Private Schulz - Kidnapping The British

The greatest ever comedy drama. Private Schulz (Michael Elpick is forced by SS Major Neuheim (Ian Richardson) to help him kidnap two British officers in Holland.

'Private Shulz' was a BBC Television comedy drama starring Michael Elphick in the title role and Ian Richardson playing various parts.

It tells the story over six one-hour episodes of a German fraudster who persuades The Nazis to make counterfeit British five pound notes in the hope of destroying that country's economy.

It was based on an real life plot by The Germans that eventually went unrealised, Operation Bernhard.

The screenplay was by Jack Pulman, who'd previously adapted I, Claudius for the BBC. He sadly died in 1979 before any filming had taken place. In 1982 he was posthumously awarded a writers award by The Royal Television Society for his work on Private Schulz.

Other notable names involved in the show include composer Carl Davis and former Doctor Who producer Philip Hinchcliffe.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Private
• Schulz
• Michael
• Elphick
• Comedy
• Drama
• Ian
• Richardson
• Jack
• Pulman
• Philip
• Hinchcliffe
• Carl
• Davis
• 1980
• TV
• funny

[ronnieneo]

Superb, funny, sad, and totally addictive!

[frankenstang1973]

Well.. Four parts, Ian Richardson appeared briefly at the end as the waiter on the ferry.

Got my DVD set off Amazon, as you say only a tenner, outstanding value.

[QuincyMD]

Available on DVD from Amazon and Play for under £10. Contains all 6 episodes, average running time is 51 minutes per episode and a 15 minute making of documentary.

Superb stuff and I'd totally forgotten that Richardson plays 3 different characters in this - the incompetent Nazi, an English gentleman and a Scottish heidcase (which accoring to his wife was his favourite role).

It's 5 hours of superb entertainment that they just don't make anymore.

[frankenstang1973]

On order & awaiting release! About time too.

[politirel]

A brilliant series, I would love to see the whole lot again right up to the forged £5 notes.

[ramqen951]

The july release consists of only one dvd.surely it can't possibly include all 300 mins?.

[Emmajo1978]

Hey, yes there will be a DVD released in July!

[mooresteve1]

a few months back, there were several clips of Schulz here, but there's only "Kidnapping the British" now. Is this because the Beeb are launching the dvd mentioned below?

Exemplary production. What have we got now? Strictly Come Dancing and Hotel Babylon!

[frankenstang1973]

I got a copy on ebay too, not brilliant quality but ok, I wish the BBC would reissue the series.

Great line- "Don't stop, the SS will pay for the damage"

[trap0001]

I got mine on eBay, copies but work fine.