Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bob Crane, John Banner, Richard Dawson, Robert Clary, Werner KlempererBrand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
Cinematographer: Robert C. Moreno
Editor: Ken Zemke
Editor: Thomas Neff
Writer: Albert S. Ruddy
Writer: Bernard Fein
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 4281 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-06-05
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series
Movie Review: Great Show, Not Bad Package
Summary: 5 Stars
While this show was airing long before I was around, I remember watching the re-runs with my father. I always enjoyed Hogan's Heroes far more than the other WWII films that we often watched together, although now that I am older I have a new appreciation for films like Midway.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show, it's about a group of allied pilots from England, the U.S., and France who are in a German P.O.W. camp during WWII, guarded by Commandant Klink and the illustrious Sergeant Shultz. If you are wondering how on Earth this constitutes as a comedy, you are not alone--even Werner Klemperer, the actor who portrays Commandant Klink and whose Jewish father had to flee Germany in the 1930s to escape Hitler, thought the producers were crazy. The beauty of the show is the satirical premise that within a P.O.W. camp could be the greatest sabotage ring operating in Germany during the war. Throughout the show's run, Colonel Hogan (Bob Crane) and his men (although they are often assisted by others) blow up bridges, destroy factories, leak troop movements and diagrams of new weapons to the British, discredit the Gestapo, and perhaps most importantly, smuggle countless prisoners and defectors to England, usually via a secret submarine but other times via plane, train, and even a hot air balloon constructed in camp! Then there are the girls, or "birds" as resident Englander Corporal Newkirk (Richard Dawson--pre-Family Fued) calls them, who are slender, buxom, and usually fall head-over-heels for ladies' man Colonel Hogan. The show isn't free of cliche or sexism (come on, this was the 60s!), but it's still immensely enjoyable.
Making this series was a smart move to make on the producers' part, despite the oddball outline. There was enough distance from the bulk of the fallout from the war that audiences would appreciate such humor, especially as this was taking place during the rumbles of the Vietnam War. Unlike M*A*S*H, which portrayed the realities of the war (although centered around the Korean conflict, the show could easily be applied to Vietnam), Hogan's Heroes portrayed a farsical bent to the horror that was often applied to such camps in WWII. Generals are easily fooled into thinking that a prisoner doing a fairly decent impersonation of Hitler is the real McCoy, Sergeant Shultz and Colonel Klink are constantly manipulated into Hogan's hands with the mere mention of the Russian front, the Gestapo barely notice that a premier general has somehow developed a strong Russian accent (because he was being impersonated by a klutzy Russian actor), and even the German Shepherd guard dogs are sweet-as-pie to the prisioners while maintaining a gruff exterior around the guards. It's hardly the reality of the situation (although there was considerable sabotage inflicted by the various underground forces during the war, something the show often relies heavily upon for assistance for the Allied prisoners), but there's enough patriotism, incredible gags, and a great acting ensemble to keep audiences entertained for years.
As far as this packaging goes, now that it's been out for a while, the cost is comparable to buying the seasons individually. Season two has the most (and the best) special features, including Bob Crane's wedding, home movies taken on the set, CBS promos that are absolutely hilarious, a blooper reel, a Jell-o/Dream Whip commercial with the cast, and a few other tv spots. Most of the other seasons contain photo galleries and the occasional extra (like Werner Klemperer on The Pat Sajak Show). I found the quality to be very good, especially for a show of this age.
If you are a fan and haven't collected the individual seasons yet, this is definitely for you. If you have some of the first seasons already, there aren't any extra features in this package (that I know of). If you are wanting to check out the show first before you commit, I'd suggest renting the first or fourth season first (my favorites - although if you watch the original pilot episode you get a mixed message on one of the characters...he ends up staying as part of the "gang" when in the pilot he is just another soldier being sent to England). Most rental places will have it, especially on-line ones like Blockbuster and Netflix. It hasn't been shown on any cable/satellite channels for years that I know of (TV Land used to), so unfortunately this is as good as we are going to get at the moment.
Summary of Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series
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. This Boxset includes Seasons 1 - 6.Similar DVD Movies
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