Hogan's Heroes: The Komplete Series, Kommandant's Kollection
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Actor: Bob Crane, John Banner, Larry Hovis, Richard Dawson, Werner KlempererBrand: Paramount
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Restored
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 441 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-11-24
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Reviews of Hogan's Heroes: The Komplete Series, Kommandant's Kollection
DVD Review: an extended series retrospective . . . celebrating the gang at Stalag 13
Summary: 5 Stars
For fans of Hogan's Heroes (1965-71), it is indeed fortunate that the program weathered the initial criticism and controversy, and went on to become a successful series for CBS for six seasons. Created by Bernard Fein and Albert Ruddy, Hogan's Heroes featured Allied prisoners conducting clandestine operations from Stalag 13, a German prisoner of war (POW) camp. In the initial season, various approaches were explored. Much was learned, and changes were made that resulted in a better and funnier program. When the writers had direction, and toned down some of the over the top wackiness, the stories became more credible, and Hogan's Heroes began to rise to new comedic heights.
The program's wonderful ensemble cast, was headed by Bob Crane as Colonel Robert Hogan, Werner Klemperer as Luftwaffe Colonel Wilhelm Klink, and John Banner as Sergeant Hans Schultz. It was often difficult for everyone to get screen time, but the core group of POW's, French corporal Louis LeBeau (Robert Clary), RAF corporal Peter Newkirk (Richard Dawson), and US sergeants Ben Kinchloe (Ivan Dixon), and Andrew Carter (Larry Hovis), soon developed into memorable characters. Leon Askin as General Burkhalter, evolved into a semi-regular, followed later by Howard Caine as Gestapo Major Hochstetter. With a large cast and guest stars frequently in the mix, Hogan's Heroes featured a rich variety of acting talent, guided by a creative team that included principal writers Richard M. Powell and Laurence Marks (MASH), and directors Gene Reynolds (MASH), Bruce Bilson, and Edward Feldman, who was also executive producer.
The 1960's was an amazing decade, full of turbulence and change. When Hogan's Heroes debuted in 1965, World War II was only twenty years in the past, and many still had deep feelings of hurt and loss. It was understandable that some found the idea of a comedy set in a POW camp, to be offensive, or in questionable taste. Others mistakenly confused POW camps, which housed military prisoners, with the extermination camps of the Holocaust. Interestingly, actors Askin, Banner, Clary, and Klemperer, were Jews who had fled Europe to escape the Nazis.
The primetime comedy lineup in 1965, was an eclectic mix from many genres that included Gilligan's Island, My Favorite Martian, McHale's Navy, Bewitched, The Munsters, The Addams Family, Mr. Ed, Andy Griffith, and The Beverly Hillbillies. Also debuted in 1965 were That Girl, Get Smart, My Mother the Car, and I Dream of Jeannie. With TV comedy exploring so many wacky frontiers, why not a sitcom set in a stalag?
Allied prisoners digging tunnels were featured in The Great Escape (1963), a hugely popular film, based on real life events detailed in a book by Paul Brickhill. The film took certain liberties with the truth for dramatic purposes, and Hogan's Heroes similarly mixed elements of fact with fiction, and then took matters to a radically ridiculous extreme, featuring an elaborate secret underground installation and tunnel system. Early on, reality was stretched a bit too far, and things got a little too loose, such as when a plane was launched from the camp, artillery guns fired happy birthday flags, and a tank vanished inside the camp. Even a parody can be taken to extremes, and adjustments were made to find an appropriate balance between reality and fantasy. When the proper framework was established, and suitable writers found, Hogan and his men could achieve almost anything short of winning the war. The relationship between the prisoners and the Germans, evolved from being a childish game of superiority, to one with a higher level of respect.
Some aspects of life in Stalag 13 that had a basis in reality, included the scarcity of food, and the importance of the Geneva Convention and Red Cross packages. POW's typically had only their one uniform to wear. Prisoners had roll calls, faced punishment for subversive activities, and developed elaborate security and warning systems to cover their escape activities, which were typically coordinated by an escape committee. German soldiers did fear of the Russian front, and there was an `underground' system that aided Allied soldiers.
A big part of the series was the Hogan/Kink relationship, where Hogan continuously manipulated Klink by playing on his fears, ambition and vanity. Klink was usually putty in Hogan's hands, but those rare occasions when things did not go Hogan's way, were usually a very interesting times. Klink's incompetence so greatly aided the Allied cause, that it was hard to regard him as the enemy. Werner Klemperer won two Emmys for his performance In the role.
John Banner was simply magnificent as the portly Sgt. Schultz, a man with a resolve as firm as jell-o, who could be pressured or persuaded with food, into doing almost anything. Banner was perhaps the most naturally funny of anyone, and often got many of the best lines, the classic 'I know nothing . . . nothing', being just one. Banner could take over a scene by outrageously overacting, or just by reacting in the background. It is impossible to conceive of the program, without this gentle man's singular talents.
For many in the cast, Hogan's Heroes is what they are most remembered for. Larry Hovis had a special talent as the goofball, demolition expert Carter, who did a hilarious impersonation of Hitler, and other Germans. Robert Clary as LeBeau, was often found putting his culinary skills to use. Handsome Ivan Dixon, was one of the first African Americans to be featured as a regular in a television series. The episodes where Sergeant Kinchloe was spotlighted were always excellent. Later known for hosting Family Feud, Richard Dawson was Peter Newkirk, a wisecracking hustler type, who fancied himself a ladies' man. When Dixon left the series, Kenneth Washington replaced him in the final season, as Sergeant Baker. Cynthia Lynn was Klink's secretary Helga for the first season. Sigrid Valdis took over as Hilda, for the run of the series. Valdis married Bob Crane in 1970.
Leon Askin, much like John Banner, was a comedic jewel as General Burkhalter. With an acidic voice, and a commanding presence, Askin delivered some devastating zingers, usually involving some massive putdown of Klink. With Stalag 13 and the nearby town of Hammelburg, the hub for underground operations and sabotage activities, it was natural that the Gestapo (geheim stazpolizei) took an interest in the camp. Howard Caine became a semi-regular as the sneering Gestapo Major Hochstetter. Hochstetter was a serious and dangerous threat, and dealing with him was always a challenge. The Gestapo often clashed with the Luftwaffe, adding a few more sparks to the fun.
Bernard Fox as Colonel Crittenden, Kathleen Freeman as Gertrude Linkmeyer, Arlene Martel as Tiger, Nita Talbot as Marya, Dick Wilson as Fritz Gruber, and Jon Cedar as Corporal Langenscheidt (and others) were among the best of the reoccurring guest characters, with Noam Pitlik, Victoria Carroll, and Dave Morick among the many who made multiple appearances in various roles. The program featured a list of distinguished guest stars that included John Hoyt, Gavin MacLeod, Harold J. Stone, John Dehner, Whit Bissell, Harold Gould, Alan Oppenheimer, Frank Marth, Paul Lambert, John Stephenson, Ben Wright, and Theo Marcuse. Some of the fine actresses who appeared include Antoinette Bower, Ruta Lee, Marj Dusay, Marilyn Mason, Barbara Babcock, Joyce Jameson, Lynn Peters, Jean Hale, Fay Spain, Claudine Longet, Sabrina Scharf, Mariana Hill, Leslie Parrish, Karen Steele, and Brenda Benet.
Robert Clary has written a memoir entitled `From the Holocaust to Hogan's Heroes', and Cynthia Lynn has also written a memoir 'Escape to Freedom'. Brenda Scott Royce's out of print book, `Behind the Scenes at Stalag 13' has some good information, although the episode summaries could have been much more comprehensive.
The Kommandant's Kollection is the most complete set of complete series. This new compilation appears to be a repackaging of the previously issued season sets, plus one new disc with additional bonus material. The set maybe rates a B minus, for packaging. To try and save space, the discs are separated into individual season sets, that are housed in folded cardboard sleeves. The sleeves have a light brown sepia tone, and feature some cool photos. The DVD's slide into cutout slots, and if they are not securely wedged in, the discs can fall out. When you first open the set, check to see that none of the discs have become loose in transit. The width of the outer box is only 2.5 inches, but it is slightly deeper than the most DVD boxed sets. It comes with a sliding plastic sleeve, which helps keep the season sleeves from sliding out. With care, hopefully the long term durability of the set will be good, as paper sleeves don't offer very much protection against damage.
Fans may be curious about the content on the New Special Features Disc. The remembrances of Richard Dawson, and co-creator Albert J. Ruddy, are of particular interest, as sadly so many in the cast are no longer with us. Much appreciation to the late Sigrid Valdis (Patricia Crane), who graciously shared her memories and thoughts, in the previously issued sets. A brief summary of the major items on the new bonus disc follows:
The Informer - Extended pilot episode : The pilot has a lead in segment that features Fred MacMurray from My Three Sons, and an intro of the episode by Bob Denver and Alan Hale Jr. of Gilligan's Island. The original pilot ran about 26 minutes, the extended version is 33 minutes.
Clip from Hollywood Palace: The cast of Hogan's Heroes make a brief appearance with host Bing Crosby. Hogan's Heroes was produced by Crosby's production company. (5 minutes)
Richard Dawson Remembers: Probably the best of the extras, features a very humble Richard Dawson reminiscing about his life, the show, and his fellow cast members. Broken up into three segments, the total run time is about 44 minutes.
Conversation with Albert S. Ruddy: The series co-creator Ruddy, recounts how he and Bernard Fein, total novices to screenwriting, managed to get Hogan's Heroes on network television, and how CBS was sued for plagiarism by the producers of the movie Stalag 17. (12 minutes)
The Safecracker Suite: Al Ruddy explains how after being banned in Germany for many years, Hogan's Heroes was finally allowed to air there. The dialog in the episodes was altered by the Germans, to be more "appropriate" for a German audience. This is an example of an episode given this treatment. A curiosity perhaps, but probably not of great interest to many.
With a fabulous cast, and solid writing, Hogan's Heroes is a truly unique classic comedy, from that very special decade, the 1960's. For some, it may engender memories of a time when sacrifice and working together for a common cause, was not such a strange concept as it may seem today.
Description of Hogan's Heroes: The Komplete Series, Kommandant's Kollection
The inmates of a German World War II Prisoners of War camp conduct espionage and sabotage campaign right under the noses of their warders. While the enemy is often gullible, easily fooled or downright incompetent ? the real strength of Hogan?s men are the elaborate ruses and sometimes dangerous lengths they will go to complete their mission.Bestsellers in DVD
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