Reel 1637

An International Emmy winner about the narcotics trade. The story of this five-part 1989 drama begins in Hamburg, where two West German undercover cops, Gero (Tilo Prucker) and Uli (Fritz Mueter-Scherz), make a major drug bust-contraband 70 kilos of Persian heroin. Meanwhile, the notorious Jack Langor (Bill Paxton) is also trying to get the goods into the US in Persia to crack on a British aid program to farmers that's intended to eradicate poppy crops in the region. That's no easy task, as Langor learns about how Persians make big profits from the illegal drug. Leewant (Peter Liemburg), one of the arrested traffickers, Leewant back in Hamburg, wants to get a deal with Gero and Uli, promising to tell them "who is financing the whole thing." "B.M.", Langor's victim, "I need assurances I am signing my own warrant if I give you the name." Directed by Alexander Klug from a script by Simon Moore. and filmed in Persia, West Germany and Britain. (2 hrs.) Karl Rossmann George Kucera Peter Lindsay Duncan Faux Jamie Shah Carstens Julia Ormond Tang Bud Tasi Hussian

MASTERPIECE THEATRE. An international Emmy winner about the narcotics trade. The opener of this five-part 1989 drama begins in Hamburg, where two West German undercover cops, Dieter (Tilo Pruckner) and Uli (Fritz Muiler-Scherr), make a major drug bust--confiscating 70 kilos of Pakistani heroin. Meanwhile, British miner Jack Litigow (Bill Pearson) is also trying to curb the dope trade; he's in Pakistan to check on a British aid program to farmers that's intended to eradicate poppy crops in the region. That's no easy task, as Litigow learns, since poor Pakistanis make big profits from the illegal crop. Back in Hamburg, one of the armed traffickers, Ladessert (Peter Laasnermacher), wants to cut a deal with Dieter and Uli, promising to tell them "who's financing the whole thing." "But," Ladessert insists, "I need assurances. I am signing my death warrant if I give you the name." Directed by Alastair Reid from a script by Simon Moore, and filmed in Pakistan, West Germany and Britain. (2 hrs.) Additional Cast: Karl Rossheide George Kukura Hesen Lindsay Duncan Fatal Jamal Sinah Carpine Julia Ormond Tanq Bull Tahir Hussain