@@megs4193 At the same restaurant, which my godfather knew everyone also introduced me to Jack Webb and Harry Morgan from Dragnet. I asked for an autograph from Jack, then I asked Jack if his partner could sign it too. With the biggest smile Harry signed it: And his partner too, Harry Morgan. Priceless memory for me.
I can't truthfully tell you how many times i watched, whatched and watched Hogan's Heroes from start of the seasons to the end. Klink and Shcultz made the program without a doubt.
Part of my childhood. A time where sincere actors could play historic-related parts and not be labeled or slandered with cruel epithets for the character they played.
There was a show I watched a couple years ago on netflix where a guy traveled around places and experienced things. One of the things he did was a WW2 reenactment in Europe. He met a couple of reenactors there that seemed actually pretty chill and awesome, but, for the sake of the event, portrayed the "not-see's", since there NEEDS to be baddies to fight in those things. It showed the meet/greet, and some convo, and an explanation of how they could wear their attire and why. But as the 2 gentlemen walked away, the voice-over of the host conveyed that he questioned them about their portrayal choice, and maybe even their "motives" for doing so. What a slap in the face to those guys. I felt bad for them. Especially since they outright said they DIDN'T agree with anything the "Angry-Mustache-Man-Of-WW2" espoused.
When I was in high school I had a German friend. He kind of looked like Klink. We both loved Hogan's Heroes and he'd do a great Klink. Body language, facial expressions and all. LoL. Good times.
Oh my goodness, what a terrific actor Mr Klemperer was; and what a gifted family he came from. You did a great career review of Werner. Loved the part where Werner had his lawyer agent ensure Klink’s character clauses: do no harm and zeroed our hero potential in the Hogan’s Hero scripts. Werner has heard and seen enough war, warmongering. Always enjoyed this clever show w Mr K. Well done videography. Thank you. I learn a lot here...
It was my pleasure to see him perform on Broadway in a revival of Cabaret -- wonderful voice, great stage presence. He received as much applause, on his appearance, as did Joel Gray on his.
He’s a class act. What his demands were before starting hogans hero were perfect he was not going to glorify nazism in any way shape or form. He is a wonderful man.
@@hambone5718 I'm glad to hear someone else say that!! Him and Klink both do it all the time! I love it! I've been watching it every night between 9-10 on MeTV for like 4 years now. No matter how many times I watch it, I laugh just as hard as I did the first time. I'm 40 but it was never on reruns that I had ever seen. I'm sure it was but I never happened to catch it and I've watched old TV shows even as a kid. I'm actually glad that I didn't run into earlier in life because it gave me something new to watch in the last few years. Every time I watch I swear I see more and more facial expressions and body language from Klink and Schultz. There are so many little things they do that without watching again and again I'd never have noticed. There is one part in particular where Klink did something that was just wonderfully hilarious but at the moment I cannot think of the episode. Others in the show have funny expressions and body language too, but Klink and Schultz are always doing something funny. When Schultz starts up the motorcycle and Klink tells him to go and the side car slides off and he falls over haha, classic. That's the one they get Klink to the hospital and then Hogan pretends he has some rare disease (Polaris Extremus I think it was called) and he's eating the flowers haha.
I love all of the characters, but Klink and Schultz are top notch. They have the best body language and facial expressions ever. "Don't mention it heir komandant, it's all part of being not much of an aide."
Klink was a classic character and Werner Klemperer did an amazing job portraying him. And you have to admire his commitment to morals and ethics in refusing to be shown as violent or heroic.
@@pastelskies8466 It depends on how it is written or portrayed. Horrible events very often end up being used in comedy of all types. What makes a difference is the tone, intention, and the choices a writer or a comedian decides to take. Dave Chapelle has some old school jokes involving the crack epidemic of the 1980's and also the K K K. Those things were absolutely horrible and destroyed tons of people's lives but because of the way he delivered it and his tone and intention people laughed and enjoyed it. So again it depends.
My sister's late mother in law (who was a Polish war refugee in NZ after WW2) casually said one evening that she knew Werner Klemperer. She said he was a family friend. Having seen this biography I can guess how it happened - her late husband was a conductor of the orchestra for an opera company in Warsaw until the Germans put a stop to that by sending him to Auschwitz. No doubt her husband had known Otto Klemperer. She and her son (later my brother in law!) were sent to a labour camp, escaped at some stage, and wandered around Germany until the war ended, narrowly avoiding catastrophe in Dresden. She was a similar shape to Sgt Schultz, and had us in stitches with her Schultz impersonations.
I truly enjoy your podcasts, sir. I was blown away to learn that his father was the actual conductor of the LA Philharmonic, where I was born, and was also a Jew. When he always played Nazis, that came as something of a shock, I'll tell you! On his performance in "Judgment at Nuremberg," he was particularly well cast, one of my favorite movies of all time, one that every lover of great films should see. I must have watched it 100 times. Again, thank you for your wonderful series.
🙏 Thank You So Much Werner Klemperer for given us a delightful to watch character Colonel Klink in Hogan's Heroes! May Werner Klemperer be Blessed to a Better World & Realm ... 🕯🌷🌿🌏💜🕊
during my tenure in the US Army quotes from him and the rest of the cast were every day, and everyone new the references inside and out! absolute gold!
My father, an actual POW captured during the Battle of the Bulge, found this show hilarious. it was Col Klink and Sgt Schultz that he enjoyed the most. He didn't care for Nazis much...
My mother was born in Germany and was required to be a Hitler Youth member. Met my dad in Germany after the war and then became an American citizen. She absolutely loved Hogan's Heros as did our whole family. We all got together to watch each episode and had some great laughs together. As a kid I was always afraid that she might take offense at some of the ways the 'Germans' were portrayed. I cannot recall a single negative comment from her about the show. It was just so funny I guess that it would be hard to take any of it serious enough to be offended.
My mother acted opposite Werner Klemperer in Pearl Harbor during WWII. They were engaged to be married. They had a “secret code” to use when interviewed in the media to let each other know they were looking for each “should the events of the War” separate them. They were, in fact, separated when Klemperer went on a South Pacific tour. In 1989 he came through San Francisco with a Shakespearean acting troupe. The San Francisco Chronicle did a full page interview of him. My mother said he was using their “secret code.”
Yes. But he never won an award because he did not see anything, he did not hear anything, he did not know anything. Like he said so often: "I know nothing!"
I watched the show ON and OFF when it was on TV back in the '60s, but due to COVID I stumbled upon it year ago and now watch it anytime it's on. Brings back so many memories plus I like the vibe the show has even today.
I am not very familiar with Werner Klemperer but more so with his esteemed father. However I have to say how much I really enjoyed this young man's voice over. His tone is gentle and his little laughs now and then are a joy to hear. Thank you sir and blessings and peace to you
That was very interesting. I never knew he was the one who spelled out that nobody gets hurt on the show. I also never connected the dots between his father and he. I had numerous 33-1/3 RPM recordings with his father conducting. What a talented man ! Barry
Mr. Klemperer returned to opera performance later in life. I saw him onstage in the 1980s with the Cincinnati Opera performing in Mozart's comic opera 'The Abduction from the Seraglio'. I recall that he was the producer of this show, taking it around to different cities
Just to be clear, Werner Klemperer regularly played the Pasha, Bassa Selim, in the opera, which is a speaking role with no singing. The opera is a "singspiel", meaning that there are long periods of spoken dialogue in between the arias.
I was 1 year old when Hogan's Heroes aired for the first time, and only recently, I watched the show for the first time. I was shocked when the show ended all of a sudden, without a warning, in the middle of season 6. So now I'm watching for the second time. Hogan's Heroes is, hands down, my absolute favorite show of all time! And Werner Klemperer is my favorite on the show, followed by Howard Caine, Leon Askin, Robert Clary and Bernard Fox. Thanks for making these videos : )
Right, these cats were so good in that show; and there really was no Hogan's Heros without Klemperer. He gets a gold star for just having a name with an "er" and another "er" at the end of it.
He was what they call the " Comic Relief " actor of the show, and was used mainly for laugh's, EVERY show or movie has one of those type actor/actress in each one
Herd Klemperer was a Huge influence in my childhood, and was the primary influence in my lifelong interest in the German language and the German culture. His dialect was what us kids mimicked, and since I was good at mimicry, going into my first few years of German I was quite good in picking up pronunciation. Werner also hosted a Los Angeles classical radio program for many years. A superb Boomer TV icon.
Hogan's Heroes was my favorite show of all time, and Klink by far was my favorite character! Thanks for making this video, I've been waiting for something like this for a while now, well done!
Werner Klemperer portrayed Col Klink perfectly >>> Hogan's Heroes is still one of my best sitcom series of the 1960s among other Gems on offer at that era ... May Good Gods & Goddesses blessed the Casts & Crew of Hogan's Heroes to a Better World & Realm! 🕯🌷🌿🌍🇺🇸🇩🇪
Actor Werner Kemplerer was also an accomplished violinist. He can be seen here in UA-cam playing in the first violins section of the Philarmonia Orchestra, under his father, renown conductor Otto Kemplerer, in a remarkable execution of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. During Hogan’s Heroes while playing the part of Col. Klink, he always purposely “played” his violin terribly making screeching sounds as if he couldn’t play. But he did play, and well. And no, he didn’t wear his monocle there. :)
Great video! I was born in 1957. The show premiered in 1965. I was too young to enjoy it then. Even though I have seen every episode multiple times, I still tune in to "METV" at 10pm for two episodes Mon-Fri. The "Andy Griffin" TV show might possible be the best show of it's era. If I had to pick one show to be my #1, it would have to be "Hogan". Mr. Klemperer was also quite the ladies man. He married a fellow cast member, one of my favorites, the very beautiful and talented Louise Troy. Followed by the equally gifted Kim Hamilton. RIP, Werner.
Your video was recommended to me at the perfect time as I've been watching re-runs for the past 4 months. I've been interested in learning the stories behind the show. Werner Klemperer has been on my mind lately because of how well he crafted the character, Colonel Klink. I have to say, Werner is one very accomplished actor, and thanks for that backstory. Another one of my favorites is the acting skills of John Banner. I'll be watching your John Banner video next. :)
Actually, after the war, Hogan and his surviving team started a little known but very effective intelligence and international police bureau known as UNCLE
I do remember a single episode where Klink came out on top. Nothing serious, the outcome being that he scored a lovely young date, based on a tip Hogan gave him about a lovely young, rich widow. When Kinch pressed for details, he admits he made the details up. Cue the end of the episode, where Klink hands Hogan a bottle of wine, and goes back to his date, leaving Hogan dumbfounded as to what exactly just happened.
@Cecilly Anne That's correct. Bertha Haagenfasle (sp?). Hogan had read where Bertha had taken over a nearby inn. I think when a smug Klink handed Hogan the wine he said to the effect, "You're the best enemy a man ever had."
I met a veteran at Planes of Fame who'd been a gunner on a B-17, shot down and then imprisoned in the same prison that the Great Escape had taken place - but before he got there. He was telling us a few things and then he said, "You ever watch Hogan's Heroes?" We all did and I started to say that of course it was nothing like that... He snorted, "They got a lot of it right." Remember Sergeant Schultz, "I see nothing!"? We had a Sergeant Schultz. We had him in our pocket." He then explained that they gave Schultz some things from 'our Red Cross packages,' cigarettes, chocolate -things the Germans couldn't get because of rationing. In exchange they got Schultz to bring them some things they couldn't get. Small, unimportant items. Even though these weren't important they were contraband and any one giving them to the POWs would be in serious trouble. Sent to the Russian Front or shot. So then they asked Schultz to meet someone and smuggle in some more serious items. "No!" But we had him, he had to do it or get sent to the East. We had him bringing radio parts. So like Hogan's Heroes we had radios in camp and spare parts like tubes so we could keep them working. I was born in the 50s, grew up on WWII stories (none about battles, always about shenanigans in the barracks. People in Detroit with tattoos on their arms? (Asuchwitz). No mention of Concentration Camps - we'd learned all about these of course, but these people had been 'DPs during the war.' "Displaced Persons,' basically refugees. Sometimes I'd be at a wedding and my grandmother would point out so and so and say, "He was a DP during the war." Anyway, we also grew up on WWII movies. One of the biggest revelations of my adult life was learning that almost everyone of those movies including the Dirty Dozen, were based on fact. What that Army Air Corp sergeant told us about Hogan's Heroes was a real mind bender. What did the 'DPs' talk about? Ask them about the War, and the (concentration) Camps, and they'll tell you about the Allied Displaced Persons camps after the war. One guy, Bill and his friend I met in the 80s, both had been in the Nazi camps but they wanted to talk about the DP camp. They were behind wire, like any stockade, in Occupied Germany after the war. The farm next door had an orchard, Bill said they watched the apples getting ripe. People in the camp knew when they'd be sweet. So the apples were ripe and they started pushing at the fence to knock it down. Bill starts laughing, 'The GIs told us to stop it, or they'd start shooting. We just laughed at them. 'You're not the Nazi bastards.' " So they knocked down the fence and stripped the orchard. The farmer raised hell and the Americans told him to go F himself. When I learned that Col. Klink was Jewish? It was like my brain ran through all the jokes on Hogan's Heroes again and I laughed even harder.
We recently saw him and Jack Weston in an early episode of "Gunsmoke." Werner was also related to Victor Klemperer, whose diary "I Shall Bear Witness" is a first hand account of the casual cruelties and indignities suffered by German Jews in the 1930s.
Fun fact (regarding "Oh, you want this comedic and not dramatic?") The movie "Dr Strangelove" was originally supposed to be a drama, but "Fail Safe" was due to open around the same time...and it had an incredibly similar plot. Knowing that there wouldn't be enough of an audience for TWO nuclear attack *dramas* at the same time, Stanley Kubrick 1) got Dr Strangelove released asap, and 2) told his actors to play the drama as a dark comedy. If you watch the film, most of the lines could be either comic OR dramatic, simply based upon the actors' performances.
I had no idea he was so versatile! That's the mark of a truly talented entertainer. Just as the vaudeville actors of old, Werner could do it all. I can't see anyone else being "Kommandant Klink".
I was stationed at Camp Rilea doing air assault training. During my duty day I typically had to go to the arms room at least once to draw a weapon for some simulation or another. Our armorers last name was Shultz. Then it happened... I come in to get a 240b, and there is a full bird colonel headed into the CQ office, right next door to the arms room. Colonel comes into the office, and hollers through the doorway into the vault "Shultz, I need you out here immediately." to which the only reply is a high pitched voice saying "Yeesss Colonel!" Apparently someone had run off with an M2 from one of the firing ranges and it couldn't be found... "I know nothing! Nothing!" I nearly peed myself trying to not laugh
It surprises me, and makes me smile, to see a young person also take an interest in this stuff, though it's not pronounced Richard Wide Mark. I loved the show as a kid and think he was a wonderful actor. As a child Klemperer and his family fled the Nazi's just ahead of the holocaust. His mother baked their money in to a cake so the Nazi guards wouldn't rob them, as moneyless refugees could be sent back in those days (landing them all in a concentration camp). He did a US Navy submarine training film called Silent Service, that you can find here on UA-cam, where he played a U Boat officer. He loved the United States. Thanks for this. I'm going to look up some of the shows and movies you mentioned that I didn't know he was in.
Right! Not only is it not pronounced Widemark, it's also *not* pronounced "Maxim" Shell (Maximilian Schell), or Marlene "Durish"(?) (Marlene Dietrich)! Also, you've even mispronounced his name. It's pronounced [V air ner]. Similarly, his character's name on Hogan's Heroes is pronounced [Vill helm].
I really liked Hogans heroes. I was so glad to hear about all the other things he did. What a great guy he was. He had awesome Legacy . I really enjoyed you talking about him. I watch a lot of shows that he was in, but my favorite was Hogan heroes.
I watched Hogan's Heroes for years and years. My Grandpa George was a fan of the show until his death in October, 1985. Now, I watch Hogan's Heroes on METV every night. Werner Klemperer and I were both born on March 22nd although I was born 44 years later, in 1964. Klemperer was also an accomplished violinist in one episode entitled The Big Record. He was fantastic as the bumbling, inept Colonel Klink. Klemperer was also wonderful in dramatic roles, like Perry Mason.
I can't stop watching Hogan's Heros. It's too funny. I remember seeing it on TV when I was a kid. Colonel Klink is the one who kept allowing Colonel Hogan and his prisoner of war mates as well as his superiors to make a fool of himself. And Colonel Hogan was at least 10 times smarter than Colonel Klink too. But Sergent Shultz was easily fooled too.
I like how the POWs were allowed the run of the camp. Hogan came and went from Klink's office as he pleased and joined in many conversations with Klink and other German officers, generals, SS, Gestapo. Like it perfectly normal for a prisoner to do that. Funny.
I remember Werner Klemperer's guest voice role on "The Simpsons". Col. Klink was kind of like a spirit guide to Homer. Sir Isaac Newton showed up first but Homer couldn't relate to him, so Col. Klink was up next. At the end of the bit, Klink gave his iconic lament, but instead of "Hogan!" it was "Homer!" in the same intonation. It was a fun, unexpected albeit brief, "The Simpsons" guest voice role. And of course, Homer just had to tell Col. Klink all the stuff the prisoners were doing, like the audio bug in the coffee pot.
You mentioned his audition for Hogan's Heroes, I also read that initially they had Banner in mind for the commandant and Klemperer as the sergeant. And of course most fans of the show know that they did swap roles in one episode and although I think that could have worked, it's pretty obvious they got it right!
Saw him on Broadway in the first revival of Cabaret playing the male of the elderly Jewish couple (Which was never in the film version) subplot. He was exceptional in a sympathetic dramatic role. I have trouble watching Hogan's Heroes because of that. He was superb in a Twilight Zone episode as well.
I watch Hogan's Heroes twice every night almost without fail. I'm 62 and I wasn't old enough to watch when it first aired, had to be in bed by 8, so I started with the first syndicated airings around 1973. Every weeknight at 7 after the news. Things don't change all that much in 50 years. Has to say something about quality of the show.
look at the many character actors who filled the screens on television after ww2. Many of them had served in the military, Eddie Albert served with distinction in the Pacific and went on to play a dope in Green Acres. Imagine getting to spend your life making people happy doing parts and variety shows and as ALWAYS happened, ending up in Hollywood Squares?
In the classical realm he is also known as "The Speaker" in Schönbergs "Gurrelieder" (conducted by Ozawa). The part is short, fantastic and weird, but he is probably the best "Sprecher" ever.
In the late '60's, I sat down at the snack bar at Two Harbors, Catalina. Who sat next to me but Colonel Klink. He asked me to pass him a straw. I almost swooned!
I always wished they did a return to stalag 13 where it came out Klink and Schultz knew exactly what Hogan was doing. And were part of the anti nazi faction in the German military.
Imagine if a crew of video editing students created such a "final episode" from existing footage?!! Might help to have a team of writers who were highly familiar with all the episodes to come up with an authentic-seeming storyline first. Have at it please...somebody?😁
When I was 12, I was fortunate to meet Werner at Scandia restaurant in Los Angeles where he gave me an autograph and sign it as Col. Klink!
Very Cool!
Priceless!
That's awesome.
You are so so lucky 💓 🤗🤗🤗💞🇦🇺.
@@megs4193 At the same restaurant, which my godfather knew everyone also introduced me to Jack Webb and Harry Morgan from Dragnet. I asked for an autograph from Jack, then I asked Jack if his partner could sign it too. With the biggest smile Harry signed it: And his partner too, Harry Morgan. Priceless memory for me.
I can't truthfully tell you how many times i watched, whatched and watched Hogan's Heroes from start of the seasons to the end. Klink and Shcultz made the program without a doubt.
I love your delivery tone. Informative, respectful...AND...affectionate. These days we need more of this type of story telling.
His daughter was my dermatologist for several years. She is one of the most relatable and nicest doctors I’ve ever had.
Horse shit
@@zacharypayne4080 Yes, you certainly are.
@@zacharypayne4080 why not?
@@kathymayes4290 im just joking..🤣
Laundry soap powder is bad for dermatitis. It doesn't always dissolve properly and the particles inflame the skin. Works for me.
There's an interview from the 90s with him, and part of that showed him conducting an orchestra. Outstanding man.
Emigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1933. I would say that was good timing.
What a tremendous actor. He was brilliant as Klink. A comedic genius.
Part of my childhood. A time where sincere actors could play historic-related parts and not be labeled or slandered with cruel epithets for the character they played.
There was a show I watched a couple years ago on netflix where a guy traveled around places and experienced things. One of the things he did was a WW2 reenactment in Europe. He met a couple of reenactors there that seemed actually pretty chill and awesome, but, for the sake of the event, portrayed the "not-see's", since there NEEDS to be baddies to fight in those things. It showed the meet/greet, and some convo, and an explanation of how they could wear their attire and why. But as the 2 gentlemen walked away, the voice-over of the host conveyed that he questioned them about their portrayal choice, and maybe even their "motives" for doing so.
What a slap in the face to those guys. I felt bad for them. Especially since they outright said they DIDN'T agree with anything the "Angry-Mustache-Man-Of-WW2" espoused.
It will be canceled soon. Cancel Culture is toxic as hell.
When I was in high school I had a German friend. He kind of looked like Klink. We both loved Hogan's Heroes and he'd do a great Klink. Body language, facial expressions and all. LoL. Good times.
"Into the cooler for you"
Oh my goodness, what a terrific actor Mr Klemperer was; and what a gifted family he came from. You did a great career review of Werner. Loved the part where Werner had his lawyer agent ensure Klink’s character clauses: do no harm and zeroed our hero potential in the Hogan’s Hero scripts. Werner has heard and seen enough war, warmongering. Always enjoyed this clever show w Mr K. Well done videography. Thank you. I learn a lot here...
What a terrific actor! Years ago I was stunned to see his father's name on so many of my LPs. He was a class act all the way through.
It was my pleasure to see him perform on Broadway in a revival of Cabaret -- wonderful voice, great stage presence. He received as much applause, on his appearance, as did Joel Gray on his.
WERNER KLEMPERER HAS &ALWAYS WILL MAKE ME SMILE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. DARRIN J.
He’s a class act. What his demands were before starting hogans hero were perfect he was not going to glorify nazism in any way shape or form. He is a wonderful man.
He was in One Step Beyond episode " The haunted U boat."
I’ve always liked Otto Klemperer as a conductor and so I was very delighted to discover that Werner Klemperer was his son.
Klink n Schultz were the best characters on that show and had some of the best lines
I agree. Especially Mr. Banner, in the background with mannerisms and facial expression you really don't notice without looking for it.
@@hambone5718 I'm glad to hear someone else say that!! Him and Klink both do it all the time! I love it! I've been watching it every night between 9-10 on MeTV for like 4 years now. No matter how many times I watch it, I laugh just as hard as I did the first time. I'm 40 but it was never on reruns that I had ever seen. I'm sure it was but I never happened to catch it and I've watched old TV shows even as a kid. I'm actually glad that I didn't run into earlier in life because it gave me something new to watch in the last few years. Every time I watch I swear I see more and more facial expressions and body language from Klink and Schultz. There are so many little things they do that without watching again and again I'd never have noticed. There is one part in particular where Klink did something that was just wonderfully hilarious but at the moment I cannot think of the episode. Others in the show have funny expressions and body language too, but Klink and Schultz are always doing something funny. When Schultz starts up the motorcycle and Klink tells him to go and the side car slides off and he falls over haha, classic. That's the one they get Klink to the hospital and then Hogan pretends he has some rare disease (Polaris Extremus I think it was called) and he's eating the flowers haha.
I love all of the characters, but Klink and Schultz are top notch. They have the best body language and facial expressions ever. "Don't mention it heir komandant, it's all part of being not much of an aide."
My grandmother, born 1906, and her sisters laughed from beginning to end of this show.
Helga.......
Klink was a classic character and Werner Klemperer did an amazing job portraying him. And you have to admire his commitment to morals and ethics in refusing to be shown as violent or heroic.
@@pastelskies8466 It depends on how it is written or portrayed. Horrible events very often end up being used in comedy of all types. What makes a difference is the tone, intention, and the choices a writer or a comedian decides to take. Dave Chapelle has some old school jokes involving the crack epidemic of the 1980's and also the K K K. Those things were absolutely horrible and destroyed tons of people's lives but because of the way he delivered it and his tone and intention people laughed and enjoyed it. So again it depends.
Another great episode. Werner looked like he may have been a charming man in real life.
My sister's late mother in law (who was a Polish war refugee in NZ after WW2) casually said one evening that she knew Werner Klemperer. She said he was a family friend. Having seen this biography I can guess how it happened - her late husband was a conductor of the orchestra for an opera company in Warsaw until the Germans put a stop to that by sending him to Auschwitz. No doubt her husband had known Otto Klemperer. She and her son (later my brother in law!) were sent to a labour camp, escaped at some stage, and wandered around Germany until the war ended, narrowly avoiding catastrophe in Dresden. She was a similar shape to Sgt Schultz, and had us in stitches with her Schultz impersonations.
I truly enjoy your podcasts, sir. I was blown away to learn that his father was the actual conductor of the LA Philharmonic, where I was born, and was also a Jew. When he always played Nazis, that came as something of a shock, I'll tell you! On his performance in "Judgment at Nuremberg," he was particularly well cast, one of my favorite movies of all time, one that every lover of great films should see. I must have watched it 100 times. Again, thank you for your wonderful series.
My dad and I watch about 3 - 4 hours of Hogan's Heroes every single Saturday. It is one of my favorite shows!!!
🙏 Thank You So Much Werner Klemperer for given us a delightful to watch character Colonel Klink in Hogan's Heroes! May Werner Klemperer be Blessed to a Better World & Realm ... 🕯🌷🌿🌏💜🕊
💜
I met Mr Werner Klemperer, back in 1983 in LaJolla, CA. He was a true gentleman and very friendly!
Cool Klink. No thumbs down. Great actor.
Well, there are some 'thumbs down' now. I love Hogan's Heroes! It's just silly and funny.
during my tenure in the US Army quotes from him and the rest of the cast were every day, and everyone new the references inside and out! absolute gold!
My father, an actual POW captured during the Battle of the Bulge, found this show hilarious. it was Col Klink and Sgt Schultz that he enjoyed the most. He didn't care for Nazis much...
My mother was born in Germany and was required to be a Hitler Youth member. Met my dad in Germany after the war and then became an American citizen. She absolutely loved Hogan's Heros as did our whole family. We all got together to watch each episode and had some great laughs together. As a kid I was always afraid that she might take offense at some of the ways the 'Germans' were portrayed. I cannot recall a single negative comment from her about the show. It was just so funny I guess that it would be hard to take any of it serious enough to be offended.
Comedic sitcoms are made about your own people as well. Monty python tore the guts out of Brit’s, and lumberjacks.
I married someone with the personality of hitler.
I love how much you enjoy the videos yourself! More than interesting, your enthusiasm and joy are infectious. :)
😁😁😁
My mother acted opposite Werner Klemperer in Pearl Harbor during WWII. They were engaged to be married. They had a “secret code” to use when interviewed in the media to let each other know they were looking for each “should the events of the War” separate them. They were, in fact, separated when Klemperer went on a South Pacific tour. In 1989 he came through San Francisco with a Shakespearean acting troupe. The San Francisco Chronicle did a full page interview of him. My mother said he was using their “secret code.”
😲😲😲
Loved the show when I was a kid. Klink was perfectly cast.
It boggles my mind the Sgt Schultz never won any awards since you said Colonel Klink was the only one to win an award. To me, Schultz made the show
I see nothing! lol
Yes. But he never won an award because he did not see anything, he did not hear anything, he did not know anything. Like he said so often: "I know nothing!"
At least the French rebranded the show "Papa Schultz." That was a win.
I see nu-thing!
@@ronaldrobertson2332 it was a perfect match of characters.
I watched the show ON and OFF when it was on TV back in the '60s, but due to COVID I stumbled upon it year ago and now watch it anytime it's on. Brings back so many memories plus I like the vibe the show has even today.
I am not very familiar with Werner Klemperer but more so with his esteemed father. However I have to say how much I really enjoyed this young man's voice over. His tone is gentle and his little laughs now and then are a joy to hear. Thank you sir and blessings and peace to you
I would eat Chef Boyardee ravioli often as a kid when watching this show, just brought back a fond memory !
In the late 80's, Werner performed Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait. Truly, a great orator. One of my fondest memories with the Florida Symphony.
That was very interesting. I never knew he was the one who spelled out that nobody gets hurt on the show. I also never connected the dots between
his father and he. I had numerous 33-1/3 RPM recordings with his father conducting. What a talented man !
Barry
Mr. Klemperer returned to opera performance later in life. I saw him onstage in the 1980s with the Cincinnati Opera performing in Mozart's comic opera 'The Abduction from the Seraglio'. I recall that he was the producer of this show, taking it around to different cities
Just to be clear, Werner Klemperer regularly played the Pasha, Bassa Selim, in the opera, which is a speaking role with no singing. The opera is a "singspiel", meaning that there are long periods of spoken dialogue in between the arias.
What a classic show. Lot's of chuckles!
I was 1 year old when Hogan's Heroes aired for the first time, and only recently, I watched the show for the first time. I was shocked when the show ended all of a sudden, without a warning, in the middle of season 6. So now I'm watching for the second time. Hogan's Heroes is, hands down, my absolute favorite show of all time! And Werner Klemperer is my favorite on the show, followed by Howard Caine, Leon Askin, Robert Clary and Bernard Fox. Thanks for making these videos : )
Right, these cats were so good in that show; and there really was no Hogan's Heros without Klemperer. He gets a gold star for just having a name with an "er" and another "er" at the end of it.
He was what they call the " Comic Relief " actor of the show, and was used mainly for laugh's, EVERY show or movie has one of those type actor/actress in each one
Herd Klemperer was a Huge influence in my childhood, and was the primary influence in my lifelong interest in the German language and the German culture. His dialect was what us kids mimicked, and since I was good at mimicry, going into my first few years of German I was quite good in picking up pronunciation. Werner also hosted a Los Angeles classical radio program for many years. A superb Boomer TV icon.
Thanks for posting this. I really enjoyed the show and have the complete DVD sets for all the seasons.
Hogan's Heroes was my favorite show of all time, and Klink by far was my favorite character! Thanks for making this video, I've been waiting for something like this for a while now, well done!
Werner Klemperer portrayed Col Klink perfectly >>> Hogan's Heroes is still one of my best sitcom series of the 1960s among other Gems on offer at that era ... May Good Gods & Goddesses blessed the Casts & Crew of Hogan's Heroes to a Better World & Realm! 🕯🌷🌿🌍🇺🇸🇩🇪
Actor Werner Kemplerer was also an accomplished violinist.
He can be seen here in UA-cam playing in the first violins section of the Philarmonia Orchestra, under his father, renown conductor Otto Kemplerer, in a remarkable execution of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
During Hogan’s Heroes while playing the part of Col. Klink, he always purposely “played” his violin terribly making screeching sounds as if he couldn’t play.
But he did play, and well.
And no, he didn’t wear his monocle there.
:)
Very much like Jack Benny, who was also an accomplished violinist who deliberately played horribly for comic effect.
He was portrayed as a real "Buffoon"!! Him and John Banner, as Sgt. Hans Schultz, made me crack up!!
In 1961 he played the lead in the movie " Operation Eichmann. "
Great video! I was born in 1957. The show premiered in 1965. I was too young to enjoy it then. Even though I have seen every episode multiple times, I still tune in to "METV" at 10pm for two episodes Mon-Fri. The "Andy Griffin" TV show might possible be the best show of it's era. If I had to pick one show to be my #1, it would have to be "Hogan". Mr. Klemperer was also quite the ladies man. He married a fellow cast member, one of my favorites, the very beautiful and talented Louise Troy. Followed by the equally gifted Kim Hamilton. RIP, Werner.
GREAT SHOW THANK YOU
Your video was recommended to me at the perfect time as I've been watching re-runs for the past 4 months. I've been interested in learning the stories behind the show. Werner Klemperer has been on my mind lately because of how well he crafted the character, Colonel Klink. I have to say, Werner is one very accomplished actor, and thanks for that backstory.
Another one of my favorites is the acting skills of John Banner. I'll be watching your John Banner video next. :)
Wow I had no idea he was so prolific an actor.
Also the research you put into the content on your channel awesome. 🙂👍
Actually, after the war, Hogan and his surviving team started a little known but very effective intelligence and international police bureau known as UNCLE
I do remember a single episode where Klink came out on top.
Nothing serious, the outcome being that he scored a lovely young date, based on a tip Hogan gave him about a lovely young, rich widow. When Kinch pressed for details, he admits he made the details up.
Cue the end of the episode, where Klink hands Hogan a bottle of wine, and goes back to his date, leaving Hogan dumbfounded as to what exactly just happened.
@Cecilly Anne indeed, though my memory was faulty, and it was season 6, so Baker was their Radio man instead of Kinch.
@Cecilly Anne That's correct. Bertha Haagenfasle (sp?). Hogan had read where Bertha had taken over a nearby inn. I think when a smug Klink handed Hogan the wine he said to the effect, "You're the best enemy a man ever had."
I adored actors klinch and Schultz.
Thank you!
Colonel Klink did win something, there was that one episode were he scored with the lovely young widow
Even though it was never brought up again.
I met a veteran at Planes of Fame who'd been a gunner on a B-17, shot down and then imprisoned in the same prison that the Great Escape had taken place - but before he got there. He was telling us a few things and then he said, "You ever watch Hogan's Heroes?" We all did and I started to say that of course it was nothing like that... He snorted, "They got a lot of it right." Remember Sergeant Schultz, "I see nothing!"? We had a Sergeant Schultz. We had him in our pocket." He then explained that they gave Schultz some things from 'our Red Cross packages,' cigarettes, chocolate -things the Germans couldn't get because of rationing. In exchange they got Schultz to bring them some things they couldn't get. Small, unimportant items. Even though these weren't important they were contraband and any one giving them to the POWs would be in serious trouble. Sent to the Russian Front or shot. So then they asked Schultz to meet someone and smuggle in some more serious items. "No!" But we had him, he had to do it or get sent to the East. We had him bringing radio parts. So like Hogan's Heroes we had radios in camp and spare parts like tubes so we could keep them working.
I was born in the 50s, grew up on WWII stories (none about battles, always about shenanigans in the barracks. People in Detroit with tattoos on their arms? (Asuchwitz). No mention of Concentration Camps - we'd learned all about these of course, but these people had been 'DPs during the war.' "Displaced Persons,' basically refugees. Sometimes I'd be at a wedding and my grandmother would point out so and so and say, "He was a DP during the war."
Anyway, we also grew up on WWII movies. One of the biggest revelations of my adult life was learning that almost everyone of those movies including the Dirty Dozen, were based on fact. What that Army Air Corp sergeant told us about Hogan's Heroes was a real mind bender.
What did the 'DPs' talk about? Ask them about the War, and the (concentration) Camps, and they'll tell you about the Allied Displaced Persons camps after the war. One guy, Bill and his friend I met in the 80s, both had been in the Nazi camps but they wanted to talk about the DP camp. They were behind wire, like any stockade, in Occupied Germany after the war. The farm next door had an orchard, Bill said they watched the apples getting ripe. People in the camp knew when they'd be sweet. So the apples were ripe and they started pushing at the fence to knock it down. Bill starts laughing, 'The GIs told us to stop it, or they'd start shooting. We just laughed at them. 'You're not the Nazi bastards.' " So they knocked down the fence and stripped the orchard. The farmer raised hell and the Americans told him to go F himself.
When I learned that Col. Klink was Jewish? It was like my brain ran through all the jokes on Hogan's Heroes again and I laughed even harder.
We recently saw him and Jack Weston in an early episode of "Gunsmoke." Werner was also related to Victor Klemperer, whose diary "I Shall Bear Witness" is a first hand account of the casual cruelties and indignities suffered by German Jews in the 1930s.
Fun fact (regarding "Oh, you want this comedic and not dramatic?") The movie "Dr Strangelove" was originally supposed to be a drama, but "Fail Safe" was due to open around the same time...and it had an incredibly similar plot. Knowing that there wouldn't be enough of an audience for TWO nuclear attack *dramas* at the same time, Stanley Kubrick 1) got Dr Strangelove released asap, and 2) told his actors to play the drama as a dark comedy.
If you watch the film, most of the lines could be either comic OR dramatic, simply based upon the actors' performances.
I love your enthusiastic delivery . Thanks!
I had no idea he was so versatile! That's the mark of a truly talented entertainer. Just as the vaudeville actors of old, Werner could do it all. I can't see anyone else being "Kommandant Klink".
I was stationed at Camp Rilea doing air assault training. During my duty day I typically had to go to the arms room at least once to draw a weapon for some simulation or another. Our armorers last name was Shultz. Then it happened...
I come in to get a 240b, and there is a full bird colonel headed into the CQ office, right next door to the arms room. Colonel comes into the office, and hollers through the doorway into the vault "Shultz, I need you out here immediately." to which the only reply is a high pitched voice saying "Yeesss Colonel!" Apparently someone had run off with an M2 from one of the firing ranges and it couldn't be found... "I know nothing! Nothing!"
I nearly peed myself trying to not laugh
It surprises me, and makes me smile, to see a young person also take an interest in this stuff, though it's not pronounced Richard Wide Mark. I loved the show as a kid and think he was a wonderful actor. As a child Klemperer and his family fled the Nazi's just ahead of the holocaust. His mother baked their money in to a cake so the Nazi guards wouldn't rob them, as moneyless refugees could be sent back in those days (landing them all in a concentration camp). He did a US Navy submarine training film called Silent Service, that you can find here on UA-cam, where he played a U Boat officer. He loved the United States. Thanks for this. I'm going to look up some of the shows and movies you mentioned that I didn't know he was in.
Right! Not only is it not pronounced Widemark, it's also *not* pronounced "Maxim" Shell (Maximilian Schell), or Marlene "Durish"(?) (Marlene Dietrich)! Also, you've even mispronounced his name. It's pronounced [V air ner]. Similarly, his character's name on Hogan's Heroes is pronounced [Vill helm].
I really liked Hogans heroes. I was so glad to hear about all the other things he did. What a great guy he was. He had awesome Legacy . I really enjoyed you talking about him. I watch a lot of shows that he was in, but my favorite was Hogan heroes.
I watched Hogan's Heroes for years and years. My Grandpa George was a fan of the show until his death in October, 1985. Now, I watch Hogan's Heroes on METV every night. Werner Klemperer and I were both born on March 22nd although I was born 44 years later, in 1964. Klemperer was also an accomplished violinist in one episode entitled The Big Record. He was fantastic as the bumbling, inept Colonel Klink. Klemperer was also wonderful in dramatic roles, like Perry Mason.
I can't stop watching Hogan's Heros. It's too funny. I remember seeing it on TV when I was a kid. Colonel Klink is the one who kept allowing Colonel Hogan and his prisoner of war mates as well as his superiors to make a fool of himself. And Colonel Hogan was at least 10 times smarter than Colonel Klink too. But Sergent Shultz was easily fooled too.
I like how the POWs were allowed the run of the camp. Hogan came and went from Klink's office as he pleased and joined in many conversations with Klink and other German officers, generals, SS, Gestapo. Like it perfectly normal for a prisoner to do that. Funny.
I remember Werner Klemperer's guest voice role on "The Simpsons". Col. Klink was kind of like a spirit guide to Homer. Sir Isaac Newton showed up first but Homer couldn't relate to him, so Col. Klink was up next. At the end of the bit, Klink gave his iconic lament, but instead of "Hogan!" it was "Homer!" in the same intonation. It was a fun, unexpected albeit brief, "The Simpsons" guest voice role. And of course, Homer just had to tell Col. Klink all the stuff the prisoners were doing, like the audio bug in the coffee pot.
Have the entire unopened set of Hogans Heroes on DVD. Thank God MEtv televises the show here in Florida on Spectrum cable.
Watched that show every weekday after getting home from elementary school. Time flies☺️❤️
Klemperer has to the BEST actor of all time!
❤❤❤❤thank you for this episode.
😁👍
You mentioned his audition for Hogan's Heroes, I also read that initially they had Banner in mind for the commandant and Klemperer as the sergeant. And of course most fans of the show know that they did swap roles in one episode and although I think that could have worked, it's pretty obvious they got it right!
Saw him on Broadway in the first revival of Cabaret playing the male of the elderly Jewish couple (Which was never in the film version) subplot. He was exceptional in a sympathetic dramatic role. I have trouble watching Hogan's Heroes because of that. He was superb in a Twilight Zone episode as well.
Thanks for the tribute, it was well deserved. What a funny man he was.
One of the rare tv shows which are so much better in the German synchronization.
The man was brilliant
My mom liked him and his comedy
I still quote col. Klink in daily conversations. I'm only 27 so none of my friends get my references
MG Weible HOGAN!!!
For the cultured WIN!
My sons are around the same age as you.......they would get them!
@@pennychurchward1481 cultural immersion ! EXCELLENT!
I had the pleasure of working with Werner during my own career in NYC. He was a very funny man!
I watched Hogan's hero's with my Dad we never missed a show
I watch Hogan's Heroes twice every night almost without fail. I'm 62 and I wasn't old enough to watch when it first aired, had to be in bed by 8, so I started with the first syndicated airings around 1973. Every weeknight at 7 after the news. Things don't change all that much in 50 years. Has to say something about quality of the show.
Brilliant role and he was perfect for Klink.
WOW.. what an eye opener ! very impressive carrier. i had no idea..
Fantastic Video!!!!!! That's all that needs to said.😁😁😁😁😁😁😊
That’s a fair requirements specially considering his ancestor.
Outstanding! I’m enjoying this! In fact, I placed HH on hold to listen to this piece. Great stuff! Semper Fi
Thank You!
One of my All Time Favorite Shows :)
look at the many character actors who filled the screens on television after ww2. Many of them had served in the military, Eddie Albert served with distinction in the Pacific and went on to play a dope in Green Acres. Imagine getting to spend your life making people happy doing parts and variety shows and as ALWAYS happened, ending up in Hollywood Squares?
Met him once. I was a cinematographer, I shot an interview with him st Lincoln center. He was conducting music. Nice man.
😁👍
I saw most of these shows first run, not the movies because they cost money. Love these shows made with love.
HOOOOGAAAAN!
Loved this show as a kid.
In the classical realm he is also known as "The Speaker" in Schönbergs "Gurrelieder" (conducted by Ozawa). The part is short, fantastic and weird, but he is probably the best "Sprecher" ever.
John Bannerman should have received a best supporting actor.
Best show ever.
Thank you so much for this video. Really well done. Bravo.
I love these!! 💕💕💕💕
In the late '60's, I sat down at the snack bar at Two Harbors, Catalina. Who sat next to me but Colonel Klink. He asked me to pass him a straw. I almost swooned!
I saw Klink in a theatrical production of Cabaret in the early/mid 1980's. Yea it was difficult to not think that's Col. Klink up there on stage.
Your videos are addictive and informative, thank you for posting them
Glad you like them! Thank You 😁
His performance in operation Eichmann was extraordinary
Don't forget his appearance with Shultz on "the Lawrence Welk" show singing a Christmas carol.........in the original German!
Hogan's Hero's was a spinoff from the movie Stalag 17 with William Holden.
Another good movie
I always wished they did a return to stalag 13 where it came out Klink and Schultz knew exactly what Hogan was doing. And were part of the anti nazi faction in the German military.
That would be fun
Imagine if a crew of video editing students created such a "final episode" from existing footage?!! Might help to have a team of writers who were highly familiar with all the episodes to come up with an authentic-seeming storyline first. Have at it please...somebody?😁
@@lucymanet3297 I know. I never thought of the idea for that kind of ending but now that I heard it I love it
In all actuality I think Schultz already knew.
@@LordOfNothingham I agree, I grew up watching Hogan's Hero's, and I always had that thought.
An awesome man!