BORDERLAND (ÜBER DIE GRENZE) - EPISODES 1 & 2: ALLES AUF EINE KARTE/GESETZLOS (2017, DAS ERSTE)

Set at the border between Germany and France, Über die Grenze is one of the feature-length crime dramas filmed abroad for the Donnerstags-Krimi line-up of German pubcaster Das Erste (like Amsterdam Undercover, Der Zurich-Krimi or Kommissar Dupin).

Alles auf eine Karte and Gesetzlos, the uneven but surprisingly effective first couple of episodes, were shot during summer 2016 and shown by the channel in December 2017. In February 2020, Das Erste aired two more episodes (Rachenengel and Rausch der Sterne) made in 2019. Über die Grenze is now available in the U.S. as Borderland, thanks to SVOD service MHZ Choice.

Steffen Herold, the head of operations of the German–French Centre for Police and Customs, introduces his team to their newest colleague: his daughter Leni, a rookie officer. A thoroughly prepared intervention goes wrong when one of the inspectors is severely wounded and two armed robbers, Dane Marquardt and Milou Jangi, take Leni Herold hostage to flee with her in France. Ségolène Combass and Yves Kléber, of the Police nationale, arrive to assess the situation. Combass is hostile towards Herold but Steffen and Yves are old acquaintances. Leni must cope with the unpredictability of her captors.

 

Created by Felice Götze, Über die Grenze is produced by Polyphon Pictures GmbH for ARD Degeto and SWR (for Das Erste). Thomas Sarbacher (Der Bozen Krimi, Der Elefant - Mord verjährt nie) heads the cast as Steffen Herold. Anke Retzlaff (Puppe) plays Leni Herold. Yves Kléber is played by French actor Philippe Caroit (R.I.S. Police scientifique, Les boeuf-carottes), who speaks German but also Italian, English and Spanish. Since 2017, he's one of the five detectives of the hit semi-anthology Perfect Murders (Crimes parfaits) on France 3. Swiss-Canadian actress Noémie Kocher plays Ségolène Combass.

 

Based on an idea from Ulrich Zaum and written by Felice Götze and Sabine Radebold, Alles auf eine Karte starts like a typical German crime fighting special unit drama. Except that there are French characters, hence some very Panthère rose dialogues and Joe le taxi by Vanessa Paradis on the radio. Travellers get their share of clichés too but after 30 minutes of "SOKO Kehl" this premiere becomes unexpectedly gritty as the tension grows until a rather brutal conclusion. Also with Sebastian Hülk (Danne Marquardt), Rick Okon (Milou Jangy), Bernhard Piesk (Tino Loher), Jenny Schily (Sabine Herold), etc. Directed by Michael Rowitz, who helmed both episodes.

 

Penned by Felice Götze, Paul J. Milbers (Die Rosenheim-Cops) and Sabine Radebold with Michael Rowitz, Gesetzlos takes place three weeks after Alles auf eine Karte. Leni Herold tries to recover from what happened to her. Meanwhile, the son of a russian mobster is shot dead by an unknown gunman during a drug deal in the port of Strasbourg. His father, who crossed path with Steffen Herold and Yves Kléber in the past, wants revenge at all costs. Thomas Sarbacher, Anke Retzlaff and Philippe Caroit deliver top-notch performances in this faultless thriller.

 

With the excellent Johannes Krisch as Russian mafia boss Jegor Sobolew, Christian Kuchenbuch (Deacon Junkers), Artjom Gilz (Petja Kremer), Jenny Schily (Sabine), Bernhard Piesk (Tino Loher), Sebastian Hülk (Marquardt), etc. Produced by Sabine Tettenborn (Der Lissabon-Krimi). Katja Roesch (Alles auf eine Karte) and Jorg Kühlmann (Gesetzlos) are the production managers. Hartwig König is the line producer (Alles auf eine Karte). Kirsten Frehse is the line producer for ARD Degeto. Music by Helmut Zerlett (Der Clown). Cinematography by Stefan Unterberger. Editing by Achim Seidel (Alles auf eine Karte) and Andreas Althoff (Gesetzlos).

 

The multi-talented Philippe Caroit is also a musician and he has recently published his first novel, La malédiction de l'escargot (Éditions Anne Carrière).

 

https://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/film/ueber-die-grenze/index.html 

https://watch.mhzchoice.com/borderland

https://anne-carriere.fr/livre/la-malediction-de-lescargot

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/11/perfect-murders-crimes-parfaits.html

FALK - SEASON 1 (2018, DAS ERSTE)

[Favourite of the Month] Austrian actor Fritz Karl (Meiberger - Im Kopf des Täters, Inspektor Jury) stars as a flamboyant  but melancholic gastronome lawyer in Falk, a warm-hearted German legal dramedy set in Düsseldorf.

 

Falk ran for six 52-minute episodes during spring 2018 on pubcaster Das Erste and came back this week for a second six-episode season, more than two years after the first.

 

When the state Minister President receives compromising photos of him wearing women's lingerie, he turns to renowned law firm Offergeld & Partner for help. Richard Offergeld, its founder, thinks he knows the right man for the job: Falk (1), an eccentric ex-collaborator who dresses like a dandy and has a flair for sensitive matters. The lawyer left his job to open a gourmet restaurant called Das Lokal until the establishment went bust and an unknown investor bought it.

Richard happens to be this investor. He offers Falk to give him back the restaurant if he helps the firm for a while. Sophie Offergeld, his daughter and successor, is less than thrilled by this return. Falk lives in a hotel room with a turtle named Gustav, which stays in the firm's fridge when he's at work. He frequently argues with Raimund, the chef of Das Lokal, and has regular appointments with Dr. Kranzow. Trulla, his nonconformist assistant, is also his best friend.

Based on an idea from Stefan Cantz & Jan Hinter (Tatort), Falk is produced by Bavaria Fiction for ARD. Peter Güde (Rentnercops: Jeder Tag zählt, Stromberg) wrote the six episodes of the first season, which are directed by Pia Strietman and Peter Stauch (Mord in bester Gesellschaft, Der letzte Bulle). Fritz Karl is fabulous as Falk alongside an excellent cast: Mira Bartuschek (Heiter bis Tödlich - Fuchs und Gans) as Sophie Offergeld, Alessija Lause (Trulla), Peter Prager (Nord bei Nordwest) as Richard Offergeld and Moritz Führmann (Bitz).

An important client wants his 42-year old son to move out of his home. A self-made millionnaire butcher who enjoys being naked in his secluded garden won't let his neighbour add a window to his house. Raimund complains that he's stalked by a former female schoolmate. The CEO of an airline company must respond to serious charges. Sophie's 18-year daughter Marie wants to give all of her inheritance money to her boyfriend, aged 40. Falk starts a romance with Sabine Schmidt, a woman full of surprises.

Der Fall Roberto Blanco, is the best episode of this very enjoyable season. Schlager legendary singer Roberto Blanco (played by himself) is appalled when he listens to an obscene cover of Ein bisschen Spass muss sein, his most famous hit, by an internet star called DJ Volbeck. The man is in fact a bank employee named Volker Becker and he wants to escape his everyday life. The dialogues are great and there's a superb rendition of Der Puppenspieler von Mexiko in a beautiful scene between Thomas Clemens, who plays Becker, and Roberto Blanco (2).

Curt Cress and Flo Leissle composed the very good soundtrack. The main title theme is called Anwalt A La Carte ("Lawyer A La Carte"). Also with Oliver Fleischer (Danni Lowinski) as Raimund, Marie-Lou Sellem (Sabine Schmidt), Sonja Baum (Dr. Kranzow), Sinje Irslinger (Marie), Claudio De Simone (Erno), Florian Heller (Young Falk), Martin Armknecht (Weigand) and Kristina Walter (Landlady). Hans Peter Hallwachs, Canadian-born actor Bill Mockridge (Lindenstraße) and Joyce Hilg are amongst the other guest stars. 

 

Produced by Bea Schmidt and Oliver Dieckman. Sascha Ommert and Mareike Lueg exec produce for WDR. Andreas Thürnagel is the unit production manager. Cinematography by Eeva Fleig (Episodes 1 and 2) and Florian Schilling (Episodes 3 to 6). Editing by Ollie Lanvermann (Episodes 1 and 2) and Laura Richter (Episodes 3 to 6). Costumes designed by Susa Sasserath. The first season of Falk was filmed between November 2016 and February 2017.

 

(1) No first name known. 

(2) This song, originally another hit of Roberto Blanco, is also the end title of this episode.

https://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/serie/falk/index.html

https://musiccomposer.tv/ (Flo Leissle)

https://roberto-blanco.de/

https://crush.de/klient/thomas-clemens/

PERFECT MURDERS (CRIMES PARFAITS) - COMMANDANT CLAIRE MORENO: MASTER DU CRIME/UN COEUR SOMBRE (FRANCE 3)

French pubcaster France 3's detective drama Crimes parfaits is a "semi-anthology" where a murderer known from the start thinks he/she has committed the perfect crime but a detective (different in every couple of episodes) proves him/her wrong. 

It's the concept of the inverted detective story, popularized by Columbo though created in literature many years before the famous lieutenant. Crimes parfaits is now available in the United States as Perfect Murders, thanks to SVOD service MHZ Choice.

 

With five sleuths rotating in 20+ 52-minute episodes since 2017, Crimes parfaits is part of France 3's very popular regional crime drama line-up. Even an erratic scheduling can't hurt the ratings of what is mostly a copycat factory of Capitaine Marleau, the biggest hit of the channel. With two noteworthy exceptions: Commander Renaud Delaunay, played by Antoine Duléry (Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie) and Commissaire divisionnaire Damien Roche (Philippe Caroit). But there's also, err... what's her name again? Ah, yes... Commandant Claire Moreno.

After Étoile filante and Le grand saut in 2019, Isabelle Otero returns as Police commander Moreno in two new episodes from GMT Productions. Between 2003 and 2010, the actress starred in Diane, femme flic (2003-2010), made by GMT for TF1. The same prodco was also behind another crime drama hit of the private channel: Julie Lescaut (1992-2014). In 2002, Isabel Otero took the lead role in the long-running France 2 series La Crim' (1999-2006). Hubert Roulleau (Les chatouilles, Mongeville et Magellan: Un amour de jeunesse) is back as Lieutenant Hubert de Montalembert. Arsène Jiroyan plays Léopold, the pathologist.

 

In Master du crime, criminology professor Lise Lenoir murders one of her students. Lise knows all the secrets of the criminal law and her solid gold alibi is none other than Claire Moreno, her best friend. Hubert calmed down since last year and he drives another vintage car. Claire's son still can't make up his mind about his future. Even Alexandra Vandernoot (Highlander: The series) as Lise Lenoir can't save this tedious catalog of clichés and bad dialogues. With Michel Biel (Mathis Paoli), Fabian Wolfrom (Cédric Marchand), Laura Mathieu (Marie Weber), etc. Written by Isabelle Polin and Frédéric J. Lozet.

The Seaquarium of Le Grau-du-Roi  is the sole interest of Un coeur sombre. The place is superbly highlighted in this episode where it's called "Niceaquarium". Anne Caillon (Demain nous appartient) plays Marie Michalik, a veterinarian who kills one of the cleaning men by hacking his pacemaker. Léopold has done his homeworks and Hubert's father worries about the social life of his son. Marie has an autistic daughter who's good at solving complex equations, which can be useful in case you need to hack something with your tablet. But the sharks look impressive.

Actor and scriptwriter Stéphan Guérin-Tillié, who wrote four episodes of Capitaine Marleau, penned this episode. It's almost a comfort that the female third detective of Crimes parfaits isn't a clone of the exuberant gendarme. Except that Claire Moreno is Marleau's polar opposite because personality is not her forte. Also with Clara Quilichini (Louise), Valéry Schatz (Manager), Yannik Mazzili (Marco Perez), etc. Emmanuel Rigaut (Tandem, Commissaire Magellan) helmed both Master du crime and Un coeur sombre. Produced by GMT Productions and France Télévisions. 

Co-produced with Be-Films and R.T.B.F. (Télévision belge) and the participation of RTS Radio Télévision Suisse. Filmed with the support of Département des Alpes-Maritimes. Frank Lebreton exec produces. Produced by Julien Dewolf and Myriam Gharbi-de Vasselot. Music by Maïdi Roth and Franck Pilant (1). Theme music of Crimes parfaits composed by Jean-Pierre Taïeb. Cinematography by Olivier Guarguir. Editing by Stéphane Gaurier. Main title design by Laurent Brett for Brett & Cie (Cherif, Cassandre, Transporter - The Series). Distributed by France tv distribution.

 

(1) Their theme reminds of the first end title of the British TV series Hustle.

 

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/03/crimes-parfaits-etoile-filantele-grand.html (Crimes parfaits: Étoile filante/Le grand saut)

 

See also:

 

https://www.seaquarium.fr/?locale=en_EN (The Seaquarium of Le Grau-du-Roi)

PERFECT MURDERS (CRIMES PARFAITS) - COMMISSAIRE DIVISIONNAIRE DAMIEN ROCHE: LÉGITIME DÉFIANCE/UNE ÉTOILE EST MORTE (FRANCE 3)

French pubcaster France 3's detective drama Crimes parfaits is a "semi-anthology" where a murderer known from the start thinks he/she has committed the perfect crime but a detective (different in every couple of episodes) proves him/her wrong. 

It's the concept of the inverted detective story, popularized by Columbo though created in literature many years before the famous lieutenant. Five sleuths rotate in 20+ episodes since 2017 and Crimes parfaits is now available in the United States as Perfect Murders, thanks to SVOD service MHZ Choice.

The bottom line: Damien Roche, Renaissance man.

 

Philippe Caroit (R.I.S. Police scientifique, Les boeuf-carottes) is back as the falsely naive and slightly caustic Commissaire divisionnaire Damien Roche under the sun of the south of France. Garance Thenault returns as Lieutenant Gaëlle Mareski, a former soldier. In Légitime défiance, bestselling novelist Irène Delaune kills publisher Gérard Vannier in an apparent act of self-defence against an assault in front of a witness. Michel Laville, the renowned mathematician of Une étoile est morte, sends the young Delphine Leroy to death in a particularly sly way. The divisionnaire knows how to prepare a cappuccino. He's an expert in roses and speaks Italian. Roche even plays piano and he's good in mathematics.

 

Philippe Caroit delivers his customary brilliance in those episodes which remain pleasant enough despite a handful of bad dialogues, a couple of cliches and a format hampered by the 52-minute duration. Incidentally, the actor can really play the piano and he speaks italian. As well as English, Spanish and even German (he's one of the regulars of Über die Grenze for Das Erste (1)). "Commissaire divisionnaire Damien Roche" would be a worthy successor to Commissaire Magellan, made by the same people from Jean Luc Azoulay's JLA Groupe. Written by Céline Guyot and Martin Guyot (Mongeville, Magellan, Femmes de loi). Directed by François Guérin.

 

Astrid Veillon (Tandem) as Irène Delaune, Laurence Bréheret (Françoise Louret) and Laurent Olmedo (R.I.S. Police scientifique) as Gérard Vannier are the guest stars of Légitime défiance. Guillaume Cramoisan (Michel Laville), Marie Barrouillet (Delphine Leroy), Thierry Desroses (Femmes de loi, P.J.) as Dr. Puel and Pascale Michaud (Viviane Leroy) are the guest stars of Une étoile est morte. In France, Thierry Desroses is well-known as a dubbing artist. He's the french voice of Samuel L. Jackson. Produced by Épisode Productions (JLA Groupe) with France Télévisions. Co-produced by BE-Films and RTBF (Télévision belge) with RTS Radio Télévision Suisse.

Bernard Paccalet exec produces. Produced by Richard Berkowitz. Romain Sussfeld is the production manager. Music composed and conducted by Frédéric Porte. Cinematography by Christophe Soffietti. Editing by Romain Namura. Theme music of Crimes parfaits by Jean-Pierre Taïeb. Main title design by Laurent Brett for Brett & Cie (Cherif, Cassandre, Transporter - The Series). Distributed by France tv distribution. Philippe Caroit also stars in Meurtre à Cayenne (from the Murder in... collection), which will be shown on France 3 this saturday. His first novel, La malédiction de l'escargot (published by Éditions Anne Carrière), was released last week.

 

(1) Coming in the United States next month on MHZ Choice as Borderland.

Not yet aired by France 3.

 

https://mhzchoiceblog.com/can-you-solve-the-mystery-of-perfect-murders/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rjRQp_hPH0 (Trailer)

https://anne-carriere.fr/livre/la-malediction-de-lescargot

 

See also:

 

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/05/crimes-parfaits-pour-leternitea-coeur.html

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2018/05/crimes-parfaits-episodes-5-6-france-3.html

MAGELLAN (COMMISSAIRE MAGELLAN): SANG D'ENCRE (FRANCE 3)

In Saignac no one can hear you scream.

Created by Laurent Mondy (Les Cordier, juge et flic), French mystery drama Commissaire Magellan was launched on France 3 in november 2009. Produced by Jean Luc Azoulay's JLA Productions with France Télévisions and set in the fictional northern town of Saignac, it stars Jacques Spiesser as Commissaire Simon Magellan. Selma Kouchy plays Lieutenant Selma Berrayah, his deputy. The other regulars are Nathalie Besançon as Magellan's companion Florence Higel (a journalist for the local paper La Sentinelle), Franz Lang as Simon's nephew Ludo and Marie de Stefano as Cordelia (the commissaire's younger daughter).

Magellan is part of the very popular regional crime drama line-up of France 3 and even crossed over twice (in 2016 and 2018) with Mongeville, another hit of the channel. Jacques Spiesser is always brilliant as the debonair (and sarcastic) detective in those old school whodunnits, built according to a proven formula, which deliver exactly what the fans like and expect. In many respects, this  heir to Les cinq dernières minutes, Navarro (a production of Jean-Luc Azoulay) or even Derrick (1) is France's answer to Midsomer Murders. Written by Lucile Brandi, Pascal Perbet and Nicolas Durand-Zouky, Sang d'encre is directed by Étienne Dhaène. It's the 35th episode of Commissaire Magellan.

Adrien Beauval, a famous crime writer, returns to Saignac after 15 years for a book signing event in the shop of his friends Virginie and François Coudrier. Much to the disappointment of his readers and even his publisher, he announces that he will end his bestselling "Commissaire Aristide" series. He's murdered a few hours later and his body is found in the bookshop. Magellan and Selma discover some rumours of plagiarism, publishing rivalries and secrets from the author's past. Simon's ex-wife Barbara wants to introduce Édouard, her new boyfriend, to him and Cordelia. Ludo likes horoscopes, Selma runs and Édouard comes to dinner.

The murders are off-screen, the crime novelist element is underused and the drone shots are annoying. But all the ingredients of Commissaire Magellan are there and actor/former gameshow host Thierry Beccaro is very funny as Édouard. Guillaume Denaiffe, who plays François Coudrier, had a different role in Magellan et Mongeville (2016). Agnès Soral first played Barbara in an episode from 2011. Also with Guillaume Cramoisan (Zacharie Dubreuil), Ludovic Beaude (Vaugan), Gaëla Le Devehat (Virginie), Carole Brana (Élodie Mérove), Bruce Tessore (Astrid et Raphaëlle, Plus belle la vie) as Adrien Beauval, etc.

Produced by Richard Berkowitz. Exec produced by Bernard Paccalet. Nicolas Durand-Zouky is the head writer. Melissa Kajdan Smila is the production manager for JLA. Elizabeth Bonnay is the production manager for France Télévisions. Music by Frédéric Porte. Cinematography by Thierry Jault. Filmed in the Département du Nord. Commissaire Magellan is available in the U.S. on VOD service MHZ Choice under the title Magellan. Apparently, France 3 has decided to axe both Mongeville and Commissaire Magellan (2). 

 

(1) Not to mention, Les Cordier, juge et flic (naturally). 

(2) https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/tv/francis-perrin-l-arret-de-la-serie-mongeville-serait-incomprehensible-et-ridicule-04-07-2020-8347209.php + https://www.programme-tv.net/news/series-tv/259819-apres-mongeville-la-serie-commissaire-magellan-va-t-elle-sarreter/

PREVIOUSLY ON THIS BLOG

So...

REVIEWS 

- Agatha Raisin - Series 3 (Acorn TV):

The best series of Agatha Raisin to date.

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/06/agatha-raisin-series-3-episodes-3-4.html (Episodes 3 & 4)

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/05/agatha-raisin-series-3-episode-2-agatha.html (Episode 2)

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/agatha-raisin-series-3-episode-1-agatha.html (Episode 1)

- Van der Valk (ITV):

Aired by pubcaster France 3 as Les enquêtes du commissaire Van der Valk, this contemporary adaptation of the character created by English author Nicolas Freeling is available here on DVD from this week thanks to L'Atelier d'images (https://www.latelierdimages.fr/produit/les-enquetes-du-commissaire-van-der-valk-saison-1/).

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/06/van-der-valk-series-1-episode-3-death.html  (Episode 3)

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/06/van-der-valk-series-1-episode-2-only-in.html  (Episode 2)  

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/van-der-valk-series-1-episode-1-love-in_30.html  (Episode 1)    
 
- Amsterdam Undercover (Der Amsterdam-Krimi, Das Erste):

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/05/amsterdam-undercover-der-amsterdam.html (Episodes 1 & 2)

- Money. Murder. Zurich (Der Zurich-Krimi, Das Erste):

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/money-murder-zurich-der-zurich-krimi.html (Episode 7)

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/money-murder-zurich-der-zurich-krimi_26.html (Episode 5)

- Inspector Montalbano/Detective Montalbano (RAI 1):

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/inspector-montalbanodetective_16.html (La rete di protezione)

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/inspector-montalbanodetective.html (Salvo amato, Livia mia)

- Joséphine, ange gardien (TF1):

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/josephine-ange-gardien-trois-anges.html (Trois anges valent mieux qu'un) 

- McDonald & Dodds (ITV):

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/03/mcdonald-dodds-series-1-episode-1-fall.html (Episode 1) 

- Midsomer Murders - Series 21:

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/02/midsomer-murders-series-21-episodes-3-4.html (Episodes 3 & 4)

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020 /01/midsomer-murders-series-21-episode-2.html (Episode 2) 

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/01/midsomer-murders-series-21-episode-1.html (Episode 1)

- Captain Marleau (Capitaine Marleau, France  3):

These are our last reviews of Capitaine Marleau. We humbly supported the megahit of France 3 even before they aired the pilot but it's now blatantly insufferable, judging by one of the two new episodes coming on the channel this month (I didn't watch the other).

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/02/captain-marleau-capitaine-marleau.html (Veuves mais pas trop)

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/02/captain-marleau-capitaine-marleau-pace.html (Pace è Salute)

- Camping Paradis - Series 11 (TF1):

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/02/camping-paradis-s11e05-ma-vie-est-belle.html (Episode 5: Ma vie est belle)

- Police de caractères (France 3):

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/01/police-de-caracteres-france-3.html

AGATHA RAISIN - SERIES 3, EPISODES 3 & 4: LOVE FROM HELL & AS THE PIG TURNS (ACORN TV)

The third series (four 90-minute episodes) of British mystery comedy-drama Agatha Raisin premiered on U.S. streaming service Acorn TV between Autumn 2019 and Winter 2020. 

Ashley Jensen (Catastrophe, Ugly Betty) plays the title role, an ex-London PR queen turned private investigator. 

In Love from Hell, James (Jamie Glover) vanishes after a row with Agatha about a young woman named Melissa Shephard. Melissa is found dead in Aggie's cottage and James becomes a fugitive. The detective teams up with James' sister Sheila Barr in spite of their enmity. Sir Charles (Jason Merrells) and Toni (Jodie Tyack) meet John Dewey, one of Melissa's ex-husbands and the weird owner of a vintage toy shop. DC Bill Wong (Matt McCooey) prepares his sergeant's exam. Mrs Boggle (Marcia Warren) is Carsely's Dirty Harry. Sarah (Lucy Liemann) knows what is a bong. DCI Wilkes (Jason Barnett) has a new friend.

Although Roy Silver (played by Mathew Horne) is missed, this episode written by Chris Niel is another moment of fun in an impeccable third series. Caroline Langrishe (Judge John Deed, Lovejoy) returns as Sheila for the first time since Agatha Raisin and The Quiche of Death (2014), the pilot of Agatha Raisin. Also with Kelly Adams (Mr Selfridge, Hustle) as Melissa, Robert Daws (Mayor Ted Huxley), Rosie Day (Karen Sheppard), Richard Glover (John Dewey), Sally Scott (Julia), Jo Dow (Dr. Henderson) and singer/actress Katy Baker (Lady Day). Directed by Audrey Cooke.

Series 3 concludes with As the pig turns, a fireworks penned by crime drama virtuoso and regular Agatha Raisin scriptwriter Chris Murray (Van der Valk, Midsomer Murders). The gang relaxes at the local winter fayre but the big unveiling of the hog roast ends up in a sinister manner. Bill is a sarge so DCI Wilkes tells him to stop "fraternizing with the natives". Toni takes driving lessons and she makes very special cakes (1). Sarah discovers a new colour, that she calls... "Conté". Roy is back and he loves likes bisons.

Also with Gerry McLaughlin (PC Billy Tulloch), Marc Bannerman (PC Gary Beech), Dritan Kastrati (Cezary Marciniak),  Aleksy Komorowski (Tycjan Marciniak), John Hopkins (Tom 'Bunchie' Richards), Nancy Carroll (Fiona Richards), Linette Beaumont (Amy Beech), Frankie Beesley, Maya Nascimento and Katy Baker (Lady Day - Radio). Directed by Matt Carter. Produced by Free@Last TV and Company Pictures (an All3Media company). Co-produced by Acorn Media Enterprises (a division of RLJ Entertainment, Inc.).  

Barry Ryan and David A. Walton exec produce for Free@Last TV. Michele Buck exec produces for Company Pictures. Catherine Mackin exec produces for Acorn Media Enterprises. Produced by Guy Hescott. Co-produced by Ian Strachan. Music composed by Evan Jolly. Theme composed by Rupert Gregson-Williams. Cinematography by James Moss. Editing by Rob Platt (Love from Hell) and James Hey (As The Pig Turns). Titles by Light Creative. Distributed by All3Media International, except for English-speaking territories which are handled by Acorn Media International. Based on novels by M.C. Beaton.

(1) And someone remembered that Toni has a photographic memory.

https://www.katybakeractress.co.uk/

See also:

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/05/agatha-raisin-series-3-episode-2-agatha.html (Episode 2)
https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/agatha-raisin-series-3-episode-1-agatha.html (Episode 1)

VAN DER VALK - SERIES 1, EPISODE 3: DEATH IN AMSTERDAM (ITV)

Marc Warren (Beecham House, Hustle) stars in the title role of Van der Valk, a 3 x 90-minute crime drama which aired this spring in the U.K. on ITV.

« I thought Van der Valk had the monopoly on cynicism in this office. »
 
Van der Valk is based on a character created by Nicolas Freeling (1927-2003), an English novelist who spent most of his life in continental Europe and admired Belgian author Georges Simenon. Simon "Piet" Van der Valk, a cynical and intuitive Amsterdam police commissioner married to a French woman named Arlette, appeared in 11 books from 1962 to 1989. The "Dutch Maigret" was popularized by the Thames Television series Van der Valk (1972-1973, 1977, 1991-1992) starring Barry Foster. Composed by Jack Trombey (1) and played by the Simon Park Orchestra, its theme music (called Eye Level) became #1 in the UK charts in 1973.

Filmed entirely in Amsterdam last year, Van der Valk is produced by Company Pictures (Agatha Raisin) with Dutch company NL Film (Penoza), Germany's ARD Degeto (Der Donnerstags-Krimi), Masterpiece (United States) and All3Media International. Scriptwriter Chris Murray (Agatha Raisin, Midsomer Murders), who exec produces with Michele Buck and wrote the three episodes, brings back the detective for a modern and international audience. One of the notable changes of this new series concerns Arlette Van der Valk. Dutch director Jean van de Velde helmed Death in Amsterdam, the third episode.

Ed Loman, a fashion vlogger/influencer, is murdered and his eyes are sewn. Intrigued by a graffiti signed "Omega 616", Van der Valk  investigates with his team in the hip world of the ethical and ecologically sustainable clothing brands. Inspector Lucienne Hassell (Maimie McCoy) notices that the Commissaris looks preoccupied. An adversary from Piet's past wants to take revenge on him and Chief Commissaris Julia Dahlman (Emma Fielding). Sergeant Brad de Vries (Luke Allen-Gale) looks for "the invisible man". Hendrik Davie (Darrell D'Silva) keeps an eye on Julia and Lieutenant Job Cloovers (Elliot Barnes-Worrell) saves the day.

« Stat man's got a hobby. Who knew? »

Death in Amsterdam is a splendid conclusion to this first series of Van der Valk masterfully crafted by Chris Murray. An impressive shootout at the REM Eiland restaurant and a big reveal about Piet Van der Valk are the highlights of the episode. Murray's fresh take on the classic British TV detective works brilliantly. Marc Warren is great as the moody commissioner amongst an excellent regular cast (especially Elliot Barnes-Worrell). The talented composer Matthijs Kieboom (Master Spy) did a perfect job with the soundtrack. His superb theme intro, entitled Dutch Detective, and a magnificent piece called Arlette both nod to Eye Level.

Also with Mike Libanon (Cliff Palache), Peter Van Heeringen (Frank), Frieda Barnhard (Agatha Vos) and Christina Cole (Heidi Berlin), Tom York (Dani Nioh), Saman Amini (Chacko Moghadam), Claire Bender (Mila de la Parra), Marieke Heebink (Claudia Cabrera), Maarten Heijmans (Gustav Schneider), etc. Produced by Keith Thompson. David Swetman and Louise Pedersen exec produce for All3Media International. Ronald Versteeg, Kaja Wolffers and Sabine Brian co-produce for NL Film.  Alexander Blaauw and Pascalle Kleingeld are the line producers.

Ian Strachan is the head of production. Cinematography by Willem Helwig. Editing by Sandor Soeteman. Jaap Hoek is the art director. Production designed by Alfred Schaaf. Main title sequence designed by Planet X Title Design. Production supported by the NL Film Incentive. Distributed by All3Media International, Van der Valk is aired in Germany on Das Erste as Kommissar Van der Valk. France 3 will show the series in France.

(1) A pseudonym of Dutch composer Jan Stoeckart (1927-2017).  

 

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/van-der-valk-series-1-episode-1-love-in_30.html  (Episode 1)

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/06/van-der-valk-series-1-episode-2-only-in.html  (Episode 2)   

 

[Update - October 6, 2020]  Aired by pubcaster France 3 as Les enquêtes du commissaire Van der Valk, this contemporary adaptation of the character created by English author Nicolas Freeling is available here on DVD from this week thanks to L'Atelier d'images (https://www.latelierdimages.fr/produit/les-enquetes-du-commissaire-van-der-valk-saison-1/).

http://dramaquarterly.com/walk-the-valk/
https://www.remeiland.com/en/ (The REM Eiland restaurant)
https://www.matthijskieboom.com/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1436726/Nicolas-Freeling.html

VAN DER VALK - SERIES 1, EPISODE 2: ONLY IN AMSTERDAM (ITV)

Marc Warren (Beecham House, Hustle) stars in the title role of Van der Valk, a 3 x 90-minute crime drama which aired this spring in the U.K. on ITV.

« You like certainty, don't you? You're very black and white. I can relate to that. »

Van der Valk is based on a character created by Nicolas Freeling (1927-2003), an English novelist who spent most of his life in continental Europe and admired Belgian author Georges Simenon. Simon "Piet" Van der Valk, a cynical and intuitive Amsterdam police commissioner married to a French woman named Arlette, appeared in 11 books from 1962 to 1989. The "Dutch Maigret" was popularized by the Thames Television series Van der Valk (1972-1973, 1977, 1991-1992) starring Barry Foster. Composed by Jack Trombey (1) and played by the Simon Park Orchestra, its theme music (called Eye Level) became #1 in the UK charts in 1973.

Filmed entirely in Amsterdam last year, Van der Valk is produced by Company Pictures (Agatha Raisin) with Dutch company NL Film (Penoza), Germany's ARD Degeto (Der Donnerstags-Krimi), Masterpiece (United States) and All3Media International. Scriptwriter Chris Murray (Agatha Raisin, Midsomer Murders), who exec produces with Michele Buck and wrote the three episodes, brings back the detective for a modern and international audience. One of the notable changes of this new series is the absence of Arlette Van der Valk.

Piet Van der Valk lives on a sailing barge and holds his briefings in a café. He leads a team composed of Inspector Lucienne Hassell (played by Maimie McCoy), his second-in-command and close friend, the laid-back Sergeant Brad de Vries (Luke Allen-Gale) and the young Lieutenant Job Cloovers (Elliot Barnes-Worrell) － who's eager to impress and likes stats. Their boss is the Chief Commissaris Julia Dahlman (Emma Fielding). Hendrik Davie (Darrell D'Silva) is the hard-drinking, full-mouthed pathologist.

A young woman named Aamina Jabara is murdered in a hotel room and her wound is very peculiar. A strange notebook leads Commissaris Van der Valk and Inspecteur Hassell to a museum the victim regularly visited because of an interest for mysticism and religious erotica. Aamina worked as a nurse in a drug addiction clinic. A nun shared with her the same interest for religious erotica. The family issues of the Jabaras disrupt the investigation to an unexpected level.

Only in Amsterdam is basically an episode of Midsomer Murders or Lewis (Chris Murray worked on both) in the Dutch capital with some action, a bit of humour and nice twist and turns. The friendship between Piet and Lucienne gets developed. We learn (a bit) more about Dahlman and Brad provides the comic relief. Job is definitely the most likeable character. Of course, the locations are beautifully filmed by director Max Porcelijn and cinematographer Coen Stroeve.

With Taj Atwal (Aamina & Zafira Jabara), Juliet Aubrey (Sister Joan Pauwels), Tim Dutton (Klaas Gilbert), Taheen Modak (Zaim Jabara), Paul Tylak (Talib Jabara), Eva Marie de Waal (Femke de Haan), Teun Kuilboer (Otto Nelissen), Mike Libanon (Cliff Palache), Martijn Nieuwerf (Lionel Veith), Martijn Oversteegen (Spike), Anniek Pheifer (Janneke Paulis) and Jeroen Spitzenberger (Isaak Graaff).

Produced by Keith Thompson. David Swetman and Louise Pedersen exec produce for All3Media International. Ronald Versteeg, Kaja Wolffers and Sabine Brian co-produce for NL Film.  Alexander Blaauw is the line producer. Ian Strachan is the head of production. Music composed by Matthijs Kieboom. Editing by Annelies van Woerden. Jaap Hoek is the art director. Production designed by Alfred Schaaf. Main title sequence designed by Planet X Title Design.

Production supported by the NL Film Incentive. Distributed by All3Media International, Van der Valk started this week in Germany on Das Erste as Kommissar Van der Valk. France 3 will show the series in France.

(1) A pseudonym of Dutch composer Jan Stoeckart (1927-2017).  

 

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/van-der-valk-series-1-episode-1-love-in_30.html  (Episode 1)   

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/06/van-der-valk-series-1-episode-3-death.html  (Episode 3) 

 

[Update - October 6, 2020]  Aired by pubcaster France 3 as Les enquêtes du commissaire Van der Valk, this contemporary adaptation of the character created by English author Nicolas Freeling is available here on DVD from this week thanks to L'Atelier d'images (https://www.latelierdimages.fr/produit/les-enquetes-du-commissaire-van-der-valk-saison-1/).

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-04-24/van-der-valk-itv-locations-amsterdam/
https://www.matthijskieboom.com/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1436726/Nicolas-Freeling.html

AGATHA RAISIN - SERIES 3, EPISODE 2: AGATHA RAISIN & THE DEADLY DANCE (ACORN TV)

The third series (four 90-minute episodes) of British mystery comedy-drama Agatha Raisin premiered on U.S. streaming service Acorn TV between Autumn 2019 and Winter 2020. 

Ashley Jensen (Catastrophe, Ugly Betty) plays the title role, an ex-London PR queen turned private investigator. 

The Agatha Raisin Detective Agency is severely hit by bad publicity after an article in a local paper－including some unkind words from DCI Denzel Wilkes (Jason Barnett). But Sir Charles Fraith (Jason Merrells) has convinced a friend, the obnoxious Mrs Tiggy Leggat-Brown, to hire Agatha. Her daughter Cassandra has received death threats because of her engagement with Perry Peterson.

« Although I hope you're not the amateur busybody that the police say you are.»

The engagement party ends in the pool for Tiggy, Cassandra and Perry when Agatha Raisin saves them from a sniper but Tiggy Leggat-Brown accuses her of ruining the event. Toni Gilmour (Jodie Tyack) looks for a missing dog with DC Bill Wong (Matt McCooey), James Lacey (Jamie Glover) is disenchanted, a hitman eats a cake, Charles and Roy Silver (Mathew Horne) play dominoes and DCI Wilkes can dance tango.

Australian actor and dancer Adam Garcia guest stars as George Felliet, a tango teacher, in the fabulously funny Agatha Raisin & the Deadly Dance. This episode, adapted from the novel by M.C. Beaton, was penned by crime drama virtuoso and regular Agatha Raisin scriptwriter Chris Murray (Midsomer Murders and the recent Van der Valk). 

Also with Lucy Liemann (Sarah Bloxby), Patsy Kensit (Emma Comfrey), Anna Wilson-Jones (Tiggy Laggat-Brown), Abigail Carter-Simpson (Cassandra Laggat-Brown), Steve John Shepherd (Jeremy Laggatt-Brown), Angus Castle-Doughty (Perry Peterson), Elle McAlpine (Felicity Felliet), etc.

Produced by Free@Last TV and Company Pictures (an All3Media company). Co-produced by Acorn Media Enterprises (a division of RLJ Entertainment, Inc.). Barry Ryan and David A. Walton exec produce for Free@Last TV. Michele Buck exec produces for Company Pictures. Catherine Mackin exec produces for Acorn Media Enterprises. 

Produced by Guy Hescott. Co-produced by Ian Strachan. Music composed by Evan Jolly. Theme composed by Rupert Gregson-Williams. Cinematography by James Moss. Editing by James Hey. Titles by Light Creative. Distributed by All3Media International, except for English-speaking territories which are handled by Acorn Media International. Directed by Roberto Bangura.

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/agatha-raisin-series-3-episode-1-agatha.html (Series 3, Episode 1)

AMSTERDAM UNDERCOVER (DER AMSTERDAM-KRIMI) - EPISODES 1 & 2: TOD IN DER PRINZENGRACHT & AUFERSTANDEN VON DEN TOTEN (DAS ERSTE, 2018)

[Favourite of the Month] Starring Hannes Jaenicke, Der Amsterdam-Krimi was launched almost two years ago by German pubcaster Das Erste. It's one of the channel's feature-length crime dramas filmed abroad for its Donnerstags-Krimi line-up (like Der Zurich-Krimi or Kommissar Dupin).

Amsterdam Undercover (the international title of Der Amsterdam-Krimi) started with Tod in der Prinzengracht and Auferstanden von den Toten, two episodes shot between December 2017 and January 2018 and aired in November 2018.

Alex Pollack (Hannes Jaenicke), an undercover investigator for the LKA in Düsseldorf, wants to bring down a drug baron named Tom Fischer (Sascha Alexander Geršak). He handles the infiltration of his colleague and girlfriend Katja Wolf (Alice Dwyer), who became Fischer's right-hand person in Amsterdam under the alias Isabel Baumann. When Katja doesn't report to Alex for three months, he goes to the capital of the Netherlands without informing neither his superior, nor the Dutch authorities.

Pollack discovers that Katja/Isabel got dangerously close to the mobster. A confrontation with her at the Amsterdam Central Station ends up with Alex arrested by Dutch Commissioner  Bram de Groot (Fedja van Huêt) and his team. They put Tom Fischer and "Isabel Baumann" under surveillance as part of an investigation on a new dangerous designer drug. De Groot wants the man behind the whole operation: Frederik Koning (Raymond Thiry), a powerful investor with many connections. The commissioner joins forces with the German investigator, who must figure out whether Katja has gone much too far.

Loyalty is the theme of Tod in der Prinzengracht, the first part of a couple of captivating crime thrillers. Hannes Jaenicke is at his best amongst some excellent German and Dutch actors in the beautiful Amsterdam. In Auferstanden von den Toten, the death of a female student and the reappearance of a foreign worker provide Pollack and de Groot unexpected leads to Koning. This episode makes a great use of the locations, such as the fascinating Koepelgevangenis in Breda (a former prison).

Written by Peter Kohler. Based on a format by Rebecca Mahnkopf and Klaus Pieber. Directed by Michael Kreindl (Todes in der Prinzengracht) and  Peter Ladkani (Auferstanden von den Toten). Also with Sven Gerhardt (Thomas Breuer), Gijs Naber (Rijkaard), Birgit Welink (Renée), Peter Post (Rutger), Tanja Jess (Susanne Verbeek), Edon Rizvanolli (Driss), Omar El-Saeidi (Molo), Sigrid ten Napel (Hanna Meijer), etc. Produced by Ziegler Film Köln for ARD Degeto and Das Erste.

Marc O. Dreher exec produces. Produced by Barbara Thielen. Florian Nilson and Sandra Moll are the production managers for ARD Degeto. Production services by Ministry of film (Huub Meijer). Music by Andreas Helmle. Production designed by Alfred Schaaf. Cinematography by Anton Klima (Todes in der Prinzengracht) and Namche Okon (Auferstanden von den Toten). Editing by Nina Meister and Nathalie Pürzer. In June, Das Erste will show two new episodes of Der Amsterdam-Krimi (filmed during summer 2019): Tod im Hafenbecken and Das verschwundene Kind.

The same month, the channel will launch Van der Valk in Germany as Kommissar Van der Valk. The ITV detective drama is co-produced by ARD Degeto and filmed in Amsterdam too. Amsterdam Undercover is distributed by Beta Film.

https://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/film/der-amsterdam-krimi/index.html
https://www.zieglerfilmkoeln.de/

See also:

VAN DER VALK - SERIES 1, EPISODE 1: LOVE IN AMSTERDAM (ITV)

[Favourite of the Month] A classic British TV detective is back. And he's Dutch.

Created by English novelist Nicolas Freeling (1927-2003), Simon "Piet" Van der Valk is a cynical and intuitive Amsterdam police commissioner. Married to a French woman named Arlette, the Commissaris appeared in 11 books from 1962 to 1989. Freeling, who spent most of his life in continental Europe, was an admirer of Belgian author Georges Simenon. Called the "Dutch Maigret", Piet Van der Valk was first portrayed on-screen by German actor Wolfgang Kieling in the British film Amsterdam Affair (1968). Frank Finlay starred in three German/French TV movies between 1972 and 1975 (1). Bryan Marshall played the role in Because of the Cats/Niet voor de poezen, a Dutch-Belgian film released in 1973.

The best remembered version is the Thames Television series Van der Valk (1972-1973, 1977, 1991-1992), with Barry Foster. Eye Level, its theme music, is remembered too. Composed by Jack Trombey (2) and played by the Simon Park Orchestra, it became #1 in the UK charts in 1973. Some novels were adapted in the 1990s by BBC Radio 4. Now the character returns in Van der Valk, a 3 x 90-minute series produced by Company Pictures (Agatha Raisin) for ITV. Filmed entirely in Amsterdam last year, it stars Marc Warren (Beecham House, Hustle) as Piet Van der Valk. Dutch company NL Film (Penoza), Germany's ARD Degeto, Masterpiece (United States) and All3Media International co-produce. Scriptwriter Chris Murray (Agatha Raisin, Midsomer Murders), who exec produces with Michele Buck, brings back the detective for a modern and international audience.

"The original series was gritty, with stories of sex and drugs, and reflected the Amsterdam of its time. We wanted to develop stories about contemporary Amsterdam," explained Chris Murray to French journalist and TV series expert Alain Carrazé at MIPCOM 2019. "The city has always been this amazing cultural melting pot, with a tolerance for different religions.  We wanted to reflect that in a character who is non-judgmental and tolerant. He's interested in art but he also works in the streets. We certainly want to honour the "brand" of Van der Valk but we move it forward. The novels were quite existential and the stories wouldn't work for the TV audience today. So it was more appropriate to start afresh."

One of the notable changes is the absence of Arlette Van der Valk. Piet Van der Valk lives on a sailing barge and his briefing room is a tad unusual. He leads a team  composed of Inspector Lucienne Hassell (played by Maimie McCoy), his second-in-command and close friend, and the laid-back Sergeant Brad de Vries (Luke Allen-Gale). They are joined by the young Lieutenant Job Cloovers (Elliot Barnes-Worrell), who's eager to impress and likes stats. Their boss is the Chief Commissaris Julia Dahlman (Emma Fielding). Hendrik Davie (Darrell D'Silva) is the hard-drinking, full-mouthed pathologist. In Love in Amsterdam (3), the first episode, politics and art are linked when two seemingly unrelated men are found murdered on the same day and a young left-wing activist is missing.

The fresh approach of Chris Murray, who wrote the three episodes, works brilliantly. It doesn't exclude a bit of humour. Marc Warren is great as the moody detective. The excellent Maimie McCoy and him succeed in making the relationship between Van der Valk and Lucienne interesting. The rest of the regular cast is very good. With Frances Grey (Claudia Oosterhuis), Daniel Lapaine (Paul Oosterhuis), Stephanie Léonidas (Eva Meisner), Vineeta Rishi (Therese Remecker), Frieda Barnhard (Agatha Vos), Kees Boot (Bartel Peters), Reinout Bussemeker (Ed de Klerk), Mike Libanon (Cliff Palache), Peter Van Heerigen (Frank), etc. Director Colin Teague and Tibor Dingelstad, the Director of photography, know how to take advantage of the locations, especially the canals and the Rijksmuseum.

The talented Dutch composer Matthijs Kieboom (Master Spy) did a perfect job with the soundtrack. His superb theme intro, entitled Dutch Detective, nods to Eye Level. Produced by Keith Thompson. David Swetman and Louise Pedersen exec produce for All3Media International. Ronald Versteeg, Kaja Wolffers and Sabine Brian co-produce for NL Film.  Alexander Blaauw is the line producer. Ian Strachan is the head of production. Edited by Sándor Soeteman. Jaap Hoek is the art director. Production designed by Alfred Schaaf. The beautiful main title sequence was designed by Planet X Title Design. Production supported by the NL Film Incentive. Distributed by All3Media International, Van der Valk will be shown in Germany next month on Das Erste as Kommissar Van der Valk.

(1) Van der Valk und das Mädchen, Van der Valk und die Reichen and Le bouc émissaire, aired in France as episodes of Pas de frontières pour l'inspecteur.
(2) A pseudonym of Dutch composer Jan Stoeckart (1927-2017).
(3) Love in Amsterdam is also the title of the first Van der Valk novel.

Special thanks to Alain Carrazé (8 Art Global).

 

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/06/van-der-valk-series-1-episode-2-only-in.html  (Episode 2)   

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/06/van-der-valk-series-1-episode-3-death.html  (Episode 3) 

 

[Update - October 6, 2020]  Aired by pubcaster France 3 as Les enquêtes du commissaire Van der Valk, this contemporary adaptation of the character created by English author Nicolas Freeling is available here on DVD from this week thanks to L'Atelier d'images (https://www.latelierdimages.fr/produit/les-enquetes-du-commissaire-van-der-valk-saison-1/).

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-04-24/van-der-valk-itv-locations-amsterdam/
https://www.matthijskieboom.com/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1436726/Nicolas-Freeling.html

See also:

https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en
https://www.programme-tv.net/tag/previously/ (Alain Carrazé's podcast about TV series)