The 1964 Czechoslovak beer-themed musical The Hop Pickers (Starci na chmelu, also known by the English title Green Gold) is set for a UK Blu-ray release this November, courtesy of British label Second Run.
The Second Run Blu-ray, which will be released on Nov. 25, features a newly restored 4K version of The Hop Pickers by the Czech National Film Archive, showcasing its vibrant mix of music, dance, and a New Wave sensibility. Ahead of the Blu-ray release, The Hop Pickers will screen at The Garden Cinema in London on Nov. 15.
In the Czech Republic, The Hop Pickers can be already purchased directly from the Czech National Film Archive on Blu-ray, complete with English subtitles. The new Second Run Blu-ray, however, will be the first official release of the film on DVD or Blu-ray formats in the UK or North America.
Special features on the new Second Run Blu-ray include a trio of rare archival films about the Czech beer industry: the hop picking documentary Gift of the Earth (1932), One-Hundred and Ten Years of the Pilsen Brewery (1952), a silent promotional film made by none other than Karel Zeman, and The Processing of Hops (1964), an educational film directed by Josef Suran.
“Easily one of the most enjoyable Eastern Bloc films of the 1960s, probably one of the most widely relatable, and almost certainly the most earworm-laden,” writes author Jonathan Owen, whose essay will accompany the film in a 24-page booklet. “There is a place for it among today’s rediscovered classics.”
Directed by Ladislav Rychman, The Hop Pickers was the first full-fledged Czechoslovak musical (followed months later by the western parody Lemonade Joe), and become a sensation upon its release, attracting nearly 3 million viewers in its initial run.
It tells the story of Hanka (Vladimír Pucholt) and Filip (Ivana Pavlová), two 17-year-olds who fall in love during a summer hop-picking season. The film was praised for its energetic choreography, catchy songs, and its portrayal of youthful rebellion. At its heart, the musical reflects the tensions between individualism and societal norms.
The film was partly inspired by the American musical West Side Story, but it presented a uniquely Czech take on romance and rebellion, set against a socialist backdrop. The Hop Pickers has remained a cultural touchstone for Czech cinema, noted for blending musical elements with a sharp critique of conformity.
Ripe for rediscovery by Western audiences, the new Blu-ray release of The Hop Pickers offers a glimpse into the cultural dynamics of the 1960s. The release also includes the original soundtrack, with songs performed by some of the biggest names in Czechoslovak music at the time, including Josef Zíma and Karel Gott.
