Inspector Brandtner (Gedeon Burkhard) and his colleague Rex take up again their fight
against the eveil of this world. It focuses in Vienna, tourism-effectively in the most
beautiful corners of the Federal Capital (from the Music Association to the Hermes Mansion).
Like in past, SAT.1 and ORF are showing the sequences parallel. However the "ORF version" is
urgently recommended to all Austrian TV viewers. On the occasion of repetitions Burkhard
determined large differences (aside from the advertising interruptions on SAT.1) between
these two channels: SAT.1 uses its technique to lighten up the serial optically. Burkhard,
«So the dark and melancholistic tendency gets lost on which our light technicians worked
so hard.»
Repetition-Insanity.
New sequences terminate the "Inspector Rex repetition-insanity". Above all SAT.1 uses its
most successful serial in order to raise their audience ratings at all impossible and
possible times. No matter whether afternoon, previous evening or main evening: "Inspector
Rex" is omnipresent on SAT.1. Allready Burkhards predecessor Tobias Moretti warned: «That is
exactly the right way to ruin a serial!» Also Burkhard is frightend about the continous use
of "Inspector Rex", «The TV viewers are surfeited.»
One million fans.
Burkhard estimates his fan municipality correctly. In Austria and in Germany the
"Inspector Rex" audience shrank drastically: In Austria we had recently about one million
viewers (on new sequences 1,5 millions), in Germany the amount fell on evenings to three
millions (on new sequences about nine millions). Main reason for the repetitions in the ORF:
The Küniglberg pays for a Rex sequence two million Schilling and can repeat each adventure
five times free of further charge.
The "Inspector Rex" producer Peter Hajek succeeded through the years in generating a new
generation of people who are making "Inspector Rex". For a long time only German directors
made the serial ordered by SAT1. Now more and more Austrian directors are doing a good job on
the serial. For Heinz Weixelbraun a positive development, whose role as Brandtner assistant
(Christian Böck) was revalued clearly by the author-duo Peter Hajek and Peter Moser, «The work
with the Austrian guidance-teams was outstanding. They are often better prepared than the
Germans.»
Does Rex move to Italy?
Only the state Austria might be totally uninterested on the international success of
"Inspector Rex" (world-wide in 56 states). While the Viennese mayor Michael Häupl is
high-pleased («The best advertisement for Vienna since 'Sisi' and 'Der dritte Mann (The third
man)'.»). But the ignoranz of the federation seems like a boycott. Hajek: « It gets more and
more difficult to receive a permission for shootings in federal buildings.» Also district
chiefs refuse to make sufficiently parking lots available for the "Inspector Rex" team.
Technicians must carry heavy equipment on long distances. No wonder that Hajek is angry about
the responsible persons, «We have very lucrative supplies from Italy to produce the serial
there in future. We discuss seriously about this alternative offer.» Absurd: The Austrian
world-wide success of "Inspector Rex" could be driven out due to missing cooperation by
politicians and officials!
Gedeon Burkhard, a fan of Vienna.
Also leading actor Gedeon Burkhard might be not so pleased about a drift to a foreign country.
Because the Munich man with Austrian roots (great-grandfather Alexander Moissi was the first
"Jedermann" at the festivals of Salzburg. Konrad van Molo, grandfather, is a native Viennese
and produced among others Billie Wilders filmhit 1, 2, 3) became a convinced Viennese in only
one and a half years. Burkhard, «I am completely inspired of Vienna, a marvelous city.»
Burkhards declaration of love is no lip-service: without exceptions he spends almost his
whole spare time in Vienna. Clubbings in the disco temple "U4", the legendary coffee house
Hawelka or the opera ball. He omittes hardly one event in Vienna. Also in private he
established himself in Vienna - for instance his first own dwelling. Burkhard: «I am
lunatically lucky about my first own home. In former times I have alwayes lived together
with others.» First large acquisition for the new domicile: in a almost four meters high
shelf there are a lot of video cassettes. Burkhard, «In my book-shelf are more video
cassettes than books. I am an enormous fan of movies.»
Film-Freak Burkhard.
Despite his success Burkhard shows few primadonaish airs. - The audience ratingses with
Burkhard exceed clearly from his predecessor Moretti; even at the most important "Inspector
Rex" market. The German teens share about 30% of the market. - Burkhard seems almost
reservedly. His father and manager Wolfgang Burkhard makes a lot for him. But on the topic
"movies" he thaws out immediately. Burkhard is a movie freak and becomes passionate. He knows
a lot of the work of his star director Sidney Lumet and knows almost every camera focusing of
Lumets masterpiece "Die 12 Geschworenen". Together with his past girlfriend Emma who was
working very successful in the USA as a filmcutter, they were not only watching films -
Burkhard: « We were watching the english original version. So much gets lost because of
synchronisation.» -, they were also analyzing them professionally.
No wonder that Burkhard, who was allready acting at the age of ten does not only dream of an
international career, but also tinkers on it. Together with his father Wolfgang he will went
to Los Angeles. There were - apart from recovery and gulf - discussions about new film
projects. But the target is not Hollywood. Burkhard, «There are many outstanding european
productions. I do not have to gain foothold in the USA at any price.» Additionally also
european-american coproduction are interesting.
"Inspector Rex" in 60 states.
But one thing Burkhard knows quite exactly: Even if "Inspector Rex" is not the final goal
for an ambitious actor it is probably a good start for a further career. The crime serial with
the dog is the most successful German-language serial of all times. It is shwon world-wide in
almost 60 states. And it also took the wind out of "Derrick's" sails.
New challenge.
This success did not remain hidden from the US-American film producers. Behind the window
blinds there are allready concrete negotiations, how the "Inspector Rex" success can be
exported into the USA:
- "Inspector Rex" gets synchronized. But this is most improbable because the americans are
only used to lip-synchronous television. Synchronisation is almost unknown in the USA.
- the second "sensational" possibility: "Inspector Rex" could be remade in english
language. Hajek, «We have allready all film scripts in english language for our american dog
trainer.» The crucial question is whether to make the shootings in Vienna or in the USA. In
each case Hajeks production company "mungo-film" is involved and would be able to produce the
"US Inspector Rex" in Vienna. Only one allready declined: Burkhard does not want to play
the leading role although he speaks perfectly english. He was searching for a new challenge.
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