I recently bought this title on DVD because I have always liked MONACO FRANZE, but it is such a luxury to watch all the episodes at once, without interruption. And it is so good, trust me. To all Americans, if you think Fonzie is cool, watch this, than you know Franz Muenchinger aka Monaco is cool. Although he is married, and although he loves his wive dearly, he always pursues younger girls, sometimes three at a time.
And it is so funny. For example, his wive Annette (Ruth-Maria Kubitschek)moves in high-society circles and loves to go to the opera with a group of doctors and lawyers. Monaco on the other hand, being a down to earth man, doesn't like it at all. He tries to find excuses to the last. And when he realises, he can not escape the opera, he almost collapses and breaks out in sweat. You just have to see it.
Or in one episode called "Machts nur so weiter!" (Just go on that way!) Annette realises, that a financial crisis is at hand and tries to save money where possible. There is a very funny scene with her and her assistant, inter cut with a scene with Franz and some of his girls sitting in the English Garden. Annette tells her assistant, that they never had so less money since the war, Monaco in the park tells the girls, that he never was so well to do, feeding them with salmon, wine and wild strawberries. And every time he is buying something and should it only be ice-cream, he pays with a 1000 DM bill.
Monaco Franze is a jewel of German or Bavarian TV along with "Irgenwie und sowieso". You will seldom find a better mini- series, with better actors, a better script and a better direction. Everything in those categories is top notch. Not to forget the nostalgic aspects of this show. Bavaria in the 80s, especially Munich, you just have to like the setting.
All in all, there is nothing negative to say about this show, except that there are only ten episodes.
