Johann Friedrich von Allmen
lives in Zurich. He's a bon vivant, a man of culture and taste who
likes elegance and refinement. Allmen has no equal when it comes to
spending his money, to the point that he squandered the family fortune and lost his beautiful home. Thankfully, he turned an expertise in tracing missing artworks into a profession as the founder of Allmen International Enquiries. Though it allows him to maintain his idea of a costly lifestyle, his faithful Guatemalan valet Carlos does his best to moderate — not without a touch of irony — the flamboyant "Don John". Created by bestselling Swiss author Martin Suter, Allmen first appeared in Allmen and the Dragonflies (Allmen und die Libellen, 2011), a novel followed by five more.
Four Allmen TV movies based on the books were aired by pubcaster Das Erste between 2017 and 2021: Allmen und das Geheimnis der Libellen, Allmen und das Geheimnis des rosa Diamanten, Allmen und das Geheimnis der Dahlien and Allmen und das Geheimnis der Erotik. The project of a fifth one, Allmen und der Koi, was evoked last year but shooting hasn't started. Those films star Heino Ferch (Nordholm, Anatomy of Evil) as Allmen and Samuel Finzi (Flemming) as Carlos. Adapted by scriptwriter Martin Rauhaus (Hotel Heidelberg) from the book Allmen and the Pink Diamond (Allmen und der rosa Diamant), Allmen und das Geheimnis des rosa Diamanten was directed by Thomas Berger (Kommissarin Lucas). The mysterious Mr. Montgomery gives Allmen a SFr.20,000 retainer to find a stolen pink diamond known as The Eye of Shiva.
The precious stone is believed to be in the hands of a Russian businessman named Artjom Sokolow. The art detective looks for information — Allmen style — in a nightclub. Carlos meets Sokolow's Colombian housemaid Maria Moreno and falls for her. Allmen finds the Russian at a prestigious German hotel where death soon strikes. The epicurian dandy and his manservant face dangerous adversaries. Most of the charm of these adaptations of Allmen comes from the
performances of the both talented Heino Ferch (with an incredible look) and Samuel Finzi. The likeable duo is often compared to P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster. Andrea Osvárt (Tranporter: The Series) plays Joelle "Jojo" Hirt, the daughter of one of the richest men in Switzerland and Allmen's love interest. Isabella Parkinson joins the regular cast as Maria Moreno.
Also with Nora von Waldstätten (Vanessa), Daniel Wagner (Artjom Sokolow), Alexander Finkenwirth (Neuenhauser), Oscar Ortega Sánchez (Don Gregorio), Tomas Sinclair Spencer (Colin Montgomery), Robert Seeliger (American), Roman Šmejkal (Taxi driver Arnold) etc. Allmen und das Geheimnis des rosa Diamanten was mostly shot in Prague. Produced by UFA Fiction and Mia Film (Der Zürich-Krimi) for ARD Degeto and Das Erste. Kristina Henning-Egger and Benjamin Benedict are the producers. Co-produced by Zbyněk Pippal and Michal Pokorný. Holger Krenz and Kirsten Frehse (ARD Degeto) are the line producers. Music by Fabian Römer and Mathias Hillebrand-Gonzalez. Benedikt Herforth is the production designer. Cinematography by Frank Küpper. Editing by Lucas Seeberger and Melania Singer.
Allmen und das Geheimnis des rosa Diamanten is available in the U.S. and Canada as Allmen: The Pink Diamond, thanks to MHz Choice.
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