Silas (TV series) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Silas
Genre	Adventure
Written by	Cecil Bødker (novel) Justus Pfaue
Directed by	Sigi Rothemund
Starring	Patrick Bach Diether Krebs Lucki Molocher Nina Rothemund Ingeborg Lapsien Armin Schawe Shmuel Rodensky André Lacombe Jacques van Dooren
Composer(s)	Christian Bruhn [de]
Country of origin	West Germany
Original language(s)	German
No. of episodes	6
Production
Executive producer(s)	Dieter Graber
Producer(s)	Bernd Burgemeister
Editor(s)	Heidrun Berktold
Running time	45
Release
Original network	ZDF
Original release	December 25, 1981 (1981-12-25)

Silas was an exciting German TV show from 1981. It was a short series, also known as a mini-series, based on a popular children's book. The book, called "Silas og den sorte hoppe," was written by Danish author Cecil Bødker. She wrote many more books about Silas until 2001.

This show was the very first acting job for Patrick Bach, who played Silas. He did such a great job that the next year he starred in another adventure series called Jack Holborn.

Silas was made in Germany, but it was filmed in beautiful parts of France, like Normandy and Brittany. Even though it was filmed in France, all the actors spoke German. The show became very popular, not just in Germany but in other countries too! Because of this, the next series, Jack Holborn, was made with help from international producers and filmed in English.

The Story of Silas

Silas's Escape and First Adventures

When Silas (Patrick Bach) was a small child, he was sold to a circus. There, he learned many amazing stunts and tricks. These skills became very useful later! Silas decided he wanted to live a free and adventurous life. He did not want to be forced to learn dangerous acts like sword swallowing.

The circus director, Philipp (Diether Krebs), even threatened to harm Silas's feet to stop him from running away. Silas knew it was time to leave right then. So, he bravely ran off to start his own adventure!

A kind farmer named Bartolin (Shmuel Rodensky) offered Silas a place to stay. But Bartolin didn't realize how clever Silas was. He carelessly made a bet with Silas, and Silas won his horse! Bartolin was very upset and couldn't accept losing. So, Silas had to run away again.

Meeting New Friends and Facing Trouble

As Silas traveled, he got hungry. He accepted a meal from a tricky man named Emanuel (André Lacombe) and his dishonest wife Theresa (Reine Barteve). They gave Silas something that made him fall asleep. While he was sleeping, they stole his horse and disappeared!

Silas woke up in a boat on a river. He soon saw Philipp, the circus director, trying to steal milk from a blind girl. When the girl's mother arrived, Philipp blamed Silas. Because of this, Silas ended up trapped in a wooden cage. He had to find a way to earn the family's trust to escape.

While still looking for his horse, Silas met a clever boy named Godik (Lucki Molocher). Godik helped Silas get his horse back. They decided to stick together and use their skills to make a living. Silas performed circus tricks, and Godik worked as a wood carver.

Hidden Treasure and New Dangers

Silas and Godik soon found themselves in trouble again. They accidentally stumbled upon a treasure that smugglers had hidden! The smuggler's gang started hunting them. While running, they met a young girl named Jenny (Nina Rothemund). Jenny was also running away from a mean woman named Corby (Ingeborg Lapsien).

Silas, Godik, and Jenny reached a town. Silas had an idea to buy a bear with some of the smuggler's treasure money. But the townspeople thought he had stolen the money. Silas ended up in prison, where he found Corby, the woman who had once taken Jenny.

Eventually, Silas learned that Jenny was not an orphan after all. Silas and Godik helped Jenny return to her real family. Then, Silas went with his friend Godik to meet Godik's family. Godik's family was very happy to see him and welcomed Silas too. But Silas didn't feel safe. He worried that his presence might put his new friends in danger.

More Adventures and a Happy Ending

Silas decided to travel alone again. He soon made new friends. He saved a merchant named Sandal (Hans Helmut Dickow) from harm. Later, he also saved Sandal's son, Japetus (Armin Schawe).

But Corby was still following him! She teamed up with some other bad people. They captured Silas and Japetus, hoping to get money for them. Luckily, Sandal's employee, Karneol (Jacques van Dooren), saved them. Corby and her gang were finally put in prison.

Silas finally felt safe and decided to return to Godik and his family. He had found a true home and friends.

International Broadcast

The BBC in the United Kingdom showed the Silas series. They split the original six episodes into 12 shorter, half-hour episodes. The show first aired on May 16, 1984. It was so popular that it was shown again in 1986, 1987, and 1988.

Awards

Silas won the Bambi Award in 1982. This is a famous German television and media award.

• Cecil Bødker: Silas (Original title: Silas og den sorte hoppe). German translation by Gerda Neumann. Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1996, 158 pages, ISBN: 3-596-80196-6