Lemonade Joe

The bulletproof positive hero, gunslinger Joe, first appeared in several short stories that Brdečka wrote at the beginning of the German occupation. He parodied popular serial novels set in the Wild West. Due to the positive response, he returned to the same character through a play and a novel. Eventually, Brdečka also used Lemonade Joe in the puppet film Song of the Prairie directed by Jiří Trnka. Oldřich Lipský became interested in Lemonade Joe after directing its expanded theater version. Under his leadership, Jan Rychlík and Vlastimil Hála added songs that became popular thanks to the film, and this theater version became the basis for a feature film. Brdečka contributed to the rehabilitation of the genre in Czechoslovakian, as until then, westerns had been stigmatized as a declining genre. The film was well-received even in Hollywood, where they admired its wit, perfectionism, and originality. Overall impression: 95%. (2019-01-08)

The comedic and parodic levels, where good and evil eventually reach a compromise, don’t grab me as much because there are other, far more interesting ones here. Karel Zeman's favorite method of tinting (Kojot Kid Matuška on a rocky outcrop is top-notch), the infancy of Czech stunt work, the silent acting sketch of bartender Menšík, as well as Kopecký's expressive performance, and believe it or not, the musical numbers. Henry Fonda might have been falling out of his chair with laughter, but now with Horace’s blackface and Joe's promotion of a sugary drink, he’d rather freeze the smile on his lips. (2022-06-30)

A cult Czech film and a classic of its genre, which didn't bring me to my knees with laughter like many others, but got me especially with its artwork and the great acting performances of almost everyone involved. Oldřich Lipský, the director, made something original that can be compared to similar American films and still remain a purely Czech product. (2011-04-02)

This is a film that has fascinated me since I was a kid. I liked that it's actually a parody of westerns, I enjoyed the play with colors, and the characters absolutely captivated me. Today, I'll also appreciate the great humor that makes me laugh, and in the end, even the musical numbers. After all, these are songs that people know and remember, easily associated with this film. And the catchphrases! A brilliant example of how we Czechs were able to create excellent parodies. It’s something that we currently struggle to achieve. And that is a great shame. (2014-01-03)

Lemonade Joe is a phenomenon, we can debate it, we can disagree with it, but that's about all we can do. Even I like this sharpshooter quite a bit and I agree that Lipský's humour and the specifically colourful sets have something to them, but if I should ever watch it again, it would be for Olga Schoberová, the most beautiful Czech actress ever, who must be the greatest gift in life for Karel Fiala to play with. Without her, gentlemen, it wouldn’t be the same. 75% (2013-09-15)