Werner Klemperer Movies
Actor Werner Klemperer seemed destined for a career as a classical musician in his native Germany; his father was legendary orchestra conductor Otto Klemperer, and his mother was an opera singer. Otto Klemperer fled the Nazis in 1933 and secured a job with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, then sent for his wife and children. Trained in piano, trumpet and violin, young Werner never lost his love of music, but decided in the early '40s to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. A naturalized American citizen, Klemperer worked in Maurice Evans' special services unit in World War II, which gave Werner invaluable training before all sorts of audiences. Completely bald in his mid 20s, Klemperer had little problem securing theatrical work as older continental types, yet he yearned to broaden his range. To do this, he completely surpressed his German accent, the better to play such all-American character roles as the timorous press agent in the 1957 Cary Grant film Kiss Them for Me (1957). The capture of fugitive Nazi official Adolph Eichmann in 1960 sparked a renewal of interest in war films, and soon Klemperer found himself playing Eichmann (whom he vaguely resembled) in the 1961 quickie Operation Eichmann. He also essayed a suitably slimy role as a former Nazi jurist on trial for war crimes in 1961's Judgment at Nuremberg. Try though he might to break free of the stereotype, Klemperer was stuck in Teutonic roles, so he resigned himself to recultivating his German accent and worked steadily throughout the '60s. A low-comedy variation of Klemperer's standard character made him an international TV favorite: the actor played the heel-clicking, imperious and incredibly stupid Colonel Klink on the popular sitcom Hogan's Heroes from 1965 through 1970. In the '70s, Klemperer returned to his musical roots as a sometimes performer at the Metropolitan Opera, and as a lecturer/narrator for dozens of American symphony orchestras. Having spent most of his professional career chilling the audience's marrow as the archetypal Nazi officer, Werner Klemperer was the soul of geniality as the jovial narrator of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf at regional kiddie concerts of the '80s and '90s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 1992
Lucy Neven (Blanche Baker), a popular TV soap-opera actress, is nearly beaten to death. The main suspect is Jesse Unger (Bradley White), Neven's obsessive "biggest fan." Unger's defense attorney tries to get his client off the hook with a plea of temporary insanity -- and, much to the dismay of assistant D.A. Stone, it looks as though the strategy will succeed. Future West Wing co-star Allison Janney can be seen in the supporting role of Nora. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
- R
Flamboyant Broadway renaissance man Peter Sellars was the director of The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez. This freewheeling musical horror spoof isn't meant to be taken seriously, so don't be fooled by those Karloffian trappings. Ron Vawter plays the title character for all it's worth. He has to, with such formidable competition as Joan Cusack, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Werner Klemperer, the latter cast as "Fat Man Searching for a Tax Break." There's also a "Beaver Gourmet" in the cast of characters, which should clue you in as to the level of subtlety here. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mikhail Baryshnikov, Joan Cusack, (more)
- 1986
Views of a Vanishing Frontier chronicles the 1832-1834 journey of Swiss artist Karl Bodmer and Prince Maximilian zu Wied across the American West. Through the use of photographs, Bodmer's paintings, and narration of the Prince's diaries, this video recreates the expedition that took these men as far west as present-day Montana. Also included is a frame-by-frame overview of the Bodmer works used in the video, with brief descriptions of their significance. ~ Sean Hurley, Rovi
- 1981
Ten years after the cancellation of the cornpone comedy series The Beverly Hillbillies, the property was revived -- mercifully briefly -- in the form of a two-hour movie. Originally titled Solving the Energy Crisis, The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies found Buddy Ebsen, Donna Douglas and Nancy Kulp recreating their sitcom roles as millionaire hillbilly Jed Clampett (who'd moved back to the hills after dividing up his fortune amongst his loved ones), his daughter Elly May (now the owner of a small petting zoo), and bank secretary-turned-government functionary Jane Hathaway. Max Baer Jr. took a pass on the project, thus the role of Jed's nephew Jethro Bodine-now a "sophisticated Hollywood producer"-was played by Ray Young. And with Irene Ryan (Granny) and Raymond Bailey (Milburn Drysdale) having passed on, their replacements were Imogene Coca, and former Hogan's Heroes regular Werner Klemperer as government bureaucrat C. D. Medford, Jane Hathaway's new boss. Also on hand was bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, who with his late partner Lester Flatt has composed and performed the original Beverly Hillbillies theme song "The Ballad of Jed Clampett"; Shug Fisher and Shad Heller, who'd appeared in several 1969 episodes of the original series; and two veterans from The Beverly Hillbillies' sister series Petticoat Junction, Linda Kaye Henning and Charles Lane. The plot, if anyone cares, finds the Clampetts joining forces with Miss Jane to solve the energy shortage, using Granny's "white lightning" as a fuel substitute. As the film draws to a close, it looks as if Miss Jane and her boss Mr. Medford are about to be hitched in a good ol' Ozark wedding. Originally telecast on October 6, 1981, Return of the Beverly Hillbillies was intended as the pilot for a full-scale revival of the earlier series, but this was not to be. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
One of four miniseries comprising NBC's Best Sellers anthology, The Rhinemann Exchange was adapted from the Robert Ludlum novel of the same name. Stephen Collins stars as American intelligence officer David Spaulding, who under cover of his musician father's concert tours embarks upon a number of fact-finding missions in Europe just before WW2. Once hostilities break out, Spaulding relocates to Aergentina, there to exchange industrial diamonds for a secret gyroscope needed for the American war effort. Naturally, the Nazis are equally interested in those diamonds, putting Spaulding in any number of perilous predicaments. Lauren Hutton costars as Leslie Hawkewood, one of those ravishing "mystery women" so common to espionage fiction. Originally running 5 hours and telecast in three segments on March 10, 17, and 24, 1977, The Rhinemann Exchange was later rebroadcast as a four-hour, two-part "TV movie." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stephen Collins, Lauren Hutton, (more)
- 1972
Scenes of the real Munich are interspersed with shots of studio mockups in Assignment: Munich. Roy Scheider stars as an American expatriate running a saloon in Munich (shades of Casablanca). He agrees to help the US government locate a cache of gold, appropriated by the Nazis during the war. This TV pilot was a long time in getting a network commitment--so long, in fact, that star Roy Scheider took another job in the interim. By the time the series premiered in the fall of 1972, the role played by Scheider had been rewritten several times for several actors; Robert Conrad, who was then "between jobs", ended up playing the part. The city of Munich was also "replaced", and the series was retitled Assignment: Vienna. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
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