Ein Fall für Zwei
Encyclopedia
Ein Fall für zwei is a German television series, which premiered on September 11, 1981 on the broadcasting corporation ZDF
. The series, which is situated in Frankfurt am Main, shows two main characters, a defense attorney and a private investigator
, who solve crimes.
The character of the private investigator has been the same for the entire lifetime of the show. Josef Matula
(played by Claus Theo Gärtner
), a former German police officer, has gone into private business. His method of investigation is very effective and direct, and he sometimes even resorts to dirty tricks.
In contrast, the attorney character has changed several times. The first attorney was Dr. Dieter Renz (played by Günter Strack
). Dr. Renz retired in episode #60 and was replaced by Dr. Rainer Franck (played by Rainer Hunold
). In episode #149, Dr. Franck was offered a job as a law school teacher instead, and he was thus replaced by Dr. Johannes Voss (played by Mathias Herrmann
). In episode #182, Dr. Voss was shot dead by an escaping criminal, and was in turn replaced by Dr. Markus Lessing (played by Paul Frielinghaus
).
Most of the episodes follow a simple pattern. Someone is murdered, and the police arrest the most likely suspect. The suspect, claiming to be innocent, hires the current attorney in the series (Renz, Franck, Voss or Lessing) as his lawyer. The attorney does all the paperwork, talks with the police and goes to court. Meanwhile, Matula does all the actual research and detective work - "gets his hands dirty", so to speak. Matula often gets into fights, and even though he is in his early sixties, he often knocks the bad guys out. In the end, the original suspect usually (but not always!) turns out to be innocent after all, and the real culprit is found.
In late 2006 through early 2007, most episodes in the series included Matula visiting a strip club
, to interrogate the owner or one of the customers, with very brief footage of topless female dancers. Very few, if any, other German detective shows share this theme. Current episodes have abandoned this theme.
The building of the show is very similar to the American legal drama Perry Mason
, even though Ein Fall für zwei doesn't spend much time in a court room.
ZDF
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
. The series, which is situated in Frankfurt am Main, shows two main characters, a defense attorney and a private investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
, who solve crimes.
The character of the private investigator has been the same for the entire lifetime of the show. Josef Matula
Josef Matula
Hermann Josef Matula is a character on the German detective show Ein Fall für Zwei.Matula is one of the two main characters on the show, and the only character to have appeared in every episode so far. Matula is a former police officer who has become a private detective instead...
(played by Claus Theo Gärtner
Claus Theo Gärtner
Claus Theo Gärtner in Berlin, Germany is a German television actor mainly known for his role as Josef Matula, the main character in the German detective show series Ein Fall für Zwei ....
), a former German police officer, has gone into private business. His method of investigation is very effective and direct, and he sometimes even resorts to dirty tricks.
In contrast, the attorney character has changed several times. The first attorney was Dr. Dieter Renz (played by Günter Strack
Günter Strack
Günter Strack was a German television actor.He was born in Darmstadt and died in Münchsteinach of heart failure.In 1966 he played the role as Professor Karl Manfred in Hitchcock's thriller Torn Curtain...
). Dr. Renz retired in episode #60 and was replaced by Dr. Rainer Franck (played by Rainer Hunold
Rainer Hunold
Rainer Hunold is a German television actor.-Selected filmography:* Derrick - Season 6, Episode 9: "Ein Kongreß in Berlin" * Derrick - Season 8, Episode 2: "Am Abgrund" -External links:*...
). In episode #149, Dr. Franck was offered a job as a law school teacher instead, and he was thus replaced by Dr. Johannes Voss (played by Mathias Herrmann
Mathias Herrmann
Mathias Herrmann is a German television actor.He studied acting from 1983-86 at the rewarded Otto-Falckenberg-School in Munich. Parallel to his studies he already played at the Munich Kammerspiele...
). In episode #182, Dr. Voss was shot dead by an escaping criminal, and was in turn replaced by Dr. Markus Lessing (played by Paul Frielinghaus
Paul Frielinghaus
Paul Erich Frielinghaus is a German television actor. Since 2000 he plays a leading role on the German TV series Ein Fall für Zwei.-External links:*...
).
Most of the episodes follow a simple pattern. Someone is murdered, and the police arrest the most likely suspect. The suspect, claiming to be innocent, hires the current attorney in the series (Renz, Franck, Voss or Lessing) as his lawyer. The attorney does all the paperwork, talks with the police and goes to court. Meanwhile, Matula does all the actual research and detective work - "gets his hands dirty", so to speak. Matula often gets into fights, and even though he is in his early sixties, he often knocks the bad guys out. In the end, the original suspect usually (but not always!) turns out to be innocent after all, and the real culprit is found.
In late 2006 through early 2007, most episodes in the series included Matula visiting a strip club
Strip club
A strip club is an adult entertainment venue in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, but can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style....
, to interrogate the owner or one of the customers, with very brief footage of topless female dancers. Very few, if any, other German detective shows share this theme. Current episodes have abandoned this theme.
The building of the show is very similar to the American legal drama Perry Mason
Perry Mason (TV series)
Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
, even though Ein Fall für zwei doesn't spend much time in a court room.