| Private Schulz | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy Drama |
| Written by | Jack Pulman |
| Starring | Michael Elphick |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Philip Hinchcliffe |
| Production company(s) | BBC |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC Two |
| First shown in | 1981 |
Private Schulz was a BBC television comedy drama mini-series starring Michael Elphick in the title role and Ian Richardson playing various parts. Other notable actors included Tony Caunter, Billie Whitelaw, Billy Murray and Mark Wingett.
Over six one-hour episodes, it tells the story of a German fraudster who tricks the Nazis into making counterfeit British five pound notes, millions of which will be used to destroy the British economy. However, Schulz is primarily interested in stealing them.
It was based on several real life incidents:
Additionally, many of the main characters are real people (though occasionally under a different name).
It also starred Billie Whitelaw as a prostitute working in 'The Salon Kitty', where German officers were secretly recorded by the SS in the prostitutes' bedrooms. Whitelaw's character claimed to have a psychological block that prevented her sleeping with any soldier below the rank of major.
The screenplay was by Jack Pulman, who had previously adapted I, Claudius for the BBC. He died in 1979 before any filming had taken place. In 1982, he was posthumously awarded a writers award by The Royal Television Society for his work on Private Schulz.
Other notable names involved in the show include composer Carl Davis and former Doctor Who producer Philip Hinchcliffe.