Cinema adaptation: Cult detectives back: “The three ??? – Legacy of the dragon”

cinema adaptation
Cult detectives back: “The Three ??? – Heir of the Dragon”

Is there a more famous detective trio? The three sympathetic amateur sleuths Justus Jonas, Peter Shaw and Bob Andrews “take over any case”. Her trademark: a business card with the three question marks in white, red and blue. The detective agency: a trailer in a junkyard in Rocky Beach, California.

Originally created in 1964 by the US writer Robert Arthur under the title The Three Investigators, the youth series has become a bestseller in Germany: Around 45 million “The Three ???” recordings are said to have already been sold. There are also books, computer games and comics, various fan articles and so far two screen adaptations: the first was released in cinemas in 2007; In 2009 things continued. And now: “The three ??? – Legacy of the dragon”.

Tim Dünschede (“Limbo”) is responsible for directing. The main roles are: Julius Weckauf (“The boy has to get some fresh air”) as Justus Jonas, Nevio Wendt (“Rocca changes the world”) as Peter Shaw and Levi Brandl as Bob Andrews. In addition, actors such as Mark Waschke (“Dark”), Gedeon Burkhard (“Inglourious Basterds”), Florian Lukas (“Absolute Giants”), Jördis Triebel (“Babylon Berlin”).

Three boys are doing an internship in Romania

During the summer holidays, the three boys are allowed to take a trip to Romania, where the friends complete an internship on the film set of “Dracula Rises”, which Peter’s father (Waschke) arranged for them. He is responsible for the special effects during the shooting. Hardly arrived in Transylvania, mysterious events accumulate at the old castle of Countess Codrina, which serves as a backdrop for the film. The three detectives want to find out what all this can have to do with a boy who has been missing for over 50 years, a mysterious brotherhood and a mysterious undead. And as you know it from the three, they soon start investigating.

At some point in the middle of the successful, beautifully old-fashioned cinema adaptation (the orange-colored, so pleasantly ringing table telephone) it says: “We are children and not detectives!”. Add to that all the evil looks and all the doubts, especially from Peter’s father, who doesn’t think much of all his son’s snooping (“Are you in detective mode again?”). What is it about the secret passages, the mysterious treasure, the really very spooky caretaker of the castle, what about the missing boy?

In addition, there are the beautifully photographed interior and exterior views of the Romanian castle, some of which are so scary that you even begin to question the FSK approval from six. What is touching, and for some smaller viewers, and perhaps encouraging for some younger viewers in the cinema hall, is the realization that our cult detectives will always somehow succeed in giving the lie to skeptical adult looks: Justus, Peter and Bob not only take over, they also “solve every case”.

Gudrun Landgrebe ennobles the film

It’s also nice that the atmospheric screen adventure not only strives for a more mature cinema audience in terms of content and visuals, but also in terms of the cast list: Who would have expected that a Gudrun Landgrebe (“The Invisible”, “Rossini – or the murderous question of who with who slept”) ennobles this film with her special aura (her ice-blue eyes flash in one of the first scenes)?

The legendary actress, born in 1950, was only seen in a series in 2019, but had recently made it rather rare on the big screen. And so the younger ones can look forward to another impeccable performance by Julius Weckauf, while some experienced cinema fans may remember Landgrebe’s first major cinema success, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year: “The Flambéed Woman”.

– The three ??? – Legacy of the dragon, D 2022, 100 min., FSK from 6, by Tim Dünschede, with Julius Weckauf, Nevio Wendt, Levi Brandl.

information about the movie

dpa