"Private Schulz" (1981) TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 May 1981 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The Time - WWII, the place - Germany. The Germans have a plan to destroy the British economy by flooding the country with forged £5 notes...

Plot Keywords:

German | WWII | SS | Counterfeiting | Public Bathroom

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Michael Elphick	...	Private Schulz (6 episodes, 1981)
Ian Richardson	...	Major Neuheim / ... (6 episodes, 1981)
Cyril Shaps	...	Solly (5 episodes, 1981)
Ronald Baddiley	...	British newsreel commentator / ... (5 episodes, 1981)
Billie Whitelaw	...	Bertha Freyer / ... (4 episodes, 1981)
Terence Suffolk	...	Schumacher (4 episodes, 1981)
Walter Sparrow	...	Becker (4 episodes, 1981)
Alla Sharova	...	Violinist (4 episodes, 1981)
Clive Merrison	...	Radio Announcer / ... (3 episodes, 1981)
John Shrapnel	...	German newsreel commentator / ... (3 episodes, 1981)
David Swift	...	Professor Bodelschwingh (2 episodes, 1981)
Ken Campbell	...	Krauss (2 episodes, 1981)
Hugh Walters	...	Bus Conductor (2 episodes, 1981)
Mark Wingett	...	Schmidt (2 episodes, 1981)
Trevor T. Smith	...	Captain Ohm (2 episodes, 1981)
Darlene Johnson	...	Kitty (2 episodes, 1981)
Carl Davis	...	Pianist at Salon Kitty (2 episodes, 1981)

Runtime:

300 min (6 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Castell Coch, Tongwynlais, South Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Company:

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Quotes:

[About the German plan to destroy the British economy by flooding the country with forged £5 notes]
Major Neuheim: This could revolutionize the whole concept of war finance. It could become possible to fight a war entirely at the expense of the enemy.

Terrific Comedy Banned in America

This terrific comedy showcases the talents of two of Britain's best actors, the late Michael Elphick and Ian Richardson, who are portrayed as Nazi soldiers in the SS assigned to topple the British economy by counterfeiting the currency. (This is a true story that actually happened in WW2).

Michael Elphick is superb as a cowardly conniving small-time crook who will do anything to avoid fighting. Ian Richardson is also in top form as his incompetent commanding officer. Together, they recruit a gang of Jewish criminals from concentration camps and set about their merry work.

This is one of the best comedies ever made with great performances from the entire cast. Regrettably, the DVD (produced by the BBC) is not available in the USA, presumably to appease American Jewish groups who would consider a concentration camp an inappropriate venue for a comedy.

BTW, the story was recently made into a highly recommended dramatic German-language film (The Counterfeiters, 2007).