Kessler (1981– )

In this spin-off from the World war II resistance-series "Secret Army", the tables turn: ambitious, cruel Gestapo-officer Ludwig Kessler, the most implacable Nazi hunter of every opponent ... See full summary »

Stars:

Clifford Rose, Alan Dobie, Nitza Shaul

Cast

Series cast summary:
Clifford Rose	...	Ludwig Kessler (6 episodes, 1981)
Alan Dobie	...	Richard Bauer (6 episodes, 1981)
Nitza Shaul	...	Mical Rak (6 episodes, 1981)
Ralph Michael	...	Colonel Hans Ruckert (6 episodes, 1981)
Alison Glennie	...	Ingrid Dorf (6 episodes, 1981)
Nicholas Young	...	Franz Hoss (6 episodes, 1981)
Guy Rolfe	...	Yqueros (3 episodes, 1981)
Robert Morris	...	Karl Leider (3 episodes, 1981)
John Moreno	...	Jose Garriga (3 episodes, 1981)
Harold Innocent	...	Deakin (3 episodes, 1981)
Jeremy Wilkin	...	Gidney (3 episodes, 1981)
Reg Woods	...	Agent (3 episodes, 1981)
Oscar Quitak	...	Josef Mengele (2 episodes, 1981)
Jerome Willis	...	Hugo Van Eyck (2 episodes, 1981)
Jim Byars	...	Krebs (2 episodes, 1981)
Royston Tickner	...	Maurer (2 episodes, 1981)

Storyline

In this spin-off from the World war II resistance-series "Secret Army", the tables turn: ambitious, cruel Gestapo-officer Ludwig Kessler, the most implacable Nazi hunter of every opponent to the Reich, can no longer deny its rule is militarily annihilated by the Allies. He must now flee himself, being a first-rate war criminal responsible for numerous torture- and execution victims, but manages to get away with a fortune and starts a new life as a businessman, still hoping for another rise of the master race to power, in which his part should be even more prominent, from a (neo-)fascist colony in Paraguay. Meanwhile Albert Foiret, his former elusive chief of prey, and some of his collaborators now play a part in the hunt for the former master-hunter...

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Plot Keywords:

tv mini series

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Taglines:

The ruthless Gestapo officer - in hiding and on the run.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 1981 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min 50 min (6 episodes)

Did You Know?

Connections

Follows Secret Army (1977)

User Reviews

Not as good as Secret Army

The first episode of the "Kessler" mini series is a re-worked version of the (unbroadcast) final episode of "Secret Army" (1977-79), "What Did You Do In the War Daddy?", which the BBC management had refused to broadcast in 1979.

As such, the first episode features the surviving cast of "Secret Army"

• Albert, Monique and Natalie. This is great, but they only appear in

the first episode (which sets up this series).

Overall, "Kessler" was disappointing. It didn't have the strong dramatic tensions which had made "Secret Army" such a success. Removed from his Gestapo post, and on the run, Kessler was no longer the sinister menace that had given the character such strength in "Secret Army".

And it was, of course, impossible to present the character sympathetically. This was a serious drawback to the series. The main character must have the audience's sympathy if we are to care what happens to him.

"Secret Army" had very successfully characterised its two Luftwaffe officers - Major Brandt and Major Rienhardt - sympathetically, by their contrast to the evil Kessler. But it was impossible for the writers to do anything with Kessler himself other than demonise the character. This seriously undermined the "Kessler" series, as there was never any chance for the audience to like the lead character.

The presence of the well-loved Resistance heroes of "Secret Army" might yet have saved the day. But that was made impossible by the decision to set the sequel mainly in South America, and to give it a completely new cast (for all but the first episode). Only Kessler himself continued from "Secret Army".

I was particularly surprised by the absence of Madelaine (Hazel McBride), Kessler's only friend in the earlier series, who might have stood at least some chance of showing up a human side to him.