?

What should I think about? It's half past seven already!

He's still just a common driver, who...

That driver is now a manager and the company owes him a great deal.

Madam, Miss Terka is here.

- At last! Where is she? - She's gone to her room.

Julcsa, what is for supper?

Cold roast goose, sir.

Bring a couple of spring onions with it...

and a couple of sprung ones too!

Onions with goose?! But, sir!

What will the mistress say?!

I'll turn away when I talk to her.

Good day!

- Who are you visiting? - I want to see Mr Schneider.

- Is he at home? - Yes, he's at home.

- Announce me, if you will. - What should I do?

Go in and all you have to say is "Hyppolit"!

- What should I say? - All you have to say is "Hyppolit".

I can say it if you insist!

Where's the supper? And where's Terka?

- That girl is so unreliable. - Let her be.

I've told you that I won't have onions on the table!

No, I'll eat goose with violets and anemones from now on.

Hippodrome!

- What? - Hippodrome!

What's that?

There's a man outside who said I should come in and say "Hippodrome"!

- But what's his name? - I don't know.

- All he said was "Hippodrome". - Do you mean Hyppolit?

You could say it like that but there'd be no point.

Very well. Tell him to come in.

Mama, who is Hyppolit?

I forgot to tell you that I've employed a butler.

- A butler? - Yes, I wanted it to be a surprise.

- It is! - I hope you're not angry, Papa!

I'm not. Why should I be?

I'll kick him out so hard, he'll fly!

You won't.

You'll put yourjacket on. You can't greet him like this.

He served a count for 27 years.

He won't work here that long.

- But, Papa! - Leave it to me.

Madam...

Sir!