Robert Clary

"The German Air Force is not at all what it used to be," says Anne Bancroft's Countess, about 16 minutes into The Hindenburg, pausing and then adding, "But then, nothing is these days." That seems to sum up the ponderous, irony-laden script and plot of Robert Wise's movie, which is posited -- in true post-Watergate fashion -- upon notions of conspiracy and cover-up behind the destruction of the German airship. The movie opens with a handy Universal newsreel that gives a vestpocket history of lighter-than-air flight, and that carries us to 1937 Germany. Colonel Franz Ritter (George C. Scott), a former hero pilot now working for military intelligence, finds himself assigned to the flight of the Hindenburg as chief of security; reports and rumors about the destruction of the zeppelin have circulated both in Germany and America, and the Nazi government takes these very seriously. What Ritter walks in on is a "Grand Hotel" of the air, several dozen passengers and crew whose ranks contain enough red herrings to keep Ritter (and us) jumping through hoops for most of the first half of the film, when we're not watching glorious shots of the zeppelin in flight. The answer to the script's presentation of the plot against the airship,and theidentityof the bomber and his motivations, are actually presented in the first 15 minutes, but there are so many false leads, subplots, and blind alleys put before us that the solution will probably pass by unnoticed. In the meantime, Ritter dances around with his ex-paramour (Bancroft), scheming businessmen (Gig Young), and passengers with skeletons in their closets (Alan Oppenheimer), an entertainer (Robert Clary) with a knack for offending loyal Nazis, several officers and crew with known "political" differences with the Nazi Party, a Gestapo man (Roy Thinnes) who's got an agenda of his own, and two genuine mystery men (Burgess Meredith, Rene Auberjonois) who don't seem to have any reason for traveling on this particular voyage. It's all a little tiring, or would be, if the setting and special effects weren't that interesting, and the cast wasn't so entertaining to watch in these relatively thankless roles. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Hogan must discredit the testimony of Gestapo Major Pruhst (Malachi Throne), who has irrefutable photographic evidence of Hogan's sabotage operation. There is nothing else to do but convince the German high command that Hogan has an exact double -- a Nazi officer. Frequent series guest star John Hoyt appears as Field Marshal Von Leiter. Written by Phil Sharp, "Hogan's Double Life" was originally telecast on March 7, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Duplicitous German officer Col. Becker (H.M. Wynant), hoping to trade assignments with Klink, tries to persuade the Kommandant that being transferred to the Russian front wouldn't be so bad. Learning of Becker's schemes, Hogan concocts a plan of his own whereby Klink will unwittingly appropriate some top-secret German documents. To cinch the deal, Hogan arranges a cozy tête-à-tête between Klink and sexy Soviet spy Olga (Ruta Lee). Written by Arthur Julian, "To Russia Without Love" first aired on January 31, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hogan intends to use a fundraising tea party, orchestrated by the wives of several German officers, as a cover to relay penicillin to an injured Underground agent. The scheme relies heavily upon Newkirk's ability to convincingly adopt female drag as a General's wife! Alice Ghostley, who previously made a one-shot appearance as General Burkhalter's sister Gertrude, is here cast as Mrs. Mannheim. Written by Arthur Julian, "That's No Lady, That's My Spy" was originally scheduled to air on January 3, 1971, but was moved back to January 24 due to a late-breaking news special. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Written by Arthur Julian, this episode finds Hogan and his crew trying to harness the forces of nature in order to create an avalanche. It is all part of a scheme to redirect a full-scale Panzer assault, which has been routed through the slippery slopes of Mount Hoffenstein. Harold J. Stone heads the guest cast as General Stromberger. Originally telecast on March 21, 1971, "Look at the Pretty Snowflakes" was the last episode of Hogan's Heroes to be filmed, though not the last one to be shown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Can it be that Hogan has gone to the other side? It sure seems that way when he agrees to accompany Klink on an underground mission to England to steal a revolutionary new American plane. In truth, however, Hogan merely pretends to go along with the scheme, the better to expose a Nazi spy ring operating in London. Cynthia Lynn, who played Klink's secretary Hilda in several first-season episodes, is here cast as Eva; also in the cast is a pre-Police Academy George Gaynes as the General. Written by Laurence Marks, "Easy Come, Easy Go" originally aired on January 10, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hogan again finds himself working with (and frequently against) redoubtable Russian spy Marya (Nita Talbot). This time, Hogan's mission is to ship stolen art back to London before the masterpieces can be added to Hermann Goering's private collection. The plan hinges on Marya's ability to convince Sgt. Schultz that he is Goering's exact double. Written by Richard M. Powell, "Fat Hermann, Go Home" made its first network appearance on January 16, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This week, Hogan is assigned to smuggle an anti-radar device into London. The plan is contingent upon the superstitious nature of Col. Klink. To exploit that nature, Hogan's operative LeBeau claims that he has the ability to predict the future. As one prominent Hogan's Heroes fan has observed, it is amazing that LeBeau is suddenly able to find an earring -- and an attractive one at that. Written by Harvey Bullock and R.S. Allen, "The Gypsy" originally aired on December 13, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hogan's Heroes entered its sixth season (meaning that the inmates of Stalag 13 were incarcerated approximately twice as long as any real American POW during WWII) with the episode titled "Cuisine a la Stalag 13." LeBeau's decision to escape may wreak havoc on the palates of both the prisoners and their captors: Even fat Sgt. Schultz, who has become accustomed to LeBeau's gourmet cooking, refuses to eat the gastronomic disasters served up by Sgt. Carter. But there is a more urgent need for LeBeau's services: Hogan needs to butter up a German general whose aid is an Allied agent. Kenneth Washington joins the cast as Sgt. Richard Baker, while the guest cast includes Brenda Benet as Marie Bizet. Written by Laurence Marks, "Cuisine a la Stalag 13" first aired on September 20, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In order to successfully pull off a sabotage operation, Hogan concocts an elaborate diversion. Thanks to carefully planted "slips," Klink is led to believe that he will be able to trail Hogan's crew to the Underground spy headquarters. In order to make himself the hero of the proceedings, Klink goes out of his way to persuade Hogan and his men to stage an escape. Written by Harvey Bullock and R.S. Allen, "Klink's Escape" originally aired on March 27, 1970, as the final episode of Hogan's Heroes' fifth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Disguised as a German soldier for an underground mission, Sgt. Carter is caught by an enemy Panzer division. At the behest of Hogan, Carter continues his masquerade in order to recover a cache of confiscated dynamite before the real Germans can find the explosives. Dave Willock appears as an American captain, while Hogan's Heroes general-purpose actor Dave Morick is cast as a sergeant. Written by Laurence Marks, "One Army at a Time" originally aired on February 13, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Major Strauss (Noam Pitlik) comes a-snooping at Stalag 13, suspicious about Klink's "perfect" no-escape record. Discovering that Klink has been -- er -- "borrowing" from the camp's treasury, Strauss orders that the Kommandant be turned over to the Gestapo. Hogan must save Klink so that he can carry out a mass escape plan. Written by Laurence Marks, "Standing Room Only" made its first network appearance on February 20, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide