Thursday, August 18, 2016

End of the Game (1975)

German title: Der Richter und sein Henker
dir. Maximilian Schell

Though Friedrich Dürrenmatt's novel The Judge and his Hangman is set in Bern and Twann, Schell apparently filmed it all over Switzerland, which makes it very difficult to identify the locations because they could be anywhere.

Gastmann (Robert Shaw) pushes a young woman from the bridge to win a bet with Bärlach (Martin Ritt) – Galata Bridge, Istanbul, Turkey. The current version, the fifth on the same site, was built in 1994. Many thanks to Lois for taking these Istanbul pictures for me.

Clenin, a local policeman, finds Robert Schmied (Donald Sutherland) murdered – Still searching for this location

Clenin drives away with Schmied's body in the car – Charrière, Ligerz, Switzerland

Clenin arrives in Bern – Nydeggbrücke, Bern, Switzerland. The bridge crosses over the Aare River and connects the eastern and western parts of the city. The view is of the western bank of the Aare.

Bärlach goes to Schmied’s apartment to retrieve the file on Gastmann – Münzrain 1, Bern, Switzerland.

Bärlach at the scene of the crime – Still searching for this location

Bärlach points to the lake below – St. Petersinsel (St. Peter’s Island), Lake Biel/Bienne, Canton Bern, Switzerland

Schmied's funeral – Cimetière de Vullierens, Rue de l'Eglise 32, Vullierens, Vaud, Switzerland. Many thanks to J.-C. Curtet for his help.

Gastmann's estate – Château de Vullierens, Rue du Château, Vullierens, Vaud, Switzerland. Many thanks to J.-C. Curtet for his help.

Lutz (Gabriele Ferzetti) talking with von Schwendi (Helmut Qualtinger) – Bundeshaus, Bundesplatz 3, Bern, Switzerland. It's the seat of the Swiss Federal Assembly and the Federal Council. The terrace where the characters are standing is on the south side of the building.

Bärlach talking with his housekeeper – Lindenhof, Zurich, Switzerland

Bärlach's apartment – Lindenhof 4, Zurich, Switzerland

Walter Tschanz (Jon Voight) finds Schmied's girlfriend Anna (Jacqueline Bisset) in a church – Collégiale de Neuchâtel, Rue de la Collégiale, Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It’s a Protestant church dating back to the 12th century and is located next to the Château de Neuchâtel. Before the Reformation it was a Roman Catholic Church of Notre-Dame.

Tschanz and Anna walking along the Aare River toward the Kornhausbrücke, Bern, Switzerland.

A cab is waiting for Bärlach outside of his apartment – Pfalzgasse, Zurich, Switzerland.

Gastmann threatens Bärlach – Felsenau Viaduct, Bern, Switzerland. The bridge was still under construction at the time of the filming. Tschanz drives off the unfinished bridge at the end of the movie.

Gastmann drops off Bärlach at the railway station – the camera is looking away from the Bern Hauptbahnhof towards the Postautostation. The area around the railway station has changed a lot, and it's hard to pinpoint the exact location.

1 comment:

  1. You did an excellent job: it's highly interesting, congratulations! As a swiss citizen, I find this movie intriguing. I see the Castle of Vullierens evedry day from my home, but I did not know that a Tea party member (JV) and fan of Trump was there as an actor! Poor castle! Pi

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