Arpad the gypsy
Television series | |
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German title | Arpad the gypsy |
Original title | Arpad, le tzigane |
Country of production | France , Hungary , Germany |
original language | French |
Year (s) | 1973 - 1974 |
length | 25 minutes |
Episodes | 26 in 2 seasons |
genre | adventure |
music | Paul Piot |
First broadcast | March 27, 1973 on ZDF ( D ) |
occupation | |
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Arpad, the Gypsy (original title: Arpad, le tzigane ) was a German-Hungarian-French television series that ran from 1973 to 1974 in 26 episodes in the evening program of ZDF .
The series quickly became popular thanks to the romantic and exciting adventures of the hero Arpad (a kind of Hungarian " Robin Hood ") and his great love Rilana . The French actor Robert Etcheverry became a star through the series and the British actress Edwige Pierre had her greatest success here. The theme from Paul Piot was quite well known.
Due to the success of the series, the Eastern European first name Rilana also became a popular first name for newborn girls in Germany.
In April 2005, the first six episodes of this series appeared on DVD; In November 2009, all 26 episodes were finally released as a DVD box.
action
The TV series is set in Hungary and begins in 1699, during the Kuruc uprisings against the Austrians. An exact period is no longer mentioned in the following, but the bulk of the plot must, based on its logic , fall into the time of the uprising of Francis II Rákóczi (1703 to 1711).
The Austrians liberated Hungary from the rule of the Ottomans, but now turn out to be brutal oppressors for their part. Hungary's people are rebelling. In the TV series, a coarse blacksmith takes the lead, from episode 9 of season 1 onwards, Prince Ferenc II. Bekeczy. The opponent of the rebels is an Austrian general who is always called a "general" and who does not shrink from any deceit, however mean.
The Roma people , and with them Arpad, get caught between the fronts and are treated with disdain by both warring parties. An exception is the level-headed Prince Bekeczy, who becomes friends with Arpad. He convinces Arpad to fight on the side of Hungary against Austria - which Arpad does from then on with cunning and humor without shedding blood. Arpad is supported by the beautiful Rilana, a Roma and Arpad's great love. Despite his efforts, many ethnic Hungarians continue to despise him as a supposed stranger and "gypsy". His own people are also critical of Arpad's efforts, because he repeatedly unintentionally provokes acts of revenge against the Roma by the Austrians.
All efforts and fights are ultimately in vain when the main characters are ambushed by the Austrian general: Prince Bekeczy ends up in captivity, Arpad and Rilana are mortally wounded.
background
- The figure of the fictional Prince Ferenc II. Bekeczy is loosely based on the historical figure of Prince Rákóczi , with whom she even shares the first name Ferenc ("Franz").
- The film character of the scheming Belgian captain Landemal is reminiscent of the historically guaranteed officer François de Longueval (1647–1719) from Belgium, who in 1701 betrayed Prince Rákóczi’s uprising against the Habsburg emperor.
- The represented uniforms of the Austrians are typical of the time with the exception of the general's outfit; this erroneously quotes the uniform style of the late 18th century.
Episode list
season 1
No. (total) | No. (season) | Episode title | First broadcast |
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1 | 1 | The warehouse | March 27, 1973 |
2 | 2 | Prince and Gypsies | 3rd April 1973 |
3 | 3 | Hunt for Arpad | April 10, 1973 |
4th | 4th | The judgment | April 17th 1973 |
5 | 5 | Gypsy wedding | April 24, 1973 |
6th | 6th | Escape through the Puszta | May 8, 1973 |
7th | 7th | The exchange of women | May 15, 1973 |
8th | 8th | A masked ball | May 22, 1973 |
9 | 9 | The hostages | May 29, 1973 |
10 | 10 | The law of the gypsies | 5th June 1973 |
11 | 11 | The betrayal | June 12, 1973 |
12 | 12 | Captured | June 19, 1973 |
13 | 13 | the execution | June 26, 1973 |
season 2
No. (total) | No. (season) | Episode title | First broadcast |
---|---|---|---|
14th | 1 | Between the lines | July 16, 1974 |
15th | 2 | The mysterious animal | 23rd July 1974 |
16 | 3 | David and Goliath | July 30, 1974 |
17th | 4th | The executioner's meal | August 6, 1974 |
18th | 5 | Varkony's legacy | August 13, 1974 |
19th | 6th | The occupied garrison | 20th August 1974 |
20th | 7th | Hunted and pursued | August 27, 1974 |
21st | 8th | The shifted border | 3rd September 1974 |
22nd | 9 | The outbreak | September 10, 1974 |
23 | 10 | The honeymoon | 17th September 1974 |
24 | 11 | eye to eye | September 24, 1974 |
25th | 12 | The lepers | 1st October 1974 |
26th | 13 | The trap | October 8, 1974 |
literature
- Thomas Münster : Arpad the Gypsy. The adventures of a daredevil . Approved, unabridged paperback edition. Heyne, Munich 1976, 175 pages, ISBN 3-453-54095-6