Give the Devil His Due 1984

Family

Fantasy

Runtime

95 mins

Language

Czech

Directed by

Hynek Bočan

Made by

Filmové studio Barrandov

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Give the Devil His Due Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Give the Devil His Due (1984). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Petr Máchal, Vladimír Dlouhý, finds his world tilting when his father marries Dorota, and Dorota dies soon after, leaving her scheming heart fixed on getting rid of him. She leverages her courtship to the Governor to have Petr arrested, setting a troubling chain of events in motion. In the midst of this turmoil, Petr crosses paths with the Count’s daughters, Angelína and Adélka, Dana Bartůňková and Monika Pelcová, and a hopeful yet complicated romance begins: Angelína is not drawn to a poor young man, while Adélka grows fond of Petr and becomes his steadfast ally. The contrast between social pressure and genuine affection threads through the story, giving Petr both desire and danger to navigate.

Petr’s fortunes take a harsher turn when he is conscripted into the army and subjected to bullying by the Corporal. Meanwhile, Janek, an inexperienced chort, is sent to guide Dorota to Hell but accidentally abducts Petr’s grandmother instead. Lucipher, angered by the error, orders Janek to fix the mistake. The mix-up deepens when Janek joins the army and loses his supernatural powers after soldiers burn his wolf’s tail. He befriends Petr, and the two form a bond that reshapes their fates. To restore his powers, Janek receives a new wolf’s tail, and together they escape the army, abduct Dorota, and haul her toward Hell.

In Hell, Petr works under Lucipher, who eventually decides to release him and grant three wishes. Petr’s desires are simple yet transformative: a magic coat that can conjure golden ducats, the freedom of his grandmother, and permission to take the Corporal to Hell. Lucipher agrees but also wants Janek to bring along the Governor. The coat alters Petr’s appearance and, with newfound generosity, he begins distributing money to those in need, drawing attention and sympathy from many. This act helps him lure the Governor and the Corporal to Janek, who escorts them to Hell.

Back on the earthly side, the Count also seeks relief for his broke principality and comes forward with his own plea for money. Petr agrees, but only on the condition that he may marry the Count’s daughter. The Count consents, yet Angelína is unhappy at first, feeling Petr looks like a beggar, while Adélka recognizes Petr’s true worth and happily agrees to the arrangement. Petr uses his wishes, retrieves as much ducats as he wants, and then discards the magical coat as the charm fades away. He travels to the Duke’s castle as an elegant suitor to request Adélka’s hand in marriage, but Angelína’s initial misgivings give way to a changed heart, and she expresses interest as well. Petr, however, clarifies that his chosen wife is Adélka, and the couple seals their union. In a fateful twist, Angelína’s own path intersects with Lucipher, and she ends up marrying him unknowingly.

Give the Devil His Due Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Give the Devil His Due (1984) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Petr's father marries Dorota; Dorota's plot begins

Petr's father marries Dorota, and soon afterward dies, leaving Petr under Dorota's influence. Dorota immediately starts plotting to get rid of Petr and secure control over his future.

shortly after his father's death

Dorota manipulates the Governor to arrest Petr

Dorota leverages her courtship to the Governor to push for Petr's arrest. The scheme aims to remove Petr from Dorota's path and consolidate her power.

early aftermath Governor's court

Petr escapes and meets Angelína and Adélka

Petr escapes the arrest attempt and crosses paths with the Count's daughters, Angelína and Adélka. Angelína wants nothing to do with a poor boy, while Adélka falls in love with him and vows to help.

immediately after escape

Petr is forced into the army; bullied by the Corporal

Petr is drafted into military service and quickly becomes the target of the Corporal's bullying. He struggles to survive, hoping for a chance to prove himself.

shortly after joining Army barracks

Janek is sent to take Dorota to Hell; mistaking Petr's grandmother

An inexperienced chort named Janek is ordered to escort Dorota to Hell. In a mix-up, he accidentally takes Petr's grandmother instead.

around the Dorota assignment

Lucipher demands correction; Janek joins the army and loses his tail

Lucipher angrily orders Janek to fix the mistake. In the process, Janek inadvertently joins the army and loses his magical wolf's tail when soldiers burn it.

during the correction attempt Army camp

Petr befriends Janek and plans to help restore his powers

Petr meets Janek and they become allies amid their troubles. He vows to help Janek regain his lost powers and freedom.

after Janek's recruitment

Petr and Janek escape and abduct Dorota to Hell

Petr and Janek escape from the army and abduct Dorota, dragging her toward Hell. The act marks a turning point toward the magical realm's influence on their fate.

after Janek's join

Petr works in Hell; Lucipher grants release after three wishes

Petr serves in Hell, performing tasks under Lucipher's watch. Lucipher agrees to release him only after Petr grants three wishes.

during confinement Hell

Petr's three wishes: gold-ducat coat, grandmother's release, and taking the Corporal to Hell

Lucipher grants the three wishes: a magic coat that produces golden ducats, the release of Petr's grandmother, and permission to take the Corporal to Hell. The coat also changes Petr's appearance, drawing attention wherever he goes.

after release Hell

The coat’s wealth enables Petr to lure the Governor and the Corporal

The coat's wealth and the aura of generosity let Petr distribute money to people in need. This ruse helps him draw the Governor and the Corporal toward Janek, who then escorts them to Hell.

following the wishes

The Count seeks money; Petr negotiates marriage to his daughter

The Count's principality is broke, so he asks Petr for money. Petr agrees to help only if the Count allows him to marry the Count's daughter.

after the money plan Count's castle

Angelína's feelings change; Adélka's recognition solidifies the match

The arrangement creates tension: Angelína initially dislikes Petr, but Adélka recognizes him and happily accepts. The Count approves the match, though Angelína's feelings complicate the situation.

before engagements Count's castle

Petr asks for Adélka's hand; Angelína changes her mind; Petr marries Adélka

Petr travels to the Duke's castle as an elegant gentleman to seek Adélka's hand, while Angelína initially seems set on him. He declines her bid to marry him and confirms Adélka's hand instead. Petr then marries Adélka, and Angelína unknowingly marries Lucipher.

final engagement and wedding Duke's castle

Give the Devil His Due Characters

Explore all characters from Give the Devil His Due (1984). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Petr Máchal

A poor, ambitious young man who falls for noble daughters and navigates a web of schemes. He uses and ultimately questions the magic coat that brings wealth and social attention, while forming an unlikely alliance with Janek to reclaim his dignity. His choices drive the romance with Adéla and the plan to bring the Governor and the Corporal to Hell.

💰 Wealth ❤️ Love 🎭 Ambition

Dorota Máchalová

Petr's stepmother who schemes to move the family up by courting the Governor and having Petr arrested. She embodies manipulation and a ruthless pursuit of power, pushing events toward chaos and the eventual abduction of Dorota to Hell.

🎭 Manipulation 💥 Scheming 🗡️ Power plays

Angelína

One of the Count's daughters who shows limited interest in Petr; her aloofness contrasts with Adéla's genuine affection. She remains part of the court intrigue and becomes involved in the final twists of Petr's fortune.

❤️ Love 👑 Court intrigue

Adéla

Princess Adéla falls for Petr and ultimately becomes his wife, representing a more sincere path to love amid political machinations. She plays a crucial role in Petr's happiness and the story's romantic outcomes.

❤️ Love 🌹 Loyalty

Lucifer XIV

Prince of Hell who manipulates events from the shadows, granting Petr three wishes and arranging for Janek to escort the Governor to Hell. His schemes culminate in a twist where identities and fates intersect at the gates of Hell.

🔥 Villainy 🪄 Magic

Janek

An inexperienced chort assigned to escort Dorota to Hell. He loses his powers when his wolf's tail is burned by soldiers, befriends Petr, and helps in the plan to recover his magic.

🗝️ Transformation 🐺 Fantasy

Corporal

The harsh army bully who mistreats Petr and embodies the brutal, coercive side of military life in this fairy-tale world.

⚔️ Military life 🪖 Bullying

Narrator

The film's voice guide, providing exposition and commentary that frames the fantastical events.

🎤 Voiceover 🧭 Narrative

Give the Devil His Due Settings

Learn where and when Give the Devil His Due (1984) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Medieval fantasy era

The action sits in a timeless, fairy-tale past reminiscent of medieval kingdoms, with nobles, soldiers, and magical powers. Rulers, courtiers, and infernal beings populate the world, creating a mythic cadence rather than a precise historical date. The setting relies on archetypal chivalric and folk-tale elements, enabling magical reversals and dramatic turns. The time frame is flexible to serve a fairy-tale narrative rather than a specific century.

Location

Count's Principality, Duke's Castle, Hell, Military Camp

The film unfolds in a fictional medieval-inspired realm that blends royal courts with a supernatural underworld. The Count's principality and the Duke's castle provide opulent settings for political maneuvering and romantic intrigues, while a harsh military camp grounds Petr's early hardship. Hell serves as a surreal, otherworldly backdrop where Dorota's scheming and Janek's accidental missteps collide with Lucifer's schemes. The story moves between these high and low places, emphasizing class contrasts and fantastical consequences.

🏰 Fantasy realm 🔥 Hellish underworld 🗺️ Medieval setting

Give the Devil His Due Themes

Discover the main themes in Give the Devil His Due (1984). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

✨

Wealth & Status

Petr's fortunes shift dramatically when a magical coat conjures gold and attention from the nobility. Wealth becomes a means to bridge social gaps, but it also complicates relationships and identity, as Petr navigates courtship and public perception. The coat's glittery power enables him to maneuver the Count's world, only to reveal that true status is tied to character, not fabric or fortune. When the coat disappears, Petr must decide what kind of man he has become.

❤️

Love & Loyalty

The two daughters of the Count embody competing paths of affection: Angelína coldly resists Petr while Adélka falls for him and supports his arc. Love drives Petr to act, whether to win Adélka's hand or to protect those who helped him, even as social appearances threaten to derail their bonds. The relationships test loyalty, social class, and the consequences of desire in a fantastical setting. Ultimately, love guides Petr's choices and shapes the outcome of who marries whom.

🗝️

Power & Consequences

The plot centers on the lure of power: magical wealth, social influence, and the supernatural bargains with Lucifer. Janek loses his powers when his wolf's tail is burned, illustrating how power can be fragile and costly. Petr's manipulation of fate—through the coat and the unfolding plan to send souls to Hell—poses ethical questions about ambition and control. The resolution hinges on whether power can be used responsibly or simply exploited for personal gain.

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Give the Devil His Due Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Give the Devil His Due (1984). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a land where the ordinary rhythms of village life coexist with the shadowy machinations of the infernal realm, the atmosphere hums with a blend of rustic charm and unsettling otherworldliness. The world feels both grounded in earthy traditions—mills turning, families striving—and tinged with the flicker of unseen forces that shape destinies behind the veil of everyday chores. This uneasy coexistence creates a tone that is simultaneously gritty and subtly fantastical, inviting the audience to wonder what lurks just beyond the soot‑stained windows of the mill.

At the heart of the story is the relentless Dorota, a woman whose ambition eclipses any sense of mercy. Having seized control of a once‑family‑run mill, she drives a painful wedge between herself and her stepson, setting the stage for a clash of wills that reverberates through the community. Her presence is a catalyst, unsettling the fragile balance of the village and drawing the attention of forces far darker than any mortal authority.

Thrown into this maelstrom is the resilient Peter, a young man forced to navigate the fallout of Dorota’s ruthless pursuit of power. Gifted—or perhaps burdened—with a magical mantle, he becomes an unexpected focal point for both earthly and infernal interests. The mantle’s subtle shimmer hints at latent abilities that could tip the scales, making Peter a figure of both hope and peril as he grapples with his new role.

Hovering above the mortal struggle is the enigmatic Lucifer, who dispatches the inexperienced chort Janek to collect the wayward soul of Dorota. As Janek finds himself entangled with Peter and the mortal world, the uneasy partnership hints at a larger, chaotic ripple within Hell itself, now restless for order. The looming interest of the Prince of Hell adds an extra layer of intrigue, suggesting that the resolution of this mortal‑infernal tug‑of‑war may reshape the very fabric of both realms.

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