309:
Bärlach well knew, had pursued a lifelong career as a purveyor of crime, evil in its comprehensiveness, arrogant and mocking of civilisation itself. And indeed, he always remained one step ahead of Bärlach's tireless but fruitless efforts to convict him. Gastmann recalled to Bärlach: "I wanted to prove that it was possible to commit a crime that couldn't be solved." Gastmann had been correct, and Bärlach's final plot is an acknowledgment thereof. By murdering
Schmied during Schmied's investigation of Gastmann, Tschanz had ruined the
397:. Bärlach is skeptical, relying instead on his deep knowledge of human motives, born of lifelong experience. Tschanz, Bärlach's underling, makes use of the modern evidence-to-proof method and serves as a contrast to Bärlach's style of natural intuition and usage of human manipulation. While Tschanz's methods make ostensible progress on the case, ultimately, it is Bärlach's intuitive sense that has long since enabled him to determine the truth, and also enables him to use Tschanz to settle his old score with Gastmann.
691:
667:
643:
619:
595:
25:
328:
384:
The central question of this book is whether or not it is right to frame a person for a crime they didn't commit, if they've committed another crime that was never proven. Bärlach affirms the question when he says to
Gastmann: "I couldn't prove that it was you who committed the first crime, but I am
404:
also as question: "When humans determine themselves the fate of others they become the judges, and when they become the instrument of others they become the henchmen." Having been set up by Bärlach to kill
Gastmann, Tschanz says to Bärlach at the end of the story, "Then you were the judge and I the
308:
In fact, Gastmann and Bärlach went back forty years. They had long ago made a personal bet with one another as to whether it was possible to commit the "perfect" crime, such that even an investigator who witnessed it would never be able to prove the perpetrator guilty. After that bet, Gastmann, as
304:
Tschanz had purposefully killed
Gastmann so that Gastmann would be forever blamed for Schmied's murder. Furthermore, Bärlach had manipulated Tschanz into this action with the manner in which Bärlach had pressed forward with their seeming investigation of Gastmann. Bärlach had deliberately pushed
300:
police, who is dying of cancer, must solve the murder of his best officer, Lieutenant Ulrich
Schmied. Bärlach is assisted in his investigation by officer Walter Tschanz. As Schmied had been investigating the crimes of Richard Gastmann, a career master criminal who is an old friend and enemy of
301:
Bärlach, suspicion immediately falls upon
Gastmann. But Bärlach's and Tschanz's "investigation" of Gastmann yields an unexpected twist after Tschanz kills Gastmann, supposedly in self-defense. Bärlach then reveals that he has known all along that Tschanz is the one who murdered Schmied.
129:
388:
The interplay between Bärlach and Lutz takes on a symbolic dimension. Lutz, the university-educated overseer, insists on the efficacy of modern, scientific crime-solving methods "from the
Chicago school", which is based mainly on
305:
Tschanz toward a final, fatal confrontation with
Gastmann, resulting in Gastmann's death: the punishment Bärlach considers just for all of the previous crimes Gastmann had committed, but which Bärlach had been unable to prove.
313:
Bärlach's final chance to bring
Gastmann to justice in a courtroom. Therefore, using Tschanz as a pawn, Bärlach finds an alternate method to mete out the justice for which he feels Gastmann is overdue.
747:
957:
853:
272:
42:
927:
947:
779:
252:. It was first published in English in 1954 in a translation by Cyrus Brooks, and later in a translation by Therese Pol. A new translation by
740:
952:
942:
89:
482:
932:
61:
371:
108:
338:
733:
431:
68:
917:
556:
46:
75:
885:
427:
in 1957, using the same title. It aired on 7 September 1957. In 2012 the film has been released on DVD for the first time.
551:
385:
transferring this crime to you" – therefore, Gastmann, the very embodiment of evil criminality, was finally punished.
57:
353:
349:
35:
457:
937:
867:
860:
846:
832:
424:
477:
757:
390:
249:
142:
922:
912:
405:
hangman". Tschanz then kills himself the following day by stopping his car on an active railroad track.
434:
produced a second adaptation. It was shown as an episode of the long-running series of televised plays
82:
907:
489:
184:
529:
450:
played Chanz (Tschanz). The episode does not exist in the BBC archives, and is believed to be lost.
709:
825:
772:
685:
661:
637:
613:
589:
533:
517:
453:
285:
258:
170:
786:
443:
503:
in the role of
Baerlach. The role of Tschanz was renamed as lieutenant Terrence, played by
800:
714:
642:
618:
594:
512:
239:
666:
504:
690:
793:
562:
494:
310:
281:
128:
901:
500:
447:
277:
267:
180:
839:
547:
465:
725:
525:
469:
24:
521:
394:
253:
224:
678:
654:
630:
606:
582:
475:
On 8 November 1974, the fourth adaptation was produced under the title
488:
for a French broadcasting corporation. The TV movie was directed by
356:. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.
401:
472:
as Tschanz. The TV movie has since been released on DVD in 2009.
297:
729:
321:
18:
256:
appeared in 2006, published together with the book's sequel,
510:
The novel was once more made into a film in 1975, titled
345:
877:
810:
764:
536:
and Friedrich DĂĽrrenmatt also appeared in the film.
219:
209:
201:
191:
176:
166:
158:
148:
138:
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
741:
8:
520:, with screenplay by DĂĽrrenmatt and Schell.
121:
276:, these stories are considered classics of
273:The Pledge: Requiem for the Detective Novel
748:
734:
726:
689:
665:
641:
617:
593:
524:took lead billing as Walter Tschanz, with
456:directed the third adaptation in 1971/72.
127:
120:
372:Learn how and when to remove this message
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
708:Frieder Reininhaus (11 November 2008).
575:
248:) is a 1950 novel by the Swiss writer
958:Novels first published in serial form
423:was adapted by the German television
7:
442:. It premiered on 17 December 1961.
47:adding citations to reliable sources
16:1950 novel by Friedrich DĂĽrrenmatt
14:
507:. It was released on DVD in 2017.
432:British Broadcasting Corporation
326:
23:
948:Swiss novels adapted into films
780:The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi
264:The Inspector Bärlach Mysteries
34:needs additional citations for
928:Novels by Friedrich DĂĽrrenmatt
446:acted in the role of Bärlach,
1:
886:It Happened in Broad Daylight
464:on 6 February 1972, starring
270:. Together with DĂĽrrenmatt's
133:First American edition (1955)
610:BBC Sunday-Night Play (1961)
943:Harper & Brothers books
680:Der Richter und sein Henker
584:Der Richter und sein Henker
421:Der Richter und sein Henker
352:the claims made and adding
245:Der Richter und sein Henker
153:Der Richter und sein Henker
58:"The Judge and His Hangman"
974:
953:Novels adapted into operas
122:The Judge and His Hangman
933:Novels set in Switzerland
819:The Judge and His Hangman
608:The Judge and His Hangman
561:premiered in 2008 at the
458:Radiotelevisione Italiana
440:The Judge and His Hangman
296:Commissar Bärlach of the
235:The Judge and His Hangman
211:Published in English
126:
861:The Execution of Justice
632:Il giudice e il suo boia
462:Il giudice e il suo boia
656:Le juge et son bourreau
478:Le juge et son bourreau
400:One can understand the
391:circumstantial evidence
918:German-language novels
282:existential philosophy
243:
710:"DĂĽrrenmatt als Oper"
532:as Richard Gastmann.
436:BBC Sunday-Night Play
425:SĂĽddeutscher Rundfunk
266:, with a foreword by
185:Harper & Brothers
758:Friedrich DĂĽrrenmatt
528:as Hans Bärlach and
419:For the first time,
250:Friedrich DĂĽrrenmatt
143:Friedrich DĂĽrrenmatt
43:improve this article
414:Film and television
149:Original title
123:
337:possibly contains
895:
894:
773:Romulus the Great
534:Jacqueline Bisset
518:Maximilian Schell
382:
381:
374:
339:original research
231:
230:
202:Publication place
171:Detective fiction
119:
118:
111:
93:
965:
847:A Dangerous Game
750:
743:
736:
727:
720:
719:
705:
699:
693:
676:
670:
669:
652:
646:
645:
628:
622:
621:
604:
598:
597:
580:
560:
546:German composer
498:
486:
444:Frank Pettingell
377:
370:
366:
363:
357:
354:inline citations
330:
329:
322:
193:Publication date
131:
124:
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
973:
972:
968:
967:
966:
964:
963:
962:
938:Culture in Bern
898:
897:
896:
891:
873:
806:
801:Play Strindberg
760:
754:
724:
723:
715:Deutschlandfunk
707:
706:
702:
696:End of the Game
677:
673:
653:
649:
629:
625:
605:
601:
581:
577:
572:
554:
543:
513:End of the Game
492:
490:Daniel Le Comte
480:
468:as Bärlach and
416:
411:
378:
367:
361:
358:
343:
331:
327:
320:
294:
286:detective genre
220:Media type
212:
194:
134:
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
971:
969:
961:
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
915:
910:
900:
899:
893:
892:
890:
889:
881:
879:
875:
874:
872:
871:
868:The Assignment
864:
857:
850:
843:
836:
829:
822:
814:
812:
808:
807:
805:
804:
797:
794:The Physicists
790:
783:
776:
768:
766:
762:
761:
755:
753:
752:
745:
738:
730:
722:
721:
700:
671:
647:
623:
599:
574:
573:
571:
568:
567:
566:
563:Theater Erfurt
542:
539:
538:
537:
516:, directed by
508:
473:
454:Daniele D'Anza
451:
428:
415:
412:
410:
407:
380:
379:
334:
332:
325:
319:
316:
311:terminally ill
293:
290:
229:
228:
221:
217:
216:
213:
210:
207:
206:
203:
199:
198:
195:
192:
189:
188:
178:
174:
173:
168:
164:
163:
160:
156:
155:
150:
146:
145:
140:
136:
135:
132:
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
970:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
905:
903:
888:
887:
883:
882:
880:
876:
870:
869:
865:
863:
862:
858:
856:
855:
851:
849:
848:
844:
842:
841:
837:
834:
830:
828:
827:
823:
821:
820:
816:
815:
813:
809:
803:
802:
798:
796:
795:
791:
789:
788:
784:
782:
781:
777:
775:
774:
770:
769:
767:
763:
759:
751:
746:
744:
739:
737:
732:
731:
728:
717:
716:
711:
704:
701:
697:
692:
687:
683:
681:
675:
672:
668:
663:
659:
657:
651:
648:
644:
639:
635:
633:
627:
624:
620:
615:
611:
609:
603:
600:
596:
591:
587:
585:
579:
576:
569:
564:
558:
553:
552:the same name
549:
545:
544:
540:
535:
531:
527:
523:
519:
515:
514:
509:
506:
502:
501:Charles Vanel
496:
491:
487:
484:
479:
474:
471:
467:
463:
459:
455:
452:
449:
448:Brian Bedford
445:
441:
437:
433:
429:
426:
422:
418:
417:
413:
408:
406:
403:
398:
396:
392:
386:
376:
373:
365:
362:February 2012
355:
351:
347:
341:
340:
335:This section
333:
324:
323:
317:
315:
312:
306:
302:
299:
291:
289:
287:
283:
279:
278:crime fiction
275:
274:
269:
268:Sven Birkerts
265:
261:
260:
255:
251:
247:
246:
241:
237:
236:
226:
222:
218:
214:
208:
204:
200:
196:
190:
186:
182:
181:Jonathan Cape
179:
175:
172:
169:
165:
161:
157:
154:
151:
147:
144:
141:
137:
130:
125:
113:
110:
102:
99:February 2013
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
923:Swiss novels
913:Crime novels
884:
866:
859:
852:
845:
840:Once a Greek
838:
824:
818:
817:
799:
792:
785:
778:
771:
718:(in German).
713:
703:
695:
679:
674:
655:
650:
631:
626:
607:
602:
583:
578:
550:'s opera of
548:Franz Hummel
511:
505:Gilles SĂ©gal
499:and starred
476:
466:Paolo Stoppa
461:
439:
435:
430:In 1961 the
420:
399:
387:
383:
368:
359:
336:
307:
303:
295:
271:
263:
257:
244:
234:
233:
232:
152:
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
908:1950 novels
555: [
530:Robert Shaw
526:Martin Ritt
493: [
481: [
470:Ugo Pagliai
409:Adaptations
205:Switzerland
902:Categories
878:Screenplay
854:The Pledge
833:The Tunnel
570:References
522:Jon Voight
346:improve it
69:newspapers
826:Suspicion
787:The Visit
756:Works by
395:forensics
350:verifying
280:, fusing
259:Suspicion
254:Joel Agee
225:hardcover
177:Publisher
284:and the
159:Language
438:titled
344:Please
298:Bernese
223:Print (
83:scholar
688:
682:(1975)
664:
658:(1974)
640:
634:(1972)
616:
592:
586:(1957)
460:aired
318:Themes
240:German
183:(UK);
162:German
139:Author
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
811:Prose
765:Drama
698:, US)
694:(aka
559:]
541:Stage
497:]
485:]
402:novel
262:, as
167:Genre
90:JSTOR
76:books
686:IMDb
662:IMDb
638:IMDb
614:IMDb
590:IMDb
393:and
292:Plot
215:1954
197:1950
187:(US)
62:news
684:at
660:at
636:at
612:at
588:at
348:by
45:by
904::
712:.
557:de
495:fr
483:fr
288:.
242::
835:"
831:"
749:e
742:t
735:v
565:.
375:)
369:(
364:)
360:(
342:.
238:(
227:)
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
