Arsène Lupin — Season 1, Episode 5: The Barnett Agency

Episode synopsis

Inspector Bechoux suspects Barnett, a private detective in whom he believes he recognizes Arsène Lupin, of stealing “King Dagobert's treasure” and hiding it. Barnett goes to the church in a small village where Inspector Bechoux has begun his investigation. The theft was committed in the middle of the night by a one-armed man. So Bechoux arrests a one-armed man in the village, interrogates him and hands him over to Baron de Gravières, the local Châtelain, for safekeeping. But Barnett isn't happy with this hasty arrest.

About Arsène Lupin

Arsène Lupin is a French TV show which was co-produced with German, Canadian, Belgian, Dutch, Swiss, Italian and Austrian TV stations. It was only loosely based on Maurice Leblancs novels. Georges Descrières' portrayal of Arsène Lupin showed more similarity to Graf Yoster than to Maurice Leblanc's original. He behaved in the first place as a perfect gentleman who never got angry. He was always relaxed, because whatever could possibly had bothered him in daily life was taken care of by his butler. It wasn't questioned how he had come to his financial independence although the series sometimes discreetly implied that he was a professional criminal. Besides rescuing damsels in distress Lupin took on criminals, competing with their wit and intelligence. Either he stole paintings from rich people who had to be considered white-collar criminals or he acted as a detective who derailed criminal schemes. However, when he was attacked, he could defend himself effortlessly by using elegant jujutsu methods. Among the guest stars were German actors such as Günter Strack and Sky du Mont. Jean-Paul Salomé said in his commentary on the DVD version of his film Arsène Lupin he had like this series as a child. German TV, one the investors, would broadcast the show eventually between 18:00-20:00 o'clock because it was only allowed to show commercials within that very timeslot. For them to get a financial return on investment the show had to be appropriate for families and also for children who would watch it alone. Subsequently it was nearby to ask to defuse and flatten some of Leblanc's plots in order to avoid possible complaints that could force the station to broadcast the show beyond the "Vorabendprogramm".

More episodes from Season 1

• E1The Crystal Stopper
• E2Victor, from the Social Brigade
• E3Arsène Lupine against Herlock Sholmès
• E4The arrest of Arsène Lupin
• E6The lady with green eyes
• E7The broken chain
• E8The woman with two smiles
• E9The Caliph's Chimera
• E10A woman against Arsène Lupin
• E11The Rings of Cagliostro
• E12Tornbüll's paintings
• E13The 7 of hearts