Munich isn’t exactly Hollywood, yet there are several popular films and series that were shot in our beautiful city. For example, scenes from the Italian horror film *Suspiria* were filmed at Königsplatz, the Hofbräuhaus, and the Müller’schen Volksbad. And, of course, there are also German productions for which Munich is the filming location of choice. Particularly well-known and beloved, of course, is *Monaco Franze*, which made it onto prime-time television back in the day and was rebroadcast numerous times. Helmut Fischer has already been immortalized in the city through a monument honoring his role, and now a new exhibition is dedicated to his body of work.
A 10-part series on the cult figure
The series “Monaco Franze – Der ewige Stenz” first aired in the spring of 1983 and revolves around the life of Detective Franz Münchinger. He grew up as the son of a working-class man in modest circumstances in the Westend neighborhood and later lives with his wife in Schwabing. The fact that Franz is married doesn’t stop him from trying to impress other women. Thanks to his wit and charm, Monaco Franze quickly became a cult figure and took television viewers’ hearts by storm. The show quickly made the leap from ARD’s early-evening lineup to prime time and enjoyed numerous reruns.
Yet the series consists of just one season, which in turn comprises only 10 episodes. Despite its huge success, no sequels were produced, even though lead actor Helmut Fischer would have been more than willing to continue. However, neither BR nor director Helmut Dietl wanted to continue the series, and so “Monaco Franze” remained a single-season show. Today, you can stream it on various platforms, such as Netflix or the ARD Mediathek.
And if you ever want to meet Franze in person, stop by Münchner Freiheit, where he sits at a café table, cast in bronze. The monument was erected in 1997 on the anniversary of lead actor Helmut Fischer’s death. In 2022, director Helmut Dietl was added to the monument; he is said to have met the actor at this very café. At the airport, you’ll come across another statue depicting Monaco Franze with his wire-haired dachshund.
New Photo Exhibition: Monaco Franze 100
Helmut Fischer passed away 29 years ago, but he would have turned 100 on November 15 this year. To mark the occasion, photographer Michael von Hassel set out on a tour of Munich and visited over 200 filming locations from the series. Along the way, he took a look at what has become of these places since the series ended and captured them for you. In the exhibition, he juxtaposes his photographs with footage from the series, allowing you to embark on a journey through time in Munich. The exhibition opens on Saturday, November 7, with free admission at the Bergson Kunstkraftwerk.
On November 15, Helmut Fischer’s 100th birthday, a very special treat awaits you. To celebrate the occasion, the Bergson will be showing all 10 episodes of *Monaco Franze* for you starting at 10 a.m. Between episodes, there will be breaks or other program highlights, such as a meet-and-greet with photographer Michael von Hassel or a panel discussion. And of course, you can also visit the exhibition “Monaco Franze 100 – ein bissl was geht immer.”
📅 Dates:
- Exhibition opening on Saturday, November 7, at 6 p.m.
- Series screening on Sunday, November 15, starting at 10 a.m.
💶 Pricing information: Free admission to the exhibition opening; tickets for the series afternoon start at 28€
