Wednesday 8 March 2023

THE OLD FOX (DER ALTE) - SEASON 12 ON DVD (ELEPHANT FILMS)

Season 12 of the long-running German crime drama The Old Fox (Der Alte) is now available in France on DVD in the "Le Renard - Intégrale saison 12" 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, the popular series made by his company Neue Münchner Fernsehproduktion for the pubcaster. Set in Munich, Der Kommissar ran from 1969 to 1976 and starred Erik Ode as Kommissar Herbert Keller. The first Freitagskrimi (1) of the channel lasted 97 episodes, all penned by Herbert Reinecker. The scriptwriter also wrote each of the 281 episodes of Derrick, a crime drama devised by Ringelmann and Reinecker as an alternative to Der Kommissar (2) — though set in Munich too — and aired 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 movies, 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). Der Alte premiered on Easter 1977 with a pilot titled Die Dienstreise, written by Oliver Storz (Raumpatrouille Orion) & Jochen Wedegärtner (Graf Yoster gibt sich die Ehre) and directed by Johannes Schaaf. 
 
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 and is still aired today (on France 3). The "Le Renard - Intégrale Saison 12" 6-disc DVD boxset contains the 12 episodes of this absolutely perfect 12th season, shown on ZDF between January and December 1988. Helmut Ringelmann liked to work with a quasi-repertory company of guest actors, who often appeared twice in the same season (in different roles).

- Kein gutes Ende. The owner of a supermarket is blackmailed. A young man dies because of a jar of pickles poisoned with cyanide. An excellent episode written by Volker Vogeler and directed by Eberhard Itzenplitz. Bettina Redlich returns as Leo's daughter Sabine Kress. With Horst Sachtleben (Werner Meridit), Sebastian Koch (Hansi Wallner), Jessica Kosmalla (Hilda Wallner). Ulrich Matschoss, best known as the boss of Schimanski in Tatort, plays Schmetterling.

- Schweigen für immer. A man about to meet the prosecutor dies from a heart attack after his kidnapping. The kidnapper gets rid of the body but a young woman sees him. Scriptwriter  Bruno Hampel borrowed most of the story of this brilliant episode from his own work for an episode of Kommissar Freytag (1963-1966). With Walter Renneisen (Max Brandstetter), Ben Becker (Markus Pagel), Henry van Lyck (Arno Tucher), etc. Directed by Theodor Grädler.

- Der Tod kommt sellten allein. The recovery of some stolen jewelry is interrupted by a bomb explosion. Once again, an excellent episode written by Volker Vogeler and helmed by Eberhard Itzenplitz. Guest starring Daniela Ziegler (Vanessa Telt), Peter Bongartz (Peter Nordmann), Ralf Schermuly (Fred Bugat), etc. Leonard Lansink (Willsberg) appears in a small role.

- Eiskalt geplant. Karla Unruh is found hanged. She was terminally ill and her husband had a mistress. Christa-Maria Bandmann devised a clever plot for the first of the 17 episodes she penned for Der Alte. With Gerd Böckmann (Matthias Unruh), Marianne Wentwich (Karla Unruh), Sabine Kaack (SOKO 5113) as Solveigh Björklund, etc. Music by Martin Böttcher (the Winnetou movies). Directed by Günter Gräwert.

- Um jeden Preis. Secretary Rita Steeger is taking pictures of the plans of a submarine when she's surprised by the private investigator hired by her company. A spy thriller written by Volker Vogeler and helmed by Wolfgang Becker. The guest cast is impressive: Christine Buchegger (Aus dem Leben der Marionetten) as Rita, Karl-Heinz Vosgerau (Dr. Hensold), the great Hans-Michael Rehberg (Johan Altig), Swiss actor Christian Kohlund (Der Zürich-Krimi, Black Forest Clinic) as Lars Lindström and Horst Sachtleben (Hans Passauer).

- Brief eines Toten. The personal assistant of a best-selling author dies in the explosion of his caravan. Adolf Schröder and Günter Gräwert penned this excellent episode directed by Gräwert. With Sonja Sutter (Isolde Schilling), Udo Vioff (Heinrich Schilling), Franziska Walser (Marlis Lachmann), Sven Eric Bechtolf (Theodor Lachmann), Karl-Heinz von Hassel (Tatort) as Heinz Jacob, Eva Maria Bauer (Black Forest Clinic) as Mrs Breitner, Carin C. Tietze, etc.

- Der Tod des Uhrmachers. A watchmaker is killed during a robbery. Chased by the police forces, the robber is shot dead by Gerd. Michael Ande is given an opportunity to shine in this episode written by Volker Vogeler and helmed by Zbyněk Brynych. With Jessica Kosmalla (Monika Valentin), Cordula Trantow (Gerda Staller), Uli Krohm (Werner Staller), Ulli Kinalzik (Peter Herling), etc.

- Der Haß der Verlierer. There's a heatwave in Munich and a woman is found strangled in her appartment. The two suspects are her ex-husband and a Turkish immigrant. A brilliant episode about racism written by Leopold Ahlsen and directed by Zbyněk Brynych. The performance of Will Danin as Kerem Ödüm is remarkable. Last appearance of Bettina Redlich as Sabine Kress. The actress returned in Der Alte as different characters in 2009 and 2014. With Stefan Behrens (Kurt Berger) and Christiane Hammacher (Edith, Leo's ex-wife).

- Ein unaufhaltsames Ende. A high school teacher is murdered. Penned by Volker Vogeler, at his best this season, and directed by Helmuth Ashley. Evelyn Opela (who married Helmut Ringelmann in 1986) plays Monika Burgdof. With Hans Michael Rehberg (Burgdof),  Carin C. Tietze (Nora Falk), Amadeus August (Gerhard Becker), Eva Maria Bauer (Mrs Nagel), etc.

- Der Freispruch. A high-profile trial ends with an acquittal. The 50th script written by Volker Vogeler for Der Alte (5). With Gerd Böckmann (Christian Weigelt), Christiane Kruger (Katja Weigelt), Peter Fricke (Hubert Schatz), Christian Kohlund (Florian Balsam), Anja Jaennicke (Lisa Lottke), Pierre Franckh (Peter Lotke), etc. Werner Schnitzer (Koch) later played Hahne in Siska (1998-2008), the successor to Derrick  (6). Music by composer, singer and hit maker Frank Duval. Directed by Alfred Weidenmann.

- Blackout. An old man hears a gunshot in the middle of the night. A jigsaw puzzle crafted by Christa-Maria Bandmann and directed by Günter Gräwert. With Angelica Domröse (Britta Lambert), Jürgen Schmidt (Konrad Lambert), Jürgen Heinrich (Wolffs Revier) as Dr. Arno Schneider, etc. Music by Dietmar Kawohl and Mats Björklund.

- Ein ganz gewöhnlicher Mord. The wife of Rudolf Ballat is shot dead by a rifle. An astute script by Volker Vogeler. With Klaus Schwarzkopf (Rudolf Ballat),  Elfriede Kuzmany (Lisa Ballat), Ullrich Haupt (Hugo von Bantwig), Wolfgang Wahl (Hermann Arnsweiler), Ben Becker (Peter Arnsweiler), etc. Directed by Alfred Weidenmann.

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. 
 
The episodes of the "Le Renard - Intégrale Saison 12" boxset are in French and in German (without subtitles). Bonus material consists of a photo gallery and the trailers of some other titles of Elephant Films, like Rue barrée, Nana, La voie Jackson, Les visiteurs (the 1980 French sci-fi series) and Noires sont les galaxies. The 47th season of Der Alte starts this month on ZDF and soon actor Thomas Heinze will arrive as Hauptkommissar Caspar Bergmann, the successor of Hauptkommissar Richard Voss.

(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), Löwinger (Jan Meyer, 1985-1986) and Marküs Böttcher as Werner Riedmann (1986-2015).
(6) Produced by Helmut Ringelmann.
 
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