Auf Achse (TV series)
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This article is based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia.
| Auf Achse | |
|---|---|
| Format | Adventure Series |
| Created by | Georg Feil |
| Starring | Manfred Krug Rüdiger Kirschstein Franz Buchrieser Dieter Pfaff Armin Rohde Markus Knüfken Nele Müller-Stöfen |
| Country of origin |  Germany |
| No. of episodes | 86 in 6 series |
| Production | |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ARD |
| Original run | 1977 – 1996 |
Auf Achse (A German saying meaning on the road) is a German television series from ARD. The series ran from 1977 until 1996 and 86 episodes were produced altogether.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Franz Meersdonk (Manfred Krug) is a trucker working for the Munich-based "Mittermann Haulage", driving the Germany-Iran route. The company is run by Sylvia Mittermann (Monica Bleibtreu), who is friendly with Franz. One day, they get a big delivery, however Franz has no more drivers. Franz gets to know the washed-up racing-driver Günther Willers (Rüdiger Kirschstein), and convinces him to drive the goods to Tehran. The trip doesn't go well however. First Franz's lorry is mistaken for a stolen vehicle, then a hitch-hiker causes problems. Shortly before arriving, Günter's lorry bursts into flames, but the goods are delivered successfully.
Back in Munich, the company has gone bankrupt, and the pair have to find new jobs. Just before Merrsdonk is forced to sell his lorry, they get another task. After the clear-up of an insurance fraud in a later episode, they finally get the money together to form their own company: International Transport in Munich.
[edit] Details
In scenes set in foreign countries, the actors spoke their own language, which was not subtitled, so that the viewer would have the same communication problems as Franz and Günther. However the series did not continue this particularly with the Namibia / South Africa episodes and the first two Mexico episodes.
[edit] Impact
As indicated by its long run, the show was fairly successful and well-received.
It attained some cachet abroad for various reasons; it is referenced by the Franz Ferdinand song of the same name.
[edit] External links
- Auf Achse Episode Guide
