"De Fabriek" (1981) TV series

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

This Dutch drama series is called after an agro-industrial factory, the main employer in a rural part of the Netherlands...

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Rudi Falkenhagen	...	Dries Rustenburg (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Pleuni Touw	...	Mary Rustenburg / ... (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Andrea Domburg	...	Mw.. van Gorkom / ... (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Frederik de Groot	...	Jan van Gorkom (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Diana Dobbelman	...	Jannie Postma (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Guus Hermus	...	Johan Campers (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Niki Spengler	...	Ellen Rustenburg (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Sacco van der Made	...	Berend Groen (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Maarten Spanjer	...	Piet Stok (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Saskia van Basten-Batenburg	...	Ditty Stok (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Frans Kokshoorn	...	Boer Voors / ... (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Bob van Tol	...	Maarten Volkers (12 episodes, 1981-1982)
Marlous Fluitsma	...	Barbara van Diermen (11 episodes, 1981-1982)
Hein Boele	...	Jaap van Diermen (11 episodes, 1981-1982)
Cees Heyne	...	Henk Voors (11 episodes, 1981-1982)
Mimi Kok	...	Janske (10 episodes, 1981-1982)
Bep Dekker	...	Mw. Groen / ... (10 episodes, 1981-1982)
Marjan Berk	...	Leentje (10 episodes, 1981-1982)
Bram van der Vlugt	...	Burger / ... (9 episodes, 1981-1982)
Elisabeth Versluys	...	Mw. Voors / ... (8 episodes, 1981-1982)
Jeroen Krabbé	...	André Hageman (6 episodes, 1981)
Hugo Metsers	...	Jules Bongers (6 episodes, 1982)
Geert de Jong	...	Fientje Berger (6 episodes, 1982)
René van Asten	...	Harm Groen (6 episodes, 1981)
Jack Monkau	...	Jack (6 episodes, 1982)
Jan Van Rooyen	...	Walter Hofman (6 episodes, 1982)
Robert Sobels	...	Willem de portier / ... (6 episodes, 1982)
Dick Rienstra	...	Boer van der Linden (6 episodes, 1982)

Series Directed by
Andrew Wilson		(13 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Writing credits
Hans Keuls		(13 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Produced by
Joop van den Ende	....	producer (13 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Original Music by
Ruud Bos		(13 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Cinematography by
Kees Kamphorst		(7 episodes, 1982)
Piet Storm		(7 episodes, 1982)
Jan Hoekstra		(6 episodes, 1981)
Adrie Lamme		(6 episodes, 1981)

Series Film Editing by
Robert Jan Bakker		(7 episodes, 1982)
Henny van der Graft		(7 episodes, 1982)
Theo Leyen		(6 episodes, 1981)

Series Production Design by
Willem Mulder		(13 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Set Decoration by
Frans Elgersma		(6 episodes, 1981)
Willem Mulder		(6 episodes, 1981)

Series Costume Design by
Marjolein Stokkink		(7 episodes, 1982)
Ton Verheugen		(6 episodes, 1981)

Series Makeup Department
Winnie Gallis	....	makeup artist (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Dick Naastepad	....	hair stylist (7 episodes, 1982)
Bella Scholten	....	makeup artist (7 episodes, 1982)
Jef Simons	....	hair stylist / makeup designer (6 episodes, 1981)

Series Production Management
Ted Dellen	....	production supervisor (7 episodes, 1982)
Ido Samson	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1982)
Dirk Schreiner	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1982)
Herman Ottink	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1981)
Harry Pelle	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1981)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anneke Herbschleb	....	assistant director (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Gerda Sliedrecht	....	assistant director (6 episodes, 1981)

Series Art Department
Will Bakker	....	graphics / graphic artist (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Dick Schalkwijk	....	props (7 episodes, 1982)
Mia Schlosser	....	set designer (7 episodes, 1982)
Tim Shortall	....	assistant set designer (7 episodes, 1982)
Piet van der Grift	....	carpenter (7 episodes, 1982)
Jaap van Minnen	....	carpenter (7 episodes, 1982)
Frank Spekking	....	property master (6 episodes, 1981)

Series Sound Department
Gerard de Leur	....	sound (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Eric Drenthe	....	sound (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Rudolf Grob	....	sound (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Frans de Rijken	....	sound (7 episodes, 1982)
Simon Ijspeert	....	sound (7 episodes, 1982)
Pieter Verheul	....	sound (7 episodes, 1982)
Ger Zaadnoordijk	....	sound (6 episodes, 1981)

Series Special Effects by
Aad van Westen	....	special effects (7 episodes, 1982)
Harrie Wiessenhaan	....	special effects (7 episodes, 1982)

Series Visual Effects by
Herman Ottink	....	film recording (6 episodes, 1981)

Series Stunts
Dickey Beer	....	stunt double (1 episode, 1981)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Erik Bergmeijer	....	still photographer (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Dick Horsman	....	lighting designer / lighting technician (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Harry Kroon	....	lighting technician (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Peter Lam	....	lighting technician (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Lex van Eldik	....	camera operator (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Roel Deen	....	camera operator (7 episodes, 1982)
Piet Out	....	lighting technician (7 episodes, 1982)
Ram Soekhoe	....	camera operator (7 episodes, 1982)
Jan de Jong	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1981)
Jan van Diermen	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1981)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jel Vleer	....	wardrobe (7 episodes, 1982)

Series Other crew
Henk Kool	....	stage manager (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Els Schönbeck	....	production assistant (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Piet Bijlaard	....	reportage assistant (7 episodes, 1982)
Pieter Walther Boer	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1982)
Geert Bree	....	reportage assistant (7 episodes, 1982)
Gé de Meijer	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1982)
Mieke Droog	....	production secretary (7 episodes, 1982)
Hessel Haak	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1982)
Philippe Hefting	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1982)
José Manuel Mestre	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1982)
Robin de Levita	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1981)
Julie van Hemert	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 1981)
Frits Hilhorst	....	stage manager (6 episodes, 1981)
Peter Koghee	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1981)
Henny Oerbekke	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1981)
Tjandra Olberding	....	registration (6 episodes, 1981)
Willem Rietveld	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1981)
Ido Samson	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 1981)
Hendrik-Jan Visser	....	assistant set design (6 episodes, 1981)

Series Thanks
Nico de Gooyer	....	thanks (7 episodes, 1982)
C.J. Eshuis	....	thanks (7 episodes, 1982)

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Sjans: Beroemd Blijven (#2.4)" (1994)

Dallasty done Dutch.

The decade of commerce, coldness, mandatory smoking and tiny lapels had only just begun when "De Fabriek" hit Tros Television like a sledgehammer in 1981. Personally, I was too young to stay up past half past eight on a Monday night, but the popularity of this first big dutch soap did not escape my generation, thanks to that stirring orchestral theme tune by Rogier van Otterloo. No matter how hard you tried to fall asleep, there was no way to escape the music pounding out of the TV set. Imagine my surprise finding out years later out that this story of big business revolved not around the oil business or something exciting like that, but a sugar factory.

After years of supporting roles and farces, Rudi Falkenhage (who's name is misspelled during the credits) finally became a star playing company director Dries Rustenburg, facing all odds against him while trying to secure the future of De FAB. Guus Hermus played the slimy competitor Campers who supposedly owns a bigger, more modern factory (which we never get a good look at, finding one factory to film in during their busy season was hard enough) but the real Judas and all around string puller in series one was 'our own' honey voiced Jeroen Krabbé (practicing for all the similar parts he would soon be playing in Hollywood) as company lawyer André Hageman.

Comic relief is provided by Maarten Spanjer as Piet Stok, the companies gopher at the bottom of the barrel, who is in love with young secretary Ditty (Saskia Ten Batenburg). If you pay attention during the end credits of every episode, you'll get some spoilers as to how that particular sub plot is going to end. Also vying for Ditty's affections (as well as practically every other single woman working there' is Jan van Gorkom (Frederik de Groot), the young manager grandson of the biggest shareholder (Andrea Domburg) and all around pain in the butt. Every soap needs strong women and for every man in this series there is at least one. In fact, there are so many, and the relationships (either by blood or by affection) can get a bit confusing in their criss crossing. For instance, as the series starts, minor character Harm Groen (René van Asten), the son of the Fabriek's foreman (Sacco van der Made) is dating the director's daughter Ellen (Niki Spengler) whilst working for the company lawyer (Krabbé) who is having an affair with the bosses wife (Pleuni Touw). No wonder nearly 6 million viewers stayed home to watch: they would have been lost had they missed a minute.

Clearly meant to be a homegrown version of prime-time soaps such as "Dallas" and "Dynasty", Joop van den Ende produced his first big smash. Even the opening credits try to evoke the American model, albeit with decidedly cheaper optical effects. Joop quickly became known as a man who made entertainment mogul, not drama, and English director Andrew Wilson clearly understood this. After all, this was not a period piece, nor did writer Hans Keuls base "De Fabriek" on a novel, like "De Kleine Waarheid" or "De Stille Kracht", but drew from his own experiences working in a sugar laboratory as well as being a lawyer. By transferring the American formula of commerce and sex into a typically Dutch setting of farming and Boerenkool met worst (throw in some disco scenes where the DJ has one Earth, Wind and Fire record to spin) and success was almost unavoidable. The series garnered massive ratings and media attention, even the fact that stuntman Dicky Beer returned from America to perform a big fall (in episode 3) was widely reported.

The second series saw the addition of Gerard Cox and Pleuni Touw's real life husband Hugo Metsers to the cast, as well as, thanks to the success of series one, a budget large enough to film a romantic liaison in Portugal. And of course people still remember that theme, which pops up John Barry style in several different versions over the course of the series: swinging, laid back, romantic, whatever the situation calls for. I must add that the episode titles of season two are not nearly as inventive as those of the first, when each one was a quote from the episode in question. De Fabriek ended after two series in six parts, but paved the way for several other high-profile soaps on Tros Television such as "Herenstraat 10", "Dossier Verhulst", and, almost a decade later, the advent of daily soaps such as "Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden".

8 out of 10