The Hop-Pickers (Starci Na Chmelu) is an early 60’s Czech film that blends teen drama, romance and musical. It’s set on a hop-picking work camp for teens, focusing on the developing relationship/ romance between a young man and woman- with the whole thing being rather charming, well-acted, interestingly choreographed, and at points lightly satirical-edged picture. Here from Second Run, those resurrectors of Czech/ other world film classics & undiscovered cinematic jewels is a Blu-Ray release of the film, featuring a colourful & buoyant new scan of the film, as well as a few extras.

The Hop-Pickers is from 1964 and was directed by Prague-born Ladislav Rychman- who had twenty-one feature lengths, and twenty shorts/ TV credits to his name. His features took in the likes of marriage drama Kruh (1959), comedy musical Lady on the Tracks (1966), comedy/ fairytale/ fable Zlatá Slepice (1981), and  AI-focused dark comedy Babicky Dobíjejte Presne! (1984).

Before getting into the film itself, I must admit I’m not normally a fan of musicals- finding the form largely contrived, cliched and more than a tad annoying. But as The Hop-Pickers is a Czech film- with a countryside setting, and some satire- I thought I’d give it a go, and I was more than pleasantly surprised- as the whole thing managed to (largely) side-step my issues with the genre, with the film simmering with first love passion and teen rebellion.

Things open with the first appearance of the film's Greek Chorus, a three-piece/shading-wearing Shadows-esque band- who are standing on the edge of a field singing out the themes of the film.

Fairly soon we’re at the hop fields, with pickers alpha male Honza( Milos Zavadil) naked chested and trouser bracer climbing to the top of a hop pole to declare the day is over.  This starts with a group of about twenty young workers breaking into a duo-strummed acoustic guitar-led song regarding the hops, and its use in beer.

Back at the sites dining room, the pickers are clamouring for food- when in walks Hanka (Ivana Pavlová)  one of the group's more outspoken female pickers, in a new dress which wows everyone. She gets a bowl of soup, making her way across the dining hall- when Honza trips her up- with soup covering her fancy dress.  Filip (Vladimír Pucholt) one of the more quiet/ reserved of the hop pickers starts a fight with Honza.

As the film unfolds we get some singing and dancing in both the male & female dorm rooms. Late one night Hanka awakes to go wondering- finding a door into a dusty/ unused part of the farm, she sees a ladder leading up to a light-lit hatch- she pushes it open to find out that Filip has set up his room in the buildings attic, with running water and other amities…and so a relationship develops between the two- friends at first, then maybe something more.

The songs and dance routines are set well/believable enough in the farm buildings and outside.  They are often quite memorable, and grooving in their blend of often acoustic guitar-led rock ‘n’ roll, swing, and jiving orchestration. Thankfully the songs never outlast their welcome, with the story largely pushed forward with non-singing/ drama.

The Hop-Pickers was a real surprise, as I didn’t think I’d get quite so pulled into the film story- but I think this pull is due to the film's believable portrayal of awkward first romance and the good selection of memorable/ grooving song-craft.

This region-free Blu-Ray disc features a new 4k scan of the film- this is full of clarity, depth, and a wonderful range of crisp colours.  On the disc extras are all archive-taking in : Gift of the Earth (45.34) a 1932 documentary following the making of beer from the farming of the elements that go in it. Through to its movement to be processed, brewed and bottled. One Hundred and Ten Years of the Pilsen Brewery( 22.25) a 1952 promotional film directed by Karel Zeman a respected Czech film director, artist, production designer and animator- who is best known for directing fantasy films combining live-action footage with animation. The Processing of Hops(12.57) an information film helmed by Czech director/ writer Josef Šuran.

The release comes with a glossy inlay booklet- taking in an expansive new essay by author Jonathan Owen, stills and production notes. So all in all another classy/well-put-together release from Second Run, I guess the only disappointment is we don’t get a CD of the film's songs/ soundtrack- though I don’t think the label has done this before.

All in all The Hop Pickers was a most pleasant surprise, and I’d say if you enjoy world films with a focus on drama and romance- give this a go, even if you are not normally a musical fan.