When an important Third Reich official wants to defect, Hogan brings him to Stalag 13 - and convinces Col. Klink that the fugitive is Adolf Hitler in disguise...who is trying to elude assass... Read allWhen an important Third Reich official wants to defect, Hogan brings him to Stalag 13 - and convinces Col. Klink that the fugitive is Adolf Hitler in disguise...who is trying to elude assassins by hiding at the camp.When an important Third Reich official wants to defect, Hogan brings him to Stalag 13 - and convinces Col. Klink that the fugitive is Adolf Hitler in disguise...who is trying to elude assassins by hiding at the camp.
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- TriviaFirst series appearance of the character Major Hochstetter (Howard Caine appeared previously as other German officers).
- GoofsThe Major Hochstetter character is a Gestapo SS Sturmbannführer (Major), but he wears the rank insignia of an SS Standartenführer (Colonel) on his collar. This uniform error is maintained throughout the rest of the series.
- Crazy creditsIn the closing credits, there is a slide for John Banner also appearing as Wolfgang Brauner.
Featured review
One Overstuffed Hoagie with Extra Mustard to Go
Say this about writer Richard Powell: He wasn't shy about going big on his farce, as "Heil Klink" demonstrates in swastikas. When Wolfgang Brauner, the Nazis' financial genius (likely inspired by actual figures such as Hjalmar Schacht and Fritz Thyssen), becomes a turncoat and joins the Allies, it is up to Colonel Hogan and his intelligence and sabotage unit to spirit him out of Germany--but with the Gestapo closing in on him fast, where can the Heroes hide him? At Stalag 13, of course, where the Heroes are stationed as prisoners of war--and where Sergeant of the Guard Schultz bears more than a passing resemblance to Brauner as John Banner gets that actor's dream: a dual role.
What's more, Hogan plans to smuggle Brauner into camp through the front gate by not only convincing Colonel Klink, the commandant of Stalag 13, that none other than Adolf Hitler himself will soon be visiting, but, as the target of a conspiracy to overthrow him, Hitler can trust--get this--only Klink to protect him during this crucial 24-hour period as he hunkers down in Klink's quarters, with orders to be seen by no one except Hogan, who will serve as his food taster. This will give the Heroes time to alter Brauner's appearance to help evade the Gestapo, particularly as no-nonsense Gestapo Major Hochstetter (Howard Caine) arrives at Stalag 13 hot on Brauner's trail.
When Powell lays it on thick, he doesn't spare the baloney. To counter Hochstetter's forces, Hogan convinces Klink to request reinforcements--a battalion!--from General Burkhalter with the excuse that Klink needs to quash a prisoners' riot while Sergeant Carter, impersonating der Fuehrer, barks orders through the door at Klink's quarters, keeping everyone at bay while the Heroes primp Brauner up to look like Schultz. And just to slather spicy mustard atop all these cold cuts, not only does Hogan convince Klink that Hochstetter is part of the conspiracy against Hitler, Carter manages to convince Klink that Hitler wishes to step down--and he's naming Klink as his successor.
The Nazis had their Big Lie technique; Powell had his Big Farce technique. Both rely on sheer outrageousness to work. It's only when you realize that, at every step, Hogan is always on hand to stage-manage every aspect of the absurdity, a POW manipulating both a camp commandant and a Gestapo major, that the artifice becomes a glaring contrivance.
But where's the fun in exposing that? We'd be denied seeing cocksure Klink, certain that he'll become the next Fuehrer, assure Hochstetter that in his New Order he'll be swept into the delousing station of history. Trust me--it sounds much better coming from Werner Klemperer, who plays the vain, gullible, obsequious clown to ridiculous perfection.
Besides, Caine, in his first appearance as Hochstetter, displays promise as a German with bite, or at least angry bluster, although Arlene Martel, escorting Brauner as underground leader Tiger, has been demoted to a doe-eyed kitten fretfully clutching her handkerchief when she's not simpering at Hogan while Banner, after a strong start, fades by the finish.
Series producer Edward Feldman's slick direction helps Powell sell his overstuffed hoagie--or is that Hogan?--that tastes good going down but may give you gas later.
What's more, Hogan plans to smuggle Brauner into camp through the front gate by not only convincing Colonel Klink, the commandant of Stalag 13, that none other than Adolf Hitler himself will soon be visiting, but, as the target of a conspiracy to overthrow him, Hitler can trust--get this--only Klink to protect him during this crucial 24-hour period as he hunkers down in Klink's quarters, with orders to be seen by no one except Hogan, who will serve as his food taster. This will give the Heroes time to alter Brauner's appearance to help evade the Gestapo, particularly as no-nonsense Gestapo Major Hochstetter (Howard Caine) arrives at Stalag 13 hot on Brauner's trail.
When Powell lays it on thick, he doesn't spare the baloney. To counter Hochstetter's forces, Hogan convinces Klink to request reinforcements--a battalion!--from General Burkhalter with the excuse that Klink needs to quash a prisoners' riot while Sergeant Carter, impersonating der Fuehrer, barks orders through the door at Klink's quarters, keeping everyone at bay while the Heroes primp Brauner up to look like Schultz. And just to slather spicy mustard atop all these cold cuts, not only does Hogan convince Klink that Hochstetter is part of the conspiracy against Hitler, Carter manages to convince Klink that Hitler wishes to step down--and he's naming Klink as his successor.
The Nazis had their Big Lie technique; Powell had his Big Farce technique. Both rely on sheer outrageousness to work. It's only when you realize that, at every step, Hogan is always on hand to stage-manage every aspect of the absurdity, a POW manipulating both a camp commandant and a Gestapo major, that the artifice becomes a glaring contrivance.
But where's the fun in exposing that? We'd be denied seeing cocksure Klink, certain that he'll become the next Fuehrer, assure Hochstetter that in his New Order he'll be swept into the delousing station of history. Trust me--it sounds much better coming from Werner Klemperer, who plays the vain, gullible, obsequious clown to ridiculous perfection.
Besides, Caine, in his first appearance as Hochstetter, displays promise as a German with bite, or at least angry bluster, although Arlene Martel, escorting Brauner as underground leader Tiger, has been demoted to a doe-eyed kitten fretfully clutching her handkerchief when she's not simpering at Hogan while Banner, after a strong start, fades by the finish.
Series producer Edward Feldman's slick direction helps Powell sell his overstuffed hoagie--or is that Hogan?--that tastes good going down but may give you gas later.
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- darryl-tahirali
- Mar 25, 2022
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