Rex Resolution 75: Vollgas (S5,E16)

And so ends Series 5. Not a favourite episode of mine, although it is fun to watch Gedeon Burkhard squeeze his huge frame into a tiny go kart in the closing sequences.

Claudia is the girlfriend of Martin, a go-kart racer and mechanic. She's spent the evening watching who racing. Martin's disheartened because he's been beaten by a competitor, Sasha. When Claudia leaves to go to work, she's attacked by loan collector. Money is owed by her boyfriend to loan shark Baumann and he cannot pay. As Claudia is the guarantor on the loan, she's up for paying in more ways then one, with the loan collector hitting her to reinforce his threat of what might happen if payment is not forthcoming.

Martin races out as the loan collector drives off, yelling death threats directed both at him and Baumann.

Across town, Baumann is sitting in his office, gun on his desk. Someone comes in who he appears to recognise, picks up the gun off his desk and shoots him. The corpse is discovered by his secretary the next morning. The murder scene has been arranged to look like suicide. Graf soon has it puzzled out. The dead man is holding something in his right hand. He couldn't therefore have shot himself as it is made to appear. An interesting fact for those interested in neurology, the item wasn't dropped because the bullet passed through the cerebellum of the brain, effectively freezing the position of the victim. Being a loan shark, it's a dead cert (no pun intended!) that the perpetrator was most likely a client.

A brief interlude, which becomes important later in the story, shows Boeck and Kunz on the firing range. Boeck achieves a perfect score but Kollege Kunz, while making a good start, is stopped dead in his tracks when one of the target figures appears to be drawing a gun. If the situation had been real, Kunz would have been dead. He'd previously almost shot someone who wasn't armed. It's a problem, obviously.

Martin is getting some pressure from Claudia. Their plans involve settling, having a family but she can't see it happening while he's involved in go-karting. Martin's colleague Joe Meixner is back from racing in the East. Turns out the go-karts are a front, distracting customs officials while the real business seems to be about smuggling something - not made clear at this point.

The debt collector is at work again. This time he's threatening a mother out shopping with her child. He tries to take her car keys. He doesn't count on Boeck and Kunz turning up though. Ever the gentlemen, they take his details and then take the woman shopping for groceries. Brandtner is over talking to Martin. Of course he can't resist a quick drive himself before asking Martin about Baumann. Martin's boss comes over. He's a little worked up that Brandtner is asking questions. Interestingly, he starts stressing Baumann's history of depression and medication, pushing the suicide angle.

Martin and Claudia head for a tryst in a campervan back at Martin's workplace. Passion is interrupted when Martin discovers a pile of money under the mattress. Money laundering by his boss Nemec and Meixner perhaps?

Kunz finds out from the debt collector that Baumann had financed the go-kart place for Nemec to a tune of 20 million. Brandtner and team are clued up enough about go-kart racing to know it would be very difficult to pay off that kind of money. Nemec also has several fat bank accounts. Nemec has an alibi set up for the murder time with Meixner though. Brandtner notices a trophy that indicates that Meixner might not even have been in Vienna though. He puts Boeck on the case. It's not long before his alibi crashes.

When Martin is offered a kart for purchase, he breaks into the campervan and thinks about taking the money. He's surprised by Meixner who beats and ties him up. His absence is noticed when Claudia rings the go-kart stadium looking for him. She wants to tell him she's pregnant. She's wary that something is up and returns to the van, finding him. Of course, she gets surprised by Meixner, Martin is shot and the pair are locked up.

Brandtner returns to the racing track, Rex is sent outside to wait. He hears Claudia's screams and sets out to alert Brandtner. Freeing them up, Brandtner asks them to call for assistnace. Meanwhile Meixner and Nemec are in the hall finalising their money exchange. Brandtner is outnumbered but turns out the lights. When Meixner comes out to sort out the problem, Brandtner challenges him but he escapes. Brandtner then finds himself under fire from all directions as the team arrive. In the shoot out, Boeck nearly buys it, about to be shot by Meixner when Kunz shoots Meixner. Kunz as hero, knotted hankie and all. I like it.

Other players include Mavie Hoerbiger as Claudia, Dietmar Moessmer, not credited with IMDB for this episode, and Guenther Panak as Baumann.

Recycled Rexers include Xaver Hutter, as Martin, uncredited with IMDB for this episode but also appearing as Andi Kraus in 'Vitamine zum Sterben' (2003), Georg Prokop, uncredited for this episode but also appearing as Gasser Jr. in 'Todesrennen' (1996), Johannes Krisch, a personal favourite, uncredited for this episode but also appearing as Josef Nowak in 'Ein moerderischer Plan' (1998) and as Marco Kolb in 'Strahlen der Rache' (2001).

Rex Resolution 74: Brudermord (S5,E15)

I have been asked to specify series and episode number for each write-up. I'll retrospectively do that to earlier write-ups soon. Note, however, that I think the series structure for Australia may differ from elsewhere.

Nearing the end of Series 5, this is another favourite episode. Fraticide.

Hans Tomek is a whizz at the stock market which probably explains how he lives in a fabulous apartment, overlooking central Vienna. He is selling up to move to New York, which raises a what the? from me. New York or Vienna? Come on. Ah, but I digress.

Talking on the 'phone to his girlfriend, Hans announces that he is expecting an imminent visit from his twin brother, Paul. Paul has not been so lucky in life, having served a jail term for a hit and run offence, and is likely to be hitting on Hans for some money. However, on his way up to the flat, Paul is seen to drop a knife, so perhaps is intent is more serious?

The brothers greet. Paul grabs a drink and says he's come to say goodbye as Hans is leaving for New York. Hans gets straight to the point and says if he wants money, just say so, he hasn't got time to waste. This can't be about brotherly love, surely? Absolutely not. Paul is resentful. He gave up his studies so Hans could go to Harvard to study, he's envious of Hans' success and feels that should have been his success, although Hans is dismissive of his abilities. It emerges that Hans only has his career because of Paul, although it isn't explained why. Hans' response is to throw money at Paul and tell him to stop whining. Ah, but it's too late and, in a moment, Hans is dead. Paul burns the body in a cave and starts transforming himself into Hans.

When the body is found, it's hard for Dr. Graf to ascertain anything and the first thought is that the body belongs to a homeless man. However, Rex traces a scent of petrol to a spillage spot. With no canister, it's apparent it's no longer a question of suicide, something Dr. Graf later confirms when he discovers that the victim had been stabbed to death. Because of the state of the corpse, Dr. Graf has to rely on a computer to generate what the man may have looked like. it's enough for a publication to identify the body as Paul Tomek. Paul Tomek has not been seen for some time but his former employer is able to shed some light on his history, that he had been in prison and that some one had hurt him considerably. His flat is empty.

Meanwhile, alive and well, Paul is catching a taxi across town to see the real estate agent and finalise the sale of the apartment. Bad move for him as he is recognised by the taxi driver, a former prison mate. While he denies it vehemently, the taxi driver is convinced and keeps watch on him. He then sees the computer generated picture of the burnt corpse and can't make sense of it initially. Observing Paul's apartment, he takes some shots of him and notices a giveaway tattoo on his arm. Now he knows that he's right and he challenges Paul. Blackmail is the name of the game. It's not a game he's destined to win though - strangled to death in his cab later.

The team are making breakthroughs. They discover that Paul Tomek was imprisoned for a hit and run accident and, by tracing recently made calls by Paul, they find out that he has a twin brother, Hans. This means telling Paul that Paul is dead. Not surprisingly, he doesn't seem overly upset. Paul tells Brandtner he had a good relationship with his brother but that they didn't see each other often, mostly because he's based in New York and back only to sell the flat. When Brandtner asked about the Dow-Jones index, Paul reels off the closing figure. Impressive, only he's a day out, something that doesn't get past Brandtner. It doesn't take him long to suspect that maybe they're really dealing with Paul and not Hans.

A problem is occuring with the sale of the flat. The purchasers want to offer 2 million less and the agent is perplexed when Paul readily agrees. A further problem occurs when the taxi driver's body turns up and the team work out that he was a former cell mate with Paul.

Reviewing the hit and run case, Brandtner works out that Paul took the blame on behalf of the real guilty party, Hans. Suddenly, there's a motive and he's back questioning Paul and stating his hypothesis about the car accident. In the process, he sneakily gets Pau's fingerprints by handing him a photo of the lovely Dr. Graf.

Worse still for Paul, the girlfriend Judy turns up. Of course, Paul doesn't even know her name and has to rifle her bag to find out. When she gets frisky and he's not interested, she also spots the tattoo and becomes worried that things aren't right. After she confronts him, she seeks sanctuary in the bathroom, although it's only temporary. Paul gets in and knocks her out.

Then, the real estate agent turns up. He hears Judy moaning but doesn't pay much attention. Luckily for Judy, Brandtner and team arrive. While they bust their way in, he tries to escape over the roof top. Brandtner and Rex give chase. In the subway, when Paul misses the train, he runs down the track and hides in a storage area, stupidly using a match to light his way. When he drops it, the place ends up in flame. Before he can become a burnt corpse himself, Rex rushes in and leads him to safety.

Other players include Dieter Landuris, as Hans/Paul Tomek but not listed for this episode, Thomas Stolzetti, as real estate agent Drexler, Matthias Luehn, not listed with IMDB for this episode, Dorothee Reinoss, also not listed for this episode, Franziska Sztavjanik, also not listed, and Robert Hauer-Riedl, not listed.

No Recyclers this time.

Rex Resolution 73: Kinder auf der Flucht

Bacher, a security guard, has a serious alcohol problem and when he is sent home from work for drinking on the job, the outcome is disastrous. He becomes angry because his wife has thrown out all the alcohol and angrier still when his son Klaus is not home to celebrate his own birthday. It all ends in a physical fight with his wife, during which his daughter Kathie takes the opportunity to flee. The mother is not so lucky. She shuts herself in the bathroom but is shot by Bacher through the door.


When Bacher discovers that Kathie is gone, Bacher races out of the house to find her. The neighbours having heard the shots call the police and try to stop his escape, one getting shot in the process. Brandtner and team are aware the children are missing and set about locating them, as well as finding the Bacher. No one seems to know where they might have gone, although someone suggests they regularly visited a lady with a red Persian cat. Kunz starts checking out vets.

Meanwhile, Kathie locates Klaus and has to persuade him not to go home. She manages to distract him by playing at a local park but, when she sights her father looking for them, she has to sneak her brother away. Her father then takes up position outside the house of the woman with the cat, often visited by Klaus on his way home. He feels confident that, sooner or later, the kids will show up.


Kathie buys her brother a drink from a kiosk and overhears on the radio that police are looking for her father in connection to the murder of her mother. It's clear they can't return home and so they're on the move again, eventually finding a hideout in a shed. The kiosk owner realises, from police descriptions, that he has served the missing kids and contacts police. This gives the police a specific area for their search. Unfortunately, they report this on the radio and alert Bacher to their possible whereabouts.

The kids are disturbed in the shed by a junkie looking for money for his next hit. He takes the kids belongings which proves to be his undoing. The kids' rucksacks alert the police and he is taken in for questioning.

Brandtner and team end up following a few false leads - a publican in the process of getting alcohol from his own guesthouse, an erroneous cat link. The junkie at least provides some idea of where the kids have been. Then a school friend of Kathie finally provides details of where the woman with the cat can be found.

Thrown out of their hiding place by the junkie, they're headed towards the cat woman. Unfortunately, their father is waiting there and grabs them before Brandtner can get there. The woman witnesses them being snatched and can give details of the vehicle to Brandtner and, before long, the vehicle is traced and tracked. When an armed Bacher steps out to force police to retreat, Brandtner shots him in the leg. However, the drama doesn't end there. Bacher seems to have forgotten to engage the handbrake on his vehicle and it takes off downhill with the kids onboard.

Brandtner sprints to leap into the front seat while Rex races ahead to open gates blocking the vehicle's path. Catastrophe averted!

Other players include Simone Heher above as wife Sophie Bacher, Nikolaus Blum, not credited with IMDB for this episode, Wilhelm Manske, above, not credited with IMDB for this episode,

Manuel Loeffler, not credited either, although appearing in 'Baby Rex' (not strictly a Recycled Rexer).

Recycled Rexers Harald Posch, above, here as Horst Bacher, as Fritz Urban in 'Wofuer Kinder leiden muessen' and also appearing in 'Tod im Museum', and Nicola Etzelstorfer, above, here as daughter Kathie Bacher, but also appearing as Lisa in 'Ein Toter und ein Baby'

Rex Resolution 72: Telefonterror

This happens to be one of my favourite episodes. Paulus Manker has just the right amount of creepiness as the phone stalker Kurt Baudisch.

Interesting fact. Paulus Manker's mother Hilde Sochor is a Recycled Rexer, appearing in three previous episodes: Stocki's Letzter Fall, Hetzjagd and Die Tote von Schoenbrunn.

Katharina Lenz is driving her car when an unknown caller rings on her mobile. It's a threatening caller, threatening to hurt her daughter and Katharina loses control of her car, crashing through a barrier and down the side of a cliff. Two cyclists are witnesses but unfortunately cannot do anything to help her. The caller is still talking though and the cyclists notice that and report the details to Brandtner and team.

Brandtner and Rex have the unhappy task of informing Katharina's family. While Brandtner talks to the husband, Rex amuses the small daughter Marion - which, later, turns out to be critical move in solving the crime. Rex is taken with a new toy that Katharina bought for Marion days before, a tree climbing figure, and Marion kindly gives it to him.

Herr Lenz tells Brandtner about the strange telephone calls his wife had received. Luckily, she had taped some and he passes the tape to Brandtner for analysis.

In the city, Kurt Baudisch is making his living selling tree climbing figures but also using it as an opportunity to get contact numbers for women. At home, in his dingy apartment, Kurt has detailed records of a number of women.

Meanwhile Brandtner has called in a voice expert to help get some kind of profile from the tape. The profile they put together is pretty accurate. Under 45, with a record of minor sexual offences.

Kurt is about to strike against his next victim, Janine. He tells her he's been in her flat and has stolen some racey photos of her . In fact, right at this moment, he's on the phone outside her apartment and can see her. He gets her to dress sexily and come to the window, to light a candle but when, in her distress, the candle gets knocked over, the flat catches fire and his game, for the moment, is over. Neighbours raise the alarm and Janine is taken away to hospital unconscious but alive, not before informing police of the evening's events.

While Brandtner and team wade through piles of reports of strange phone calls, Kurt selects his next victim, Karin Eder. Ringing her workplace, he discovers she's visiting her mother in hospital.

Brandtner and teams search through the files ultimately pay off when they discover another victim, Frau Dressler. While the voice on the tape sounds different, the voice analyst soon confirms it's the same man. They can't find the connection between victims though, which is a shame because that evening Kurt breaks into Karin Eder's house after luring her out by posing as a doctor asking her to visit her sick mother. Seems Kurt has a fetish and is surprised in the act of going through underwear by Karin returning when her taxi fails to arrive. He fails to shut the drawer and Karin notices, becoming suspicious and locating him in the bathroom. He's quick to tell her he's brought the teddies for her. Right. Stupidly, she moves closer (what the?) and is strangled by Kurt.

At home, Kurt burns evidence of the women he's attacked and takes his underwear collection and buries it in the woods. Obviously, he's concerned people will be on to him.

Rex is quick to notice the open drawer at the crime scene and alerts Brandtner. This latest victim gives some kind of pattern - all women worked in the same area and then, another breakthrough, they locate the phone booth from which Kurt called. From the phone booth, Rex chases a scent which leads Brandtner to the hidden undies.

Brandtner turns up in the office at the same time as Boeck and Kunz are talking to Frau Dressler, an earlier victim, and she is able to identify some of her garments from the haul unconvered by Rex. Shocked, she sits down again, before then noticing Rex playing with the tree climber. Aha! The team are homing in on Kurt and, before long, they have his name and address and find the burnt evidence.

With Kurt away from home, it's off to the city to track him down. Supersnout Rex changes his focus to hearing and soon tracks down the noise of the tree climber toys. Before long, Kurt's reign of terror is at an end as they compare his voice to the voice on the tapes. Bingo!

Other players include Paulus Manker , above, as Kurt Baudisch, Margot Vuga , above, as Katharina Lenz, Alina Bimashofer, not listed with IMDB at all, Krista Birkner above, as Janine Toman, and Bernhard Murg above as Felix Lenz.

A single Recycled Rexer in Bernd Birkhahn, above, as the voice analyst, not credited with IMDB for this episode but also appearing in 'In letzter Sekunde' (2001) as Hans Bergmann.

Rex Resolution 71: Toedliches Tarot

Be careful when a stranger invites you to the top of the Vienna Tower to find out about your future. The view may be spectacular but not when you're taking the short way down, pushed over the side, and the revelation about your future may not be what you hoped for when it relates to a tarot card (Der Turm/The Tower) shoved down your throat.


The lodged tarot card effectively rules out what is initially suspected to be a suicide and the team are called in. Kunz is immediately assigned to learn more about the tarot, which, being Kunz, freaks him out considerably. When Brandtner comes across a tarot reader's card at the victim's house, Kunz is sent to get a personal reading. Kunz apparently has a hidden sensuality. Who'd have thought? When Natascha gives him a crystal, the team are now able to compare her fingerprints against those on the first tarot card.


When the card reader, Natascha, asks Kunz who recommended him and names the victim, Natascha immediately denies knowing her. Uwe Keller, who is seen cutting newspaper of the dead woman out of the paper, certainly seems to. Shuffling tarot cards, he pulls out a card with three swords. This appears to the chosen method of death for his next victim and Keller later attacks an architect as he returns to his car, stabbing him three times in revenge for taking Sabine away. Aha. Stolen girlfriend? Sounds like a motive to me.


As people arrive, Keller panics and leaves the scene, dropping the tarot card by the body.


Both tarot cards are found to have Natascha's fingerprints on them and so Brandtner heads off to question her. Keller has been in her house and so when Brandtner arrives the door is open. Oddly, he finds the murder weapon hidden behind a set of books. While this might seem to indicate Natascha is the perpetrator, Brandtner thinks it is all too obvious.


Keller has meanwhile drawn another card, the chariot. This time the intended victim is Natascha herself and he follows her as she leaves police headquarters after being questioned by Brandtner. About the push her under a train, she is inadvertently saved when someone interrupts Keller's plan by asking for directions to Schoenbrunn.


Interestingly, it comes to light that a co-worker of the tower victim also died recently. It appeared initially to be suicide but when Natascha is found to be a common link between victims also, Brandtner is suspicious and talks to the dead woman's sister. It seems that the dead woman had been a friend of Sabine and had sent her to consult Natascha about her relationship with Keller. Natascha had advised her to end it.


There's your motive.


Keller is at Natascha's home, arranging a fake suicide attempt. When Natascha arrives home, she is lured by a noise to the garage, where Keller attacks her and places her unconscious in her car. Running the engine, he plans to give her carbon monoxide poisoning. As Brandtner arrives, Rex alerts him to the situation in the garage and Brandtner manages to rescue Natascha in time while Rex chases down Keller who has made his escape on bicycle.

Other players include Sophie Rois as Natascha Kaminski, Max Mayer as Uwe Keller, Sybille Kos, not credited with IMDB for this episode but also appearing in Stockinger, Eva Klemt, not credited for this episode with IMDB, and Michael Schottenberg, also not credited.

No Recycled Rexers!

Rex Resolution 70: Eiskalt

A little aside before the next episode. I went to buy the Inspector Rex soundtrack from a Borders store. Stepped into the lift and got stuck for one hour. After all that, they didn't even have a copy. Pah. Back to the SBS online shop for me.

Okay. Back to Rex....

This episode centres around an ice hockey team. When a player collapses and dies on the ice, an intriguing murder plot is revealed. A mysterious scratch on the body prompts a search of the player's equipments and an ampoule of fast-acting insulin is found secreted in the player's shoulder pad. When pressure was put on the pad, the insulin was injected into the player's skin, causing a fatal hypoglycaemic event.

When the team become aware that the death was murder, all sorts of tension are unleashed within the team. A star player, Seiz, is earmarked as a likely suspect. Highly competitive, Seitz was seen to be jealous when the murder victim was selected over him to play ice hockey in the US. Questioned by Brandtner and team, Seiz acknowledges he was jealous but denies that it would lead him to murder. The president of the club, Altmann, also confirms Seitz would be unlikely to commit murder but suggests that Brandter talks to his wife, who knows the players a lot better.

A whole lot better in fact. Unknown to most, Mrs. Altmann, who acts as team manager, has been having an affair with Seiz, meeting regularly at a seedy hotel.

When the cleaning woman (I'm sure this actress must be a fellow Brit from her tortured German but IMDB is not forthcoming) remembers that she knocked the players equipment down while cleaning and may have put it back in the first place, Brandtner begins to suspect that maybe the insulin was intended for someone else.

The team trainer discovers that Seiz has a very large insurance policy taken out on his life and approaches Mrs. Altmann in order to blackmail her. This enrages Seiz and he goes after him with a gun (which later turns out to be fake). Brandtner is following Seiz and so the pair are taken back to headquarters for questions. It turns out Seiz had discovered he has a brain tumour and had decided to keep playing regardless of the risk. The larger insurance policy was to provide his daughter in case anything happened to him.

Brandtner and team continue to tail Seiz and thereby discover his affair with Mrs. Altmann. She's certain her husband, who's away in hospital, doesn't know. Brandtner, Boeck and Rex decide to go and tell him. Of course, he's not at the hospital, he's over at the ice rink, attacking Seiz with a hockey stick. The team arrive, as always, in time to prevent any severe injuries and Rex scores an almighty goal by rounding up Altmann between the goal posts.

Other players include Birge Schade, above, as Lisa Altmann, Marc Richter, above, as Harald Seiz, Suzy Spitz as the cleaning woman and Robert Viktor Minich, not credited with IMDB for this episode.

Recycled Rexers in Wolfram Berger, uncredited with IMDB for this episode but appearing as Kurt Nemec in 'Ein toedliches Match' and Johannes Terne , as Johannes Altmann here and in 'Toedliche Leidenschaft'.

Rex Resolution 68: Sisi

If you're an avid Rex watcher, you might be forgiven for thinking that Moser's psychologist girlfriend, who witnessed his death, has fallen into a mental abyss as a consequence and deluded herself into thinking she's Empress Elisabeth or Sisi. In true Rex style, however, it's simply a case of Recycled Rexing, same actress, different character.

Marion is living out a fantasy life, a life where she is Sisi. Dressed accordingly, she takes a carriage ride through Vienna at night. A seemingly harmless affair, until the coach driver enters the carriage and is stabbed by his own tool when he tries to hit on her. Fleeing the scene, Marion is spotted by a woman who doesn't realise the seriousness of the situation, particularly as the carriage moves off. Unguided, the horses return to their stables where the wife of the murdered man discovers his body.

Marion goes to work late next morning. She's still busy putting away her clothing from the previous night, in a room devoted to all things Sisi. It's clear she's a little obsessive. Discovering that she works in costume design, it becomes clear where many of the period appropriate items come from. She's disturbed to notice that she appears to have lost one of the hair ornaments worn the previous night.

When the murder hits the news, the woman witness calls in to report what she saw. While talking with Brandtner where she saw the woman flee, Rex discovers the missing hair ornament among a pile of autumn leaves. Superdog or what? Such a distinctive piece, Brandtner and team have something to go on. It doesn't take long for Kunz to work out that the piece is a reproduction of an item worn by Sisi and for Boeck to find the jeweller who made the piece.

Finally at work, Marion is encountering trouble with her co-worker Hoffmann, who, aware of her obsession, is concerned for her state of mind. Later that night, he comes under attack as he tries to photograph Marion out riding as Sisi. Hoffmann also subsequently discovers her secret room. He's not the only one to spot her though. When a man sees her, he reports the strange behaviour to police who aren't interested initially but then receive a fax advising of a murder suspect who may dress up as Sisi.

Marion has 'borrowed' the horse and it doesn't take long for Brandtner to chase down the targeted riding school where he gets a list of women who have learn to ride side saddle, as Marion did. Marion, meanwhile, has joined a tour of one of Sisi's homes, hiding at closure time, to spend the night in Sisi's bed. She narrowly escapes in the morning with the first tour, just as Brandtner arrives to quesiton the guide about regular visitors. The guide indicates there is one particular woman and they both shortly discover there has been an overnight visitor to Sisi's bedroom.

With the list of side saddle riders, a list of costume companies, it's not long before Brandtner has Marion in mind as a potential suspect. While he's on his way to her workshop, Hoffmann confronts her and threatens to blackmail her over the killing. Big mistake. Marion's not one for bargaining and she stabs him. Moments later, Brandtner is also under attack as he tries to arrest her for the murder. Once again, who saves the day? Rex, of course, with a well timed grab of the weapon wielded by Marion.

The episode ends nicely with Dr. graf rushed to what he believes to be another crime scene. The crime? His birthday. Cake, champagne AND first names finally!

Other players include Lutz Blochberger, not listed with IMDB for this episode, Ulla Weigerstorfer (Miss World 1987!), not credited with IMDB for this episode, and the late Alfred Reiterer, also not credited.

Recycled Rexers include Marion Mitterhammer here as Marion and later as psychologist Patricia Neuhold in 'Mosers Tod' (1998), Johannes Thanheiser, not credited for this episode with IMDB but also appearing as 'Opa in Reichenau' in 'Geraubtes Glueck' (1998), and Dagmar Schwarz, not credited for this episode, but also appearing in 'Unter Hypnose'.

Rex Resolution 67: Hetzjagd

Yes, I'm still struggling to get these written up! The backlog is growing......

A woman closes a supermarket, heading off to bank the day's takings. On the way, she is attacked halfway up the Strudlhofstiege by a man in a mask who attempts to snatch the money. Fighting back, she falls backwards down the stairs and when the man follows to take the money, she pulls off his mask and recognises the man, leaving the assailant little choice but to shoot her.

The mask is left behind at the scene and, for the moment, it's all that Brandtner has to work with.

Moritz Hollub has been recently released from prison for murder and is currently staying with his sister and driving her mad in the process with his messiness and laziness. Of course, he immediately becomes a suspect among the people living in the apartment block and the word 'murderer' is sprayed on his sister's front door. He's a prime suspect for the police too and it's not long before Brandtner and team arrive, with residents of the block urging him to arrest Moritz.

Of course, Brandtner is much more open-minded. When he and Boeck enter Moritz's flat, they find him preparing to commit suicide by electrocution, the idea of going back to jail abhorrent to him, particularly as he maintains his innocence over the earlier murder charge. While Brandtner distracts him, Rex, ever the hero, pulls the plug out of the wall, foiling Moritz's attempt. Brandtner promises to review the earlier case but has to take him away while they check out his alibi. The alibi holds.

Nagl, a fellow resident of the block is seen playing a loan shark, obviously in deep financial trouble. Unlike the other residents, he schmoozes up to Moritz's sister, pretending to be sympathetic to Moritz's cause. He has ulterior motives though which are to be revealed later. When the investigation turns in his direction, after a photo is found of him with the victim, Boeck is very surprised by the expensive stereo equipment found in Nagl's flat.

Under pressure, Nagl is forced to act to set up evidence against Moritz. He retrieves a beer bottle used by Moritz from the rubbish, semi-conceals the canister that held the supermarket takings in the laundry to be found by the janitor and then, when she finds it, hits her over the head with the bottle, complete with Moritz's prints. Nagl has told Moritz his sister is in the laundry looking for him, so Moritz heads down and finds the janitor unconscious. Immediately aware that he has been set up, he flees. Meanwhile Nagl has positioned his dear old granny from in the lobby while he plies her with chocolate bananas (yum!) and vanilla slices (yum!) so that she can witness Moritz running away.

Granny is very excited to be taken to police headquarters to provide a statement and seems rather taken with Kunz. It seems Moritz is implicated. Not only is there a witness but the fingerprints on the bottle belong to him also. Brandtner isn't convinced though and realises that a bottle could have been taken from the rubbish bin after checking with Moritz's sister.

Back at the apartment blocks, emotions run high and Nagl incites the residents to attack Moritz. When Moritz gets tired of being on the run in the cold and returns to grab some items to leave for Germany, the residents set upon him.

Brandtner's further investigation of Nagl has revealed his serious debt and he then realises Nagl is the most likely suspect, turning up, as ever, in the nick of time to prevent serious harm to Moritz and arrest Nagl for the murder.






Other players include Michael Dangl, not credited with IMDB for this episode. The rest should be vaguely familiar.











A veritable bonanza in Recycled Rexers with Ulrike Beimpold, not credited with IMDB for this episode but also appearing as Margarethe in 'Das Donaukrokodil' (2004), Simon Schwarz, here as Moritz Hollub, later in 'Happy Birthday' (2002) as Kurt Sedlacek, Vera Borek, here as Frau Swoboda, later in 'Der Tod kam zweimal' as Marie Puchner, Klaus Ofczarek, uncredited with IMDB here, but also appearingin in 'Das Maedchen und der Moerder' (2001) as Hubert Kolar and 'Wofuer Kinden leiden muessen' (2003) as Karl Dworschak, and, finally, Hilde Sochor, here uncredited with IMDB but also appearing in 'Stockis letzter Fall' (1996) as Johanna Reichel.

Rex Resolution 66: Moerderisches Spielzeug

Straight out of a James Bond novel comes the plot of this episode, where a man Nordeck murders famous author Jochen Horn by piloting a model helicopter, loaded with explosives, straight into the open window of the author's flat. Kaboom. Need I say more?

Unfortunately, the explosion leaves a small part of the model intact so that Brandtner is immediately aware of the source of the explosion and has a head start in his hunt for the murderer. Kunz starts to look at modelling clubs for likely suspects.

Meanwhile Nordeck has put together another explosive toy which he attempts to direct towards a woman Spaeth, seen earlier with the author, as she sits in the park reading. This time, his attempt fails due to a small child who becomes interested in the car.

Brandtner and Boeck head over to Horn's publishers to see if they can find anything of interest. The publisher Unmack is in the midst of launching a new edition of Horn's works and, when Brandtner discovers the publisher is struggling financially, it seems the team may have uncovered a likely motive. Suspicion is further increased when a letter is uncovered suggesting the author was about to change publisher.

Across town, the model maker is confronted by his wife who has heard about the helicopter killing and asks about his involvement. After all, the episode closely mirrors the storyline of one of her husband's novels. Pure coincidence? He assures her it is.

It turns out Spaeth, the woman targeted earlier, also works for Unmack the publisher and Unmack directs Brandtner to her for further help. When Spaeth has to leave, Brandtner and Boeck notice a model car heading towards her car and manage to save her in the nick of time. Importantly, they gain another cue as they see Noredeck leaving in his car and now have a registration and, utlimately, a name.

Talking further to Spaeth, Brandtner now starts to look in a different direction - at writers whose work may have been rejected. Spaeth confirms she often receives threats from rejected authors but ignores them. When Kunz starts wading through the pile of rejections, he comes across the murderer's novel - which details the plots of the murderous plans in full.

Aware now that there is a third scenario and of its details, Brandtner goes to the murderer's house. Nordeck is not to be found but Rex uncovers the secret room where Nordeck creates all his models. Knowing Nordeck worked for a freight company, Brandtner heads out to the company's warehouses where he arrests Noredeck, just as he is about to flee the scene. The work is not over though. Inside, in the storage maze, is Unmack, kidnapped by Nordeck after rollerblading, and a bomb with 5 minutes to detonation. It's down to Brandtner and Rex yet again. Will they come through? Aber, sicher!

Other players include Ludwig Hirsch as murderer Alfred Nordeck, Claudia Messner, Christoph Moosbrugger as author Jochen Horn, Johanna Mertinz, not credited with IMDB for this episode, and Jacques Breuer as Unmack, also not credited with IMDB for this episode.

Rex Resolution 65: Das Testament

If you get gifted a painting that's not to your taste, be careful before disposing of it.

When a son, Walter Stift, is dismantling his father's estate, he passes items not to his taste to an antique seller for disposal. When the dealer removes a tacky painting of the Prater from it's more valuable frame, he discovers the last will of the man's father written on the bottom of the painting and realises he can make a quick buck out of blackmailing Walter, for the will would substantially reduce the amount left to him.

Across town, Walter is making plans for extensive and expensive modifications to his father's house. Into this scene walks his father's former carer, Tanya Kraus, who has come to complain the afore-mentioned painting left to her by her former patient. When the architect informs her that everything has been sent to the antique shop, she leaves, although he later informs Walter that Tanya was looking for the painting.

The antique dealer contacts Walter to tell him about the will, how a substantial amount of his inheritance should be redirected to the carer should the will ever come to light, and demanding a reward. He soon cops something but probably not what he anticipated as Walter whacks him over the head with one of his antique walking sticks. Now aware of the content of the will on the painting, he is frustrated by his inability to find it and turns his attention to Tanya, who is also looking for the painting.

This particular murder puzzles Brandtner for there appears to be nothing missing from the shop. When Kunz discovers a secret workshop, it looks as if the murder might be related to smuggled antiquities.

Tanya finally turns up the shop and purchases the painting from the dead man's partner, the second owner unaware of the will, although he later discovers photos revealing the importance of the painting. When Tanya leaves it at a repair shop to get damage to the frame fixed, it becomes the subject of attention, both of the second antique dealer and Walter. Unfortunately for the antique dealer, Walter breaks into the store at the same time, with fatal results for the dealer. The painting is already gone. With repairs too expensive, Tanya has taken it to her new place of employment.

At the same time, Brandtner, now investigating the second murder also, discovers photos of the painting and will, leading him to both Tanya and Walter. Brandtner arrives just in time to see Walter trying to make off with the painting. When he throws it into the river, Rex dives in and saves it. With the will valid, looks like Tanya's future us suddenly looking much brighter.

Other players include Marianne Saegebrecht as carer Tanja Kraus, Peter Faerber as Franz Zehrer, Jazz Gitti, Gernot Kranner, and Franz Tscherne.

Recycled Rexer Frank Buchrieser, above, also in 'Ein feines Haus' (1994) as Kurt Kovarik, Herbert Foettinger, here as Walter Stift, but also appearing in 'Amok' (1995)