The long-running German crime drama The Old Fox (Der Alte) is now available in France on DVD, starting with its 10th season, in the "Le Renard - Intégrale saison 10" boxset from Elephant Films (All Zone, 12 episodes).
Der Alte ("The Old Man") was launched in 1977 on ZDF by producer Helmut Ringelmann as the successor to Der Kommissar, a series made by his company Neue Münchner Fernsehproduktion for the pubcaster. Set in Munich, Der Kommissar ran from 1969 to 1976. It starred Erik Ode as Kommissar Herbert Keller, a father figure to his team of investigators inspired by Maigret. The first Freitagskrimi (1) of the channel lasted 97 episodes, all penned by Herbert Reinecker. This prolific scriptwriter also wrote each of the 281 episodes of Derrick, a crime drama devised by Ringelmann with Reinecker as an alternative
to Der Kommissar (2) — though once again set in Munich — and shown on ZDF from 1974 to
1998.
Produced by Neue Münchner for ZDF, ORF (Austria) and SRG (Switzerland), Der Alte employed several authors. Writer and producer Hans Gottschalk (Raumpatrouille Orion) conceived the main character, Hauptkommissar Erwin Köster (3) of the Munich Mordkommission II (Homicide Squad II). Siegfried Lowitz, a familiar face from the Edgar Wallace films, became the "new Kommissar". Erwin Köster was given assistants: Gerd Heymann, played by Michael Ande (Fußballtrainer Wulff, Treasure Island), and Martin Brenner (Jan Hendriks, another Edgar Wallace regular) (4). Henning Schlüter was Köster's chief, Kriminalrat Franz Millinger. Der Alte premiered on Easter 1977 with a 94-minute pilot titled Die Dienstreise, written by Oliver Storz (Raumpatrouille Orion) & Jochen Wedegärtner (Graf Yoster gibt sich die Ehre) and directed by Johannes Schaaf.
Der Alte schlägt zweimal zu, an episode written and helmed by French novelist/filmmaker José Giovanni, stirred controversy for the methods used by the detectives in the story. Karl Heinz Willschrei, one of the scriptwriters of the series, co-created Ein Fall für zwei (1981-2013) for ZDF. At the end of 1984, Siegfried Lowitz expressed his desire to leave Der Alte with the 100th episode (aired in January 1986) and return to theatre. Helmut Ringelmann gave the role of the new boss of Mordkomission II, Hauptkommissar Leo Kress, to Rolf Schimpf. Ringelmann noticed the actor in Der Sheriff von Lisenbach (1984) and first hired him in Mensch Bachmann, a family series he produced the same year. Schimpf was no stranger to the crime genre because he played Waldi Zeldmann in SOKO 5113 since 1978.
Gerd Heymann remained but Martin Brenner got transferred. The Polizeiarzt ("police doctor") played by Ulf J. Sohmisch since 1983 stayed a few years more but never got a proper name. Leo Kress came from Augsburg with his own assistant, Henry Johnson. This black detective (a first in the history of German TV) was based on a real-life black investigator from the Munich police named Raimund Eichner and he was portrayed by Charles M. Huber (credited Charly Muhamed Huber). A new theme intro, composed by Eberhard Schoener, replaced the theme by Peter Thomas. Sold in more than 100 countries, Der Alte arrived in France in 1987 as Le Renard. The French dubbing of the Erwin Köster era being unaivalable, Elephant Films releases Der Alte on DVD in France from its 10th season. The "Le Renard - Intégrale Saison 10" 6-disc DVD boxset contains the following episodes:
- Zwei Leben. The great 100th episode was written by Adolf Schröder & Günter Gräwert, who helmed it. Köster and Heymann investigate the disappearance of a woman from Gerd's circle of friends. Katja Flint, Friedrich von Thun (Die Verbrechen des Professor Capellari), Sven Eric Bechtolf and a pre-fame Christoph Waltz are amongst the guest stars. In German with subtitles.
- Sein erster Fall (69 minutes). A brilliant first case for Leo Kress written by Leopold Ahlsen, Volker Vogeler and Günter Gräwert under the pseudonym of Tobias Bertram. Gräwert directed the episode. A man arrested by Erwin Köster years ago is released from prison. With Klaus Löwitsch (Welt am Draht, Peter Strohm), Amadeus August and Evelyn Opela (who married Helmut Ringelmann in 1986). Last episode with Martin Brenner. Volker Vogeler wrote 181 episodes of Der Alte. In German with subtitles.
- Das Attentat. An excellent episode written by Volker Vogeler and directed by Zbyněk Brynych. The return of an old acquaintance from Kress's Augsburg days is part of a machiavellian plan. Wilfried Klaus (Behrend) was a regular of SOKO 5113/SOKO München from 1978 to 2009. First appearance of Bettina Redlich as Leo's daughter Sabine. With Herbert Stass and Peter Kuiper. In French or in German (without subtitles).
- Der Mord auf Zimmer 49. A man (Manfred Zapatka) who spent several years behind bars is suspected of the murder of a hotel chambermaid. Written by Bruno Hampel (Polizeifunk ruft, Kommissar Freytag) and helmed by Günter Gräwert. Third appearance of Gert Burkhard this season, in different roles. In French or in German (without subtitles).
- Der Trugschluß. Written by Volker Vogeler and directed by Theodor Grädler. Kress and his colleagues investigate in a market hall. With Jutta Speidel, Hans Georg Panczak and a young Hannes Jaenicke. In French or in German (without subtitles).
- Terzett in Gold. Written by Bruno Hampel and helmed by Wolfgang Becker. With Jochen Horst and Rainer Hunold before Balko and Ein Fall für zwei. Rosel Zech (Veronika Voss, Lola) plays Helma Köhler. The lady in the train is played by Eva Maria Bauer (Die Schwarzwaldklinik). In French or in German (without subtitles).
- Gigolo ist tot. A splendid work by Volker Vogeler. Two burglars find a dead body and Kress faces a devious adversary. Günter Lamprecht plays a Columbo-esque (and racist) villain. First appearance of Marküs Böttcher as Werner Riedmann, a role he played for 29 years. With Bettina Redlich (Sabine), Claude-Oliver Rudolph, Anja Jaenicke, etc. Directed by Dietrich Haugk. In French or in German (without subtitles).
- Killer gesucht. A chemist (Udo Vioff) has the bad idea to hire Henry to kill his wife (Christiane Hörbiger). Meanwhile, the new girlfriend of the wife's younger lover is shot dead in the street. Penned by Volker Vogeler and helmed by Alfred Weidenmann. In French or in German (without subtitles).
- Tödliche Freundschaft. A bank robbery is a strange way to reconnect with an old school friend. Written and directed by Günter Gräwert. Based on an idea by Adolf Schröder, this episode is carried by the performances of Peter Sattmann (Hans) and Walter Renneisen (Ingmar). In French or in German (without subtitles).
- Falsch verbunden. A young woman takes a phone call from someone who tells her he's about to commit suicide. Penned by Bruno Hampel, this episode feels like a Derrick (like Hampel's Der Mord auf Zimmer 49). Amadeus August guest starred in 7 episodes of Der Alte vs 9 for Sven Eric Bechtolf. Directed by Wolfgang Becker. In French or in German (without subtitles).
- Floßfahrt ins Jenseits. A classic written by Bruno Hampel and helmed by Dietrich Haugk, who has an uncredited cameo. Irene Möller (Eva Kryll) tries to run the taxi company of her lazy and drinking husband Bartholomäus (Rainer Basedow). With Uwe Friedrichsen. In French or in German (without subtitles).
- Tadverdacht. The reconstitution of an armed robbery goes wrong. Second appearance of Manfred Zapatka in Der Alte. With Lisa Kreuzer (Der amerikanische Freund), Eva Maria Bauer, etc. Written by Volker Vogeler and directed by Günter Gräwert. In French or in German (without subtitles).
In 1998, Leo Kress and his men appeared in the final episode of Derrick. Kress retired at the end of the 322nd episode (2007) but Rolf Schimpf returned as the ex-detective in Episode 340. He was succeeded by Walter Kreye as Hauptkommissar Rolf Herzog (2008-2012) and Jan-Gregor Kremp (Hauptkommissar Richard Voss, 2012-2022). Michael Ande decided to leave the series in 2016 after 39 years as Gerd Heymann. Charles M. Huber left in 1997 and was replaced by Pierre Sanoussi-Bliss as Axel Richter until 2015. Huber changed career for politics and humanitarian work. Bonus material of the "Le Renard - Intégrale Saison 10" boxset is comprised of a
photo gallery and the trailers of some other titles of Elephant
Films, like Derrick, Hunter
(with Fred Dryer), Frank Riva (with Alain Delon), Ein Fall für zwei and Commissaire Valence. Next year Thomas Heinze will be the new Hauptkommissar of Der Alte.
(1) Friday crime drama.
(2) Unlike Der Kommissar, Derrick was filmed in colour and produced by Helmut Ringelmann's other company Telenova for ZDF, ORF and SRG.
(4) The team was later completed by Meyer Zwo (Wolgang Zerlett, 1979-1987) and Löwinger (Jan Meyer, 1985-1986).
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