Death Chooses (1973) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A postal investigator pursues the truth behind a murder, a missing weapon, valuable watches, and a returning killer.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Murder And A Missing Weapon

A postal driver is murdered, while police know almost nothing about the crime. The victim's friend hides information about a weapon that later disappears.

Key Events

• Postal Driver Murdered — A man working for the post service is shot twice while driving. Location: Road
• Police Begin Investigation — The police begin searching for the killer, knowing only that two shots were fired. Location: Police offices
• Hidden Weapon Concealed — The murdered man's friend conceals that a weapon was hidden in their shared vehicle. Location: Postal vehicle
• Weapon Disappears — The concealed weapon is missing, creating a crucial unresolved clue. Location: Postal vehicle
• Photograph Found — A photograph found inside the victim's book points toward a singer. Location: Murder victim's book

Questions At The Flamingo Bar

A photograph leads the investigator to a singer performing with a band. His questioning fails, and his investigation at the bar ends with him being beaten.

Key Events

• Singer Located — Postal colleagues help the investigator locate the singer shown in the photograph. Location: City streets
• First Questioning Fails — The investigator waits for the singer and tries to obtain information, but learns practically nothing. Location: Street outside the singer's residence
• Bar Investigation Exposed — The investigator watches the band perform but is discovered as an inquisitive outsider. Location: Bar
• Investigator Beaten — The investigator is beaten after being identified as someone asking suspicious questions. Location: Bar
• Manager Offers Cooperation — The band's manager offers cooperation in the investigation and in the investigator's personal life. Location: Investigator's residence

The Liberec Search

A band manager recruits the investigator and sends him to check on a valuable package in Liberec. The search fails, and hidden activity at the investigator's apartment deepens the suspicion.

Key Events

• Trip To Liberec Ordered — The manager assigns a discreet trip to check whether a valuable package was delivered. Location: Road to Liberec
• Room Left Empty — The investigator arranges for the suspected recipient to leave the room empty. Location: Liberec lodging
• Room Search Interrupted — The investigator searches the room but is caught and beaten again. Location: Liberec lodging
• Apartment Secretly Searched — While the investigator is away, the manager and a guitarist search his apartment. Location: Investigator's apartment
• Valuable Watches Demanded — The suspected recipient denies having the package but demands his expensive watches. Location: Liberec lodging

Watches And Betrayal

Expensive watches are found in a postal locker and handed to the police. A museum theft organized to obtain similar watches exposes the manager and guitarist.

Key Events

• Watches Found In Locker — The watches are found in the locker where the murdered man stored belongings. Location: Postal locker room
• Evidence Handed To Police — An older postal colleague gives the watches to the criminal police, angering the investigator. Location: Police offices
• Museum Theft Planned — The manager organizes a theft from a museum to obtain similar watches. Location: Museum
• Museum Theft Revealed — The singer witnesses the guitarist stealing similar watches and exposes him. Location: Museum
• Two Suspects Arrested — The guitarist and the manager are taken into police custody after the theft is exposed. Location: Museum

The Killer's Final Attack

The murderer attacks again with the weapon taken from the postal vehicle. A chase involving postal colleagues and police ends with the killer detained and the investigator shot.

Key Events

• Killer Returns — At the same place and time as before, the murderer attacks the investigator with the stolen weapon. Location: Previous ambush site
• Pursuit Across The City — Postal colleagues and police officers pursue the armed murderer. Location: City streets
• Murderer Captured — The murderer is caught and detained after the chase. Location: City streets
• Investigator Shot — The investigator is shot during the final confrontation. Location: Capture site

Story Breakdown

• Murder Investigation — The opening killing establishes the central mystery and begins the police search.
  • Postal Driver Killed — A postal driver is shot twice while working.
  • Police Search Begins — The police begin investigating with very limited information.
• Missing Weapon — A concealed firearm becomes an important unanswered clue.
  • Weapon Concealed — The victim's friend hides knowledge of the weapon in their vehicle.
  • Weapon Disappears — The firearm is later found to be missing.
• Photograph Lead — A photograph connects the victim's belongings to a singer.
  • Book Photograph — A photograph is discovered inside the victim's book.
  • Singer Questioned — The investigator finds the singer but receives little information.
• Band Investigation — The investigation reaches the bar where the band performs.
  • Bar Surveillance — The investigator watches the band at the bar.
  • Questions Exposed — He is identified as an inquisitive outsider and beaten.
• Liberec Assignment — A manager sends the investigator to check on a valuable delivery.
  • Room Search — The investigator searches an emptied room in Liberec.
  • Search Interrupted — He is caught and beaten during the search.
• Apartment Intrusion — Suspicious activity continues while the investigator is away.
  • Secret Apartment Search — The manager and a guitarist search the investigator's apartment.
  • Package Denied — The suspected recipient denies having the valuable package.
• Watch Evidence — The valuable watches provide a new material link to the case.
  • Watches Found — The watches are discovered in a postal locker.
  • Police Receive Evidence — An older postal colleague gives the watches to the criminal police.
• Museum Theft — An attempted theft creates a direct break in the investigation.
  • Theft Organized — A manager organizes an expedition to steal similar watches.
  • Theft Exposed — The singer witnesses the theft and reports it.
• Final Pursuit — The murderer returns, leading to the film's violent climax.
  • Armed Ambush — The murderer attacks at the same place and time as before.
  • Killer Detained — Postal colleagues and police capture the murderer after a chase.
• Wounded Investigator — The case ends with the killer detained but the investigator seriously endangered.
  • Final Gunshot — The investigator is shot during the final confrontation.
  • Violent Resolution — The murderer is detained while the investigation's central pursuer is wounded.

Directed by

Václav Vorlíček

Key Cast

• Václav Postránecký — řidič Honza Marek
• Jana Šulcová — zpěvačka Klára Hirschová
• Jan Libíček — Křížek, manažer skupiny Flamingo
• Jaroslav Moučka — Vodička, Markův kolega
• Jaroslav Drbohlav — zvukař Míra