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For decades, Erwin C. Dietrich was Switzerland's most successful and influential film entrepreneur. From his teenage years in St. Gallen, he closely followed Hollywood developments but gave up his dream of acting early on, instead honing his talent for identifying artistic trends that resonated with audiences. Beginning in 1955, he started producing films through his company "Urania." His productions THE MAN IN THE BLACK DERBY and MODEL HUSBAND, featuring popular Swiss comedian Walter Roderer, became major hits that remain beloved. When the "Edgar Wallace" thrillers gained popularity in Germany, Erwin introduced NYLON NOOSE and STRANGLER OF THE TOWER to cinemas, starring German actors like Dietmar Schönherr.
In the mid-1960s, as films increasingly embraced more open sexual themes, Erwin embraced this trend with productions such as ST. PAULI BETWEEN NIGHT AND MORNING, blending thriller elements with eroticism in a nearly artistic manner. These early works are now highly regarded by film enthusiasts worldwide and are being rediscovered. His directorial debut in 1968, the adaptation of Guy De Maupassant’s novel THE COLONEL'S NIECES, was a considerable commercial success, drawing large audiences despite heavy censorship. Over 45 more films followed by 1980, produced or directed under pseudonyms like "Michael Thomas" or "Manfred Gregor," mostly within his "Elite-Film" company (later "Ascot Film GmbH"). These films were made with small crews in his Rümlang studios, where sets were frequently rearranged on the fly. Highlights include films starring Ingrid Steeger and French erotic icon Brigitte Lahaie, which have since achieved cult status and remain favorites at film festivals and home cinemas globally. Erwin often cited his favorite film as his remake of THE COLONEL'S NIECES starring Brigitte Lahaie.
Director Jess Franco, once dismissed as a low-budget filmmaker but later honored with Spain’s "Goya" award, collaborated on 17 films with Erwin during this period, calling it the most productive and enjoyable phase of his career. Films like LOVE LETTERS OF A PORTUGUESE NUN and JACK THE RIPPER, featuring Klaus Kinski’s remarkable performances, are now highly esteemed by cinephiles, including industry figures such as Joe Dante and Quentin Tarantino, who dubbed Erwin the "Swiss Roger Corman." Erwin’s distribution company "Avis," which brought over 400 films to Swiss cinemas, also thrived. Though initially focused on exploitation films, Erwin sought recognition from festivals and elite critics—and he achieved it. THE STORY OF PIERA, produced by Erwin and directed by Marco Ferreri, starring Isabelle Huppert and Marcello Mastroianni, was a festival success despite limited commercial impact, and Hanna Schygulla won the "Golden Palm" at Cannes for her role.
Internationally, Erwin’s co-production of the action film THE WILD GEESE with Britain’s Euan Lloyd elevated him to a previously unattained level of recognition. Featuring stars like Richard Harris, Roger Moore, Richard Burton, and Hardy Krüger, the film attracted 4 million viewers in Germany alone and became a blockbuster in 1978, earning the "Goldene Leinwand" award. Following this triumph, Erwin produced similar large-scale films including ESCAPE TO ATHENA and THE SEA WOLVES. Encouraged by their success, he partnered with Peter Baumgartner and Berlin’s Cinephon dubbing studios to produce three action films shot in the Philippines. With a massive marketing campaign led by Klaus Kinski, the mid-1980s saw the release of the "mercenary trilogy": CODENAME WILDGEESE, COMMANDO LEOPARD, and THE COMMANDER, featuring Hollywood stars such as Klaus Kinski, Ernest Borgnine, and Lee Van Cleef.
During this period, Erwin also opened Switzerland’s first multiplex cinema, the "Capitol," later expanding it with the "Cinemax." In the early 1990s, after producing the dance film DANCE ACADEMY 2 - DANCE TO WIN, the Swiss comedies EIN SCHWEIZER NAMENS NÖTZLI and DER DOPPELTE NÖTZLI, plus over 100 other films, Erwin retired from active film production. He then devoted himself to his distribution company "Ascot-Elite," which was taken over by his children several years ago and remains Switzerland’s largest independent film distributor under their management. Until the end, Erwin chaired the supervisory board and reviewed daily box office results. He was deeply committed to digitally restoring his cinematic legacy to preserve it for future generations.
