Arsène Lupin

*Arsène Lupin* is a French television series co-produced with German, Canadian, Belgian, Dutch, Swiss, Italian, and Austrian broadcasters. It was loosely based on the novels by Maurice Leblanc. Georges Descrières' portrayal of Arsène Lupin bore more resemblance to Graf Yoster than to Leblanc's original character. He was primarily depicted as a perfect gentleman who never lost his temper. He remained calm at all times, as any daily concerns were handled by his butler. The source of his financial independence was never questioned, although the series occasionally hinted that he was a professional criminal. Lupin rescued distressed women and also confronted criminals, using wit and intelligence to outsmart them. He either stole paintings from the wealthy, whom the series sometimes considered as white-collar criminals, or acted as a detective dismantling criminal plots. When attacked, he defended himself effortlessly using elegant jujutsu techniques. Among the guest stars were German actors such as Günter Strack and Sky du Mont. In his commentary on the DVD version of his film *Arsène Lupin*, Jean-Paul Salomé mentioned that he had enjoyed this series as a child. German television, one of the investors, eventually broadcast the show between 18:00 and 20:00, as commercials could only be aired during that timeslot. To ensure a financial return on investment, the show had to be suitable for families and children who might watch it alone. As a result, some of Leblanc's plots were softened and simplified to avoid potential complaints that could have forced the station to air the show outside the "Vorabendprogramm."

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