Title: Inspector Rex by Request
Cast: Tobias Moretti, Gedeon Burkhard, Alexander Pschill, Elke Winkens, Gerhard Zemann, Karl Markovics, Wolf Bachofner, Fritz Muliar, Heinz Weixelbraun, Marin Weinek.
Distributor: Aztec International
REVIEWED BY RAMA GAIND
You needn’t be a canine lover to understand the Inspector Rex phenomenon. Rex is a gorgeous German Shepherd who is a very special police investigator.
Released last year, this three-disc DVD comprises five of Australia’s most popular episodes of Rex ever screened in Australia – as voted by the viewers.
It’s difficult to explain Rex’s appeal, but you know that most of it comes from the way in which he calmly and logically assists his handsome detective master to solve a crime. Some of the credit also goes to the cast and Vienna as the location.
What’s more, it includes an absorbing 60-minute documentary in which the trainer, Teresa Miller, reveals how she manages to extort those amazing acting skills from Rex.
Another fascinating interview is with the co-creator, writer and producer Peter Hajek and a 16-page booklet with stories and some never-before-seen photographs in Australia.
The concept of this Austrian-made police television drama (seen on SBS TV) was simple enough – and it has paid off handsomely.
What’s the secret of its success? Divine intervention maybe?
As Peter Hajek states in the booklet on July 26, 2007:
“…But maybe you can ask Pope Benedict XVI. When interviewed on the occasion of teh Pope’s birthday his brother, Georg Ratzinger, a high-raking clergyman himself, revealed that he and his brother only watch two things on televison: the News and Inspector Rex".
The series has been running on SBS since September 1999. Now we wait anxiously for Series 9!
