The knife (1971, Germany)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The knife |
 | |
| Country of production | Federal Republic of Germany |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1971 |
| length | 190 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Rolf von Sydow |
| script |
Francis Durbridge Marianne de Barde (German translation) |
| production |
Peter Märthesheimer , Westdeutscher Rundfunk Cologne |
| music | Can |
| camera | Dieter Naujeck |
| cut | Wolfgang Richter |
| occupation | |
| |
The knife is a three-part German crime film from 1971, which was produced by the Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln . It is one of the series of Durbridge films that became street sweepers in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s . The multi-part series was directed by Rolf von Sydow .
action
George Baker, head of the Secret Service, instructs his agents Jim Ellis and Colonel Green to investigate the violent death of their colleague Mildred Beaty, who was disguised as a teacher in Hong Kong. Her body was found in a Welsh location with a knife in her back. As an employee of a company looking for real estate, Ellis rents a room in the “Hotel Ivanhoe”, where the dead woman last lived. The residents and guests there are all suspicious. The pensioner and permanent resident Philipp Cooper, who introduces himself as a music lover immediately after Ellis' arrival and plays the song that the Secret Service has on one of the last tape recordings of the murdered people, the opaque house servant John Miller or Mrs. Corby, the owner of the hotel and her secret lover Dr. Hall, a doctor and avid golfer.
During his investigation, Ellis comes across the secretary of real estate agent Tom Cliffort, Mary Jones, who is found stabbed to death shortly afterwards - apparently with the oriental knife of Philipp Cooper. Investigating Inspector Bird comes to the Ivanhoe to question Cooper and discovers that it is the same but not Philipp Cooper's knife. Journalist Julie Andrew appears in Ivanhoe, who has already reported on the first Beaty murder case and is doing research again on the basis of the new murder cases.
The investigation finally leads Ellis, who is now supported by Inspector Bird and the local police, to the hotel "Shanghai" in Cardiff's harbor district and to its mysterious owner Batman. After the house servant Miller was found murdered, the grand finale took place in Cardiff harbor. The physicist Richard Hamilton, who defected to China a few years ago and wanted to come back to his homeland with the help of Mildred Beaty, was kidnapped by Batman on his return on behalf of his backers in order to extort ransom from his brother Philipp Cooper. The murderer is Dr. Arrested Hall who works for enemy intelligence.
background
The knife was first broadcast on ARD on November 30, December 2 and 4, 1971 in three episodes of 55, 65 and 70 minutes. The film was shot on location in London, Cardiff and Wales.
It is based on the crime novel Tim Frazer Gets the Message (German title Tim Frazer Weiß Bescheid ) by Francis Durbridge. The material was originally intended to be produced and broadcast as the third part of the Tim Frazer television series.
The title melody of the multi-part by the Cologne band Can was called Spoon and made the group known throughout Germany.
Web links
- The knife in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The knife at filmportal.de
- The knife at Krimihomepage (krimiserien.heimat.eu)