New Series on Two tonight

Press, 1 March 1982, Page 16

New Series on Two tonight

The last in a line of distinguished dramatisations by the late Jack Pulman, “Private Schulz” (starting on Two tonight), has been hailed by critics as a television classic with the hallmark of genius. Poignant, exciting and extremely funny, this macabre tale follows the extraordinary exploits of a quite remarkable SS clerk — the inventor of an outrageous plan to disrupt the British and Allied wartime economies.

Based on the true-life character Johann Rasch, an ex-jailbird and former ladies’ underwear salesman, Private Schulz emerges as a universal comic figure who quickly endears himself to his audience. He is one of life’s great survivors but also a chronic loser — a victim of circumstance, ever at the mercy of his superiors who invariably thwart his best-laid plans. Much put-upon but irrepres-

sible, he wants only what heregards his just reward in' life, but try as he may success always narrowly eludes him.

Inspired by the true story of Operation Bernhard, an abortive attempt by the Third Reich to flood the world with forged banknotes, “Private Schulz" presents a unique vision of the madness into which Europe plunged in 1939, accentuated here and there by the’ use of German propaganda newsreel. Private Gerhardt Schulz, the hapless hero of the piece, becomes involved in the war more by accident than design. He sees those around him as being in the grip of some madness he wants no part of. In fact his only war aims are to sit out the conflict, staying behind a desk as far from the action as possible, and, he hopes, make some money on the side.