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 Made back-to-back with the second
Kapitein Zeppos serial,
De Eglantier, the third - Tweng - is a stylish
production which takes the Captain on a bizarre journey through a
world that combines espionage and comic-strip with a healthy serving
of the surreal. The serial opens with a glorious location sequence
focusing on Zeppos driving to the headquarters of the peace
organisation, TWENG (hence the title). The sequence, full of daring
camera moves and angles, is backed with a music track that is
completely evocative of the late Sixties era and the result is the
epitome of cool. But it doesn't stop there, for the serial as a
whole is very cool indeed. Breathtaking cinematography, clever
editing, an array of odd and interesting characters and some great
performances from the regular and guest cast all contribute to
making the final
Kapitein Zeppos serial a genuine final flourish for the
series.
 Tweng sees Kapitein Zeppos, his wife Ariane
and Ben Kurrel pitted against SABOS, a militaristic secret
organisation who probably owe more of their inspiration to 1930s
Flash Gordon film serials than to James Bond (tin helmets
abound!). Zeppos is set the task of shadowing Aunt Cara - who it
appears may be a spy - by an equally secret and mysterious
organisation called TWENG, who he ultimately learns are a group set
up to thwart the plans of those, like SABOS, who are intent upon
destruction and anarchy. Zeppos and Ariane's surveillance of Cara
leads them into danger, deep within the catacombs of SABOS' fortress
headquarters.
As with
De Eglantier, Tweng was
written by Lode de Groof and directed by Jef Demedts, with the
production crew of the second serial being carried over to work on
the third. It is very clear that by this point, the team were
extremely well-versed in film production and the directorial and
editorial flourishes that are evident throughout Tweng bear
testament to this. The serial moves along rapidly and is never
anything other than stylish and exciting.
 Location work was once more a vital
part of the production. The medieval town of Gent was again
utilised, as was - of course - the windmill at
Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Lombeek in Pajottenland. The opening sequence
referred to earlier ends up in the beautiful Groot Begijnhof,
Sint-Amandsberg in Gent. Another sequence for Tweng was shot
at the Sint Jan de Doperkerk church in the town of
Sint-Denijs-Westrem. The major exterior location used in the serial
however is the remarkable Fort VII in Wilrijk. Extensive interior
footage was filmed here also. For more details on these filming
locations, please see our
Series 3 Locations page.
The serial was transmitted on
Wednesday afternoons on the BRT (now VRT) in a 4.00-4.30pm slot
commencing on 11th December 1968 (the week after the conclusion of
De Eglantier). As with its predecessor, it lasted for eight
weekly installments, ending on Wednesday 29th January 1969. Tweng
was repeated on Belgian television in 1975, 1985 and - as part of
the VRT's 50th Anniversary celebrations - in the Summer of 2004. As
with the previous Kapitein Zeppos serials, Lode de Groof adapted his
screenplay as a novel, which was published in 1969.
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