Private Schulz

Based upon reality, this wonderful series took off with the minor character only wanting to get along within an organization that was bound to bring down the British economy through counterfeit money. While it's true that part of the series is set in a DZ, it's part and parcel with the trials of the title character, who tries to avoid active service by any means.

Naturally, his avoidance is foiled at every turn. Through the machinations of his superiors, he is drawn deeper and deeper into the scheme, which is advanced through the "Technical Section of the SS", a mistake proof bureau that manages to fowl things up about once an episode.

Despite the bungling of the "experts" (and the best efforts of the good private) the banknotes finally reach their destination. How they end up is the punch line (as well as an excuse for a final comic turn for the star members of the case.

It's not Blackadder, but it's still a different (and comic) take that's worth watching.

This terrific comedy showcases the talents of two of Britain's best actors, the late Michael Elphick and Ian Richardson, who are portrayed as Nazi soldiers in the SS assigned to topple the British economy by counterfeiting the currency. (This is a true story that actually happened in WW2).

Michael Elphick is superb as a cowardly conniving small-time crook who will do anything to avoid fighting. Ian Richardson is also in top form as his incompetent commanding officer. Together, they recruit a gang of Jewish criminals from concentration camps and set about their merry work.

This is one of the best comedies ever made with great performances from the entire cast. Regrettably, the DVD (produced by the BBC) is not available in the USA, presumably to appease American Jewish groups who would consider a concentration camp an inappropriate venue for a comedy.

BTW, the story was recently made into a highly recommended dramatic German-language film (The Counterfeiters, 2007).

A fabulous cast, plot and hilarious script. Richardson is superb as an incompetent placed in a position of power. His acting is just supreme. Elphinck is cast as the intelligent one who is always thwarted by fate or Richardson. Richardson plays a Nazi Major and suggests to Hitler [ from an idea of Elphinck's ] that they flood Britain with forged five pound notes. Elphinck is instructed to produce the forgeries with concentration camp / slave labour. He is parachuted into England but finds that his contact [ Played by Richardson again ] has been turned by British Intelligence. He manages to escape back to France. He is always trying to have romantic encounters in which fate always has the last laugh. His main love is Billie Whitelaw who works in a brothel designed to extract military gossip and traitors by eavesdropping [ Salon Kitty style ].

Elphinck tries on many occasions to get his hand on the money but, finally fails but ends up with Whitelaw [ after the war is over ].

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS NOT AVAILABLE ON DVD - are the BBC mad ???

>Yes folks,this is a sitcom about the inmates of a concentration camp.It is possibly the most repulsive show ever made.

What on earth is this man talking about? It's like Escape to Victory for forgers - only it's intentionally funny!

The late Michael Elphick puts in a suitably sheepish role as the luckless Schultz, while Peter Richardson comes out as the real star - most of the time a ruthless, goose-stepping, selfish b*stard! Just when you think everything is going right for Schultz, the Nazis turn up, he gets bonked on the head, nearly drowned in a fjord or blown to smithereens! Classic!

Great watching, and I hope it comes out on DVD! My VHS recording is starting to look a bit tatty!

I have fond memories of this series and wish it would be released on DVD. It was my first experience of the great Ian Richardson and the amazing Billie Whitelaw. Michael Elphick was perfect as the bungling loser of the title role, but he was effortlessly upstaged by Richardson and Whitelaw (there was a sense of powerful engines idling). And don't forget that the writer Jack Pulman also wrote the 1976 series "I, Claudius". If you liked "don't eat the figs" you'd probably enjoy this show.

Far from considering it repulsive, I would place it on my shelf next to Benigni's "Life Is Beautiful", in the category "endurance of the spirit in a dehumanizing world". Not a work of genius perhaps, but far superior to the silly "Allo! Allo!" (which I also enjoyed).