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IMDbPro

The Old Fox

Original title: Der Alte
  • TV Series
  • 1977– 1977–
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
692
YOUR RATING
The Old Fox (1977)
  • Crime
  • Drama
A police department led by an older, experienced detective solves crimes together.A police department led by an older, experienced detective solves crimes together.A police department led by an older, experienced detective solves crimes together.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
692
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Michael Ande
    • Markus Böttcher
    • Ulf Söhmisch
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Michael Ande
    • Markus Böttcher
    • Ulf Söhmisch
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Episodes451

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Photos418

    Siegfried Lowitz and Klausjürgen Wussow in The Old Fox (1977)
    The Old Fox (1977)
    The Old Fox (1977)
    The Old Fox (1977)
    The Old Fox (1977)
    Eva Kryll and Elisabeth Wiedemann in The Old Fox (1977)
    Nina Hoger and Robinson Reichel in The Old Fox (1977)
    The Old Fox (1977)
    András Fricsay Kali Son and Martin Semmelrogge in The Old Fox (1977)
    Christine Buchegger and Sissy Höfferer in The Old Fox (1977)
    The Old Fox (1977)
    Peer Augustinski in The Old Fox (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Ande
    Michael Ande
    • Gerd Heymann…
    401 episodes401 eps • 1977–2016
    Markus Böttcher
    • Werner Riedmann…
    282 episodes282 eps • 1986–2015
    Ulf Söhmisch
    • Polizeiarzt…
    273 episodes273 eps • 1983–2013
    Rolf Schimpf
    Rolf Schimpf
    • Leo Kress
    223 episodes223 eps • 1986–2009
    Pierre Sanoussi-Bliss
    • Axel Richter
    169 episodes169 eps • 1997–2015
    Charles M. Huber
    Charles M. Huber
    • Henry Johnson…
    126 episodes126 eps • 1985–1997
    Siegfried Lowitz
    Siegfried Lowitz
    • Erwin Köster…
    100 episodes100 eps • 1977–1986
    Jan-Gregor Kremp
    • Hauptkommissar Richard Voss…
    91 episodes91 eps • 2004–2022
    Jan Hendriks
    Jan Hendriks
    • Martin Brenner…
    86 episodes86 eps • 1977–1986
    Christina Rainer
    Christina Rainer
    • Dr. Franziska Sommerfeld…
    77 episodes77 eps • 2011–2022
    Ludwig Blochberger
    Ludwig Blochberger
    • Tom Kupfer…
    60 episodes60 eps • 2008–2022
    Stephanie Stumph
    Stephanie Stumph
    • Annabell Lorenz
    57 episodes57 eps • 2015–2022
    Walter Kreye
    Walter Kreye
    • Hauptkommissar Rolf Herzog…
    44 episodes44 eps • 2002–2012
    Henning Schlüter
    • Millinger…
    43 episodes43 eps • 1977–1984
    Wolfgang Zerlett
    Wolfgang Zerlett
    • Meyer Zwo…
    37 episodes37 eps • 1979–1987
    Thimo Meitner
    • Lennard Wandmann…
    33 episodes33 eps • 2017–2021
    Hans Georg Panczak
    Hans Georg Panczak
    • Benno…
    30 episodes30 eps • 1979–2007
    Gaby Herbst
    Gaby Herbst
    • Krankenschwester…
    25 episodes25 eps • 1977–2003
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    6.6
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    6.3
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Referenced in Dolly Dots: De aerobische minnaar (1983)

    User reviews8

    Review
    Top review
    I like it more than "Derrick"
    "Der Alte" has been on for more than 30 years now. The concept is always a murder, often in the so called "upper middle class". Compared to other detective stories, it might be slow. In fact, there is usually only one salvo of shots being fired in each episode: the actual murder (mostly only after an introduction of the subsequent subjects). The rest of the story is virtually non-violent, but you see more police action than in "Derrick", the most popular competitor to "Der Alte".

    The appeal of "Der Alte" is the rather realistic plot and the possibility to solve the crime before the detectives do. However, you need to be a buff and pick up all the clues really quickly. In realtime, I merely manage that in one out of three episodes, and I am really an addict to "Der Alte". The murderer is always among the introduced characters and his/her motive largely traceable throughout the episode. This is a contrast to other series where murderers are conjured up just in the end or divulged to the audience from the start.

    On average, I would say that "Der Alte" is the best detective series on German TV. Though, a few episodes of "Tatort" clearly outclass this average.
    helpful•13
    4
    • andre-71
    • Jul 15, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 11, 1977 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • West Germany
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Der Alte
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 1, Bavaria Studios, Bavariafilmplatz 7, Geiselgasteig, Grünwald, Bavaria, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Neue Münchner Fernsehproduktion (NMF)
      • Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1
      • 16:9 HD
      • 1.33 : 1

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