John Banner Movies
Actor John Banner was forced out of his native Austria in 1938 when Hitler marched in. Though most familiar to filmgoers and TV viewers as a man of considerable heft, he was a trim 180 pounds when, while touring with an acting troupe in Switzerland, he found he couldn't return to Austria because he was Jewish. Banner came to America as a refugee; though unable to speak a word of English, he was almost immediately hired as emcee for a musical revue, From Vienna, for which he had to learn all his lines phonetically. Picking up the language rapidly, Banner was cast in several films of the 1940s, starting with Pacific Blackout. Because of his accent and Teutonic features, he most often played Nazi spies -- a grim task, in that Banner's entire family in Austria was wiped out in the concentration camps. Tipping the scales at 280 pounds in the 1950s, Banner worked steadily as a character man in films and on television; he can be seen as a variety of foreign-official types on such vintage TV series as The Adventures of Superman and Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. In 1965, Banner was cast as Sgt. Schultz in the long-running wartime sitcom Hogan's Heroes. A far cry from the villainous Nazis he'd played in the 1940s, Schultz was a pixieish, lovable blimp of a man who'd rather have been working as a toymaker than spending the war guarding American POWS, and who, to protect his own skin, overlooked the irregularities occurring in Stalag 13 (which as every TV fan knows was Colonel Hogan's secret headquarters for American counterespionage) by bellowing "I know nothing! I see nothing! Nothing!" John Banner enjoyed playing Schultz, but bristled whenever accused of portraying a cuddly Nazi: "I see Schultz as the representative of some kind of goodness in every generation," the actor told TV Guide in 1967. As to the paradox of an Austrian Jew playing a representative of Hitler's Germany, Banner replied, "Who can play Nazis better than us Jews?" Or who could play them funnier than John Banner? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1972
In his last professional appearance (he died on January 28, 1973), former Hogan's Heroes costar John Banner is cast as Max Ledbetter, bakery owner and self-styled psychic. Hoping to persuade the Partridges to help him pay his mortgage (we'd say "help him raise some dough", but that would be too obvious), Max gulls Danny (Danny Bonaduce) and Keith (David Cassidy) into believing that his powers of prognostication are genuine. Song: "You Don't Have to Tell Me". This is final episode of The Partridge Family's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
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
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Hogan's Heroes utility player Dave Morick is spotlighted in this episode as a Nazi spy posing as an American officer named Lt. Miller. To dupe "Miller" into revealing the identity of his German contact, Hogan and his men stage an elaborate masquerade, transforming Klink's office into Nazi headquarters in Berlin and having Sgt. Carter give out with his legendary impersonation of Adolf Hitler. Oscar Beregi) appears as Herr Schneer. Written by R.S. Allen and Harvey Bullock, "The Meister Spy" first aired on January 17, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Klink's fellow officer Captain Hugo Hauptmann (Sandy Kenyon) is exposed as a traitor. Put on trial, Hauptmann finds that his life is in the hands of Klink, who has been chosen as counsel for the defense on the theory that he will bungle the job. It is up to Hogan to save both Hauptmann and Klink in order to steal a map of German submarine installations. First telecast on February 7, 1971, "Klink for the Defense" was written by Bill Davenport. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
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
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
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
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Marlyn Mason returns as leggy German chanteuse Lily Frankel, who moonlights as an Allied agent. With Lily's assistance, Hogan hopes to destroy a trio of mobile guided-missile launchers. The problem: How to evade a veritable minefield of German radio detectors. Written by Arthur Julian, "Rockets or Romance" originally aired April 4, 1971, as the 168th and final episode of Hogan's Heroes (though it was actually the 156th episode to be filmed). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Hogan and his crew hope to redirect a German rocket to their contacts in England so that the missile can be examined and duplicated. Unfortunately, Hogan finds himself up against two dilemmas: How to get the rocket into Stalag 13 and how to deal with mercurial Russian spy Marya (Nita Talbot), who is now the wife of German rocket designer Dr. Otto von Borneman (Henry Corden). Like so many other episodes of Hogan's Heroes, this one was written by Richard M. Powell. "The Kamikazes Are Coming" first aired on February 21, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
Kathleen Freeman returns as General Burkhalter's Wagnerian sister Gertrude. By virtue of her engagement to Major Wolfgang Karp (Lee Bergere), Gertrude has been placed in command of Stalag 13. This development puts a crimp in Hogan's plan to smuggle an American general into London -- but only temporarily. Leslie Parrish, best known for her portrayal of Daisy Mae in the 1959 film version of Li'l Abner, is here cast as Karen Richter. Written by Laurence Marks, "Kommandant Gertrude" originally aired on February 28, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
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
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1971
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
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Goofing off as usual, Sgt. Schultz is caught by General Burkhalter, who prepares to send the hapless sergeant to the Russian front. In order to keep from losing their favorite patsy -- who has been unwittingly smuggling Allied messages stuffed in loaves of pumpernickel -- Hogan and his crew concoct a plan to save Schultz from certain doom. The episode's highlight finds Newkirk donning female drag as a lady psychiatrist. Written by Bill Davenport, "The Sergeant's Analyst" originally aired on March 6, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Marlyn Mason guest stars as Lily Frankel, a sexy German nightclub chanteuse who doubles as an Allied agent. Lily informs Hogan that one of the Underground members is actually a double agent who intends to turn over a list of Allied operatives to the Germans. To prevent this, Hogan cooks up a scheme that requires Col. Klink and Gestapo officer Hochstetter to take dancing lessons from LeBeau (it makes sense in context!). Written by Arthur Julian, "Six Lessons From Madame LaGrange" first aired on February 27, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Hogan is once again saddled with Colonel Crittendon (Bernard Fox), the Allies' biggest bungler. This time, Crittendon enlists Hogan's aid in a scheme to kidnap Field Marshal Rommel from a nearby German hospital. Crittendon's espionage skills and keen powers of observation result in Hogan and his crew being captured themselves. Written by Bill Davenport, "Crittendon's Commandos" first aired on March 20, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Hogan arranges a date between Klink and the beautiful Countess Marlene (Marj Dusay), who is actually an Allied agent. Unfortunately, Klink ends up delivering the wrong plans to the Countess, thereby potentially lousing up Hogan's latest espionage mission. To correct Klink's unwitting error, Hogan orchestrates a second romantic rendezvous between Marlene and Sgt. Schultz. Written by Harvey Bullock and R.S. Allen, "The Merry Widow" was first telecast on March 13, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
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
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
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
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Preying upon Klink's ego, Hogan convinces the Kommandant that he is a brilliant painter. Thus persuaded, Klink prepares a few "masterpieces" for a local art show. Actually, it is all part of Hogan's plans to relay top-secret German maps to three different underground units. Frequent Hogan's Heroes leading lady Victoria Carroll appears as Rhona. Written by Phil Sharp, "Klink's Masterpiece" first aired on October 4, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Noam Pitlik, who played a German double agent in the very first episode of Hogan's Heroes, is here cast as Capt. Karl Metzler, a German radio expert. In desperate need of Metzler's services, Hogan makes a foray into a nearby village to save the German officer from Gestapo assassins. Likewise making a return appearance to the series is Sabrina Scharf, this time in the role of Luisa. Written by Laurence Marks, "The Experts" originally aired on September 27, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
Intending to use the hubcaps in Klink's car to transmit information to the Underground, Hogan and his crew must figure out a way to convince Klink that he has to go to town immediately. The solution: Arrange things so that Klink must get back in top physical condition or be shipped off to the dreaded Russian front. The supporting cast includes Corinne Conley as Gerta and Michael Fox as Major Kimmel. Written by Bill Davenport, "Get Fit or Go Fight" was originally telecast on January 9, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
In order to direct Allied bombers to a German hydroelectric dam, Hogan is in dire need of current weather reports. In order to hear those reports via radio, Hogan throws an anniversary party for Klink. Fortunately, the cloddish Kommandant never looks too closely at those "party" balloons which hover prominently over Stalag 13. Written by R.S. Allen and Harvey Bullock, "How's the Weather?" originally aired on January 2, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
In a comic re-enactment of the Joe Louis/Max Schmeling heavyweight bout, Kinchloe is pitted against Luftwaffe champ Bruno (Chuck Hicks) in a boxing match. Since Hogan needs to prolong the fight as a diversion for his latest espionage height, it is imperative that Kinch "goes the distance." Real-life boxing referee Frankie Van also appears in this episode, playing (what else?) a referee. First shown on January 23, 1970, "The Softer They Fall" was written by Laurence Marks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
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
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
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
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1970
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
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
