“A lot of guys feel that social statement
is important. I don't want it. I want to take the audience on a trip and not let
them think. I think if they think I've lost that feeling that's all I'm trying to do.
Give them half an hour an hour a couple hours of a place to go and then come back from.
That's it, folks. If there's significance, if the critics want to talk about other
things, be my guest, but I'm anti-significance” That’s the style of Robert Butler, director
of Hogan’s Heroes. It was definitely a show that gave viewers a place to escape to,
but it was somewhere they wouldn’t have expected. Imagine going to a WWII prison camp
to laugh at inept prisoners and Nazi soldiers. The ridiculous premise made
it a risk for any network, but it turned out to be a winning gamble.
Keeping it running for as long as it did without any mistakes or bloopers was
impossible. That only added to the humor. Keep watching to learn what this scene wasn’t
edited, look again at the Hogan’s Heroes blooper. The Show
Original Ideas Series creators Bernard Fein and Albert S.
Ruddy originally had an entirely different vision for Hogan’s Heroes. It was going
to be set in a domestic American jail. That all changed when they heard that
NBC was already creating a show titled Campo 44 at the time set in an Italian
WWII prison camp. An interview on the complete series DVD set said that it took a
day to rework the show to its WWII setting. Fate gave Robert Butler the director’s chair. He
said “My agent was on the scene and said “what about Butler,’ and somebody said yes and so I went
and did it and it was an immense amount of fun.” The pilot was released in black and white
and wasn’t exactly like the show the world grew to love. It wasn’t unrecognizable but
differed in several small but noticeable ways. Stalag 13 was called Camp 13. General
Burkhalter was a Colonel. Carter was a Lieutenant and wasn’t even supposed
to appear in the series beyond its pilot. There was also a Russian character
played by Leonid Kinsley. He refused to continue with the series because he wasn’t
comfortable with a comedy featuring Nazis. He wasn’t the only one who refused to continue
after the pilot. Albert also refused to be directly involved any longer. He didn’t want to be
contracted on a TV show. After that, it was time to finalize the rest of the show’s details.
Theme Song Jerry Fielding composed the theme song
for Hogan’s Heroes. Not all fans may have noticed that the song has lyrics.
Robert Clay, Richard Dawson, Ivan Dixon, and Larry Hovis sang them
together for the show’s soundtrack. It has four verses. The primary
one that most people know goes: “Heroes, heroes, husky men of war,
Sons of all the heroes of the war before, We’re all heroes up to our ear-os.”
You ask the questions, We make suggestions
That’s what we’re heroes for.” It was the perfect match for the show.
It had music reminiscent of a battle march and light-hearted lyrics that still
honored those who served their country. Bob Crane was a talented percussionist who
played drums for the song. His skills also showed up in season one episode five.
He played a drum solo during the song Cherokee during season six, episode
23, Look at the Pretty Snowflakes. Tagline
Movies and shows can live or die by their tagline. They’re
like catchy little jingles to bring viewers in. Hogan’s Heroes originally had a hard time
coming up with theirs. They needed something cheeky and catchy that summed up their show.
What they came up with pushed the envelope more than almost any before. It was a successful
bit of advertising that came about by accident. Comedian Stan Fredgerg sarcastically
suggested, “If you liked World War II, you’ll love Hogan’s Heroes!” It was shot down
at first until the crew realized it was perfect. That tagline helped advertise the show and its
premise to the world. It let everyone know what they were getting into and brought in new fans.
Airing in Germany Hogan’s Heroes first aired in America in 1965.
It took until 1992 for it to air in Germany. Film distributor KirchGruppe acquired the rights
in 1991 but didn’t air it until a year later. There needed to be plenty of changes for it to
move across the pond. The first thing that got altered was the title. The original German title
Stacheldraht und Fersengeld translated to Barbed Wire and Heels. It was eventually changed to Ein
Käfig voller Helden or A Cage Full of Heroes). The show failed to find success in Germany
at first. Poor translation and lip-syncing were the first issues. Its storylines also
had to be modified for German audiences. The Nazi characters got even more
idiotic dialogue. Klink got an offscreen love interest named Kalinke who
was heard but never seen. Any ‘Heil Hitler” salutes were changed to "Heil Kräuter!"
Violent dialogue and story beats were also altered. The Americans destroyed a munitions
factory in the American version but a toilet paper factory in the German version. In another
episode, Sergeant Schult’s report of the bombing of Hamburg is changed to a report of the Royal
Air Force dropping candy as a propaganda maneuver. These changes eventually brought Hogan’s
Heroes over to Germany. It took decades for them to get to enjoy the daily antics
at the camp, but better late than never. Legal Issues
Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski wrote the play Stalag 17. It was a WWII prisoner-of-war
story turned into a 1953 film. They weren’t pleased when they saw Hogan’s heroes and sued
its producer Bing Crosby for infringement. The lawsuit was unsuccessful. The jury ruled in
the playwrights’ favor but the judge overruled them. He found a “striking difference
in the dramatic mood of the two works.” Hogan’s Heroes got in legal trouble
again in 2012. The show’s creators, Bernard Fein and Albert S. Ruddy, had
transferred the TV and movie rights to Bing Crosby Productions. Bernard got the sole movie
rights along with the sequel and other separate rights through Mark Cuban via arbitration. A
Hogan’s Heroes movie was planned as of 2014. There Was a Hit Album and Merchandise
Home releases came out soon after the series ended. Columbia House released all 6 seasons of
Hogan’s Heroes. They also put out a compilation 45 HVS collection of all 168 episodes.
Paramount later released them on DVD. CBS re-released it at a lower price
on March 8, 2016. There was a Blu-ray series released on December 12, 2022.
Australia didn’t get a home release until around 2002 with each disc
sold separately. Germany had to wait until 2018 when they got the complete series.
Hogan’s Heroes also had plenty of merchandise, as any hit show does. Fleer produced a set
of 66 trading cards in 1965. Dell Comics released nine issues from 1966-1969 with
artwork by Henry Scarpelli. Mad Magazine did affectionate parodies of it in issue #108
called Hokum’s Heroes and Hochman Heroes. Hogan’s Heroes also had several musically
talented actors. That’s why it’s no wonder that it had a hit album.
Several of its actors, including Larry Hovis and Ivan Dixon, joined together. They
sang a collection of popular war songs from the 1940s. The liner note on the back reads “Would
you believe WWII was funny?” Fans of the show would give an emphatic yes.
The Show’s Success Hogan’s Heroes ran for 196 episodes from 1965
to 1971, making it the longest WWII-inspired show of the time. It was a success until its
final season. As Robert said in an interview with Television Academy, “They loved it.
It was amazing. I am still called LeBeau." One of the major reasons it was canceled was a
change known as the “rural purge.” TV advertisers began to complain that there were too many shows
set in rural areas. They wanted to sell to urban customers more and wanted more shows set there.
Another was the fact that the Vietnam War was raging at the time. Viewers weren’t as interested
in watching a show that gave a funny slant to war. That didn’t stop it from earning
awards and honors in its time. It may not have gotten a full shelf, but it
was considered for the trophy several times. Hogan’s Heroes was nominated for 12 Emmys.
The show itself was in the running for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1966, 1976, and 1968.
Bob Crane was nominated for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in
a Comedy Series in 1966 and 1967. Nita Labot got one for Outstanding Performance by an Actress
in a Supporting Role in a Comedy in 1968. Gordon Avil was considered for cinematography in 1968.
The show only won two of these many nominations. Both were awarded to Werner Klempner for
Outstanding Role in a Comedy in 1968 and 1969. He then went on to earn nominations in
the same category again in 1966, 1967, and 1970. The producers were honored in one of the
first-ever NAACP Image Awards in 1967. They were one of only seven TV shows
considered along with I Spy, Daktari, Star Trek, and Mission Impossible. They got the
honor for “the furtherance of the Negro image.” Hogan’s Heroes got listed at #100 as part
of TV Guide and TV Land’s Top 100 Most Unexpected Moments in TV History.” The magazines
described it as an “unlikely POW camp comedy.” The premise was what set it apart most of all.
The idea of a POW camp comedy was unlikely, but it came out at a time when audiences were charmed
by it. It was so ridiculous that it worked. The Cast
Casting A show like Hogan’s Heroes needed a strong
cast of heroes to succeed. It was almost a miracle that they found the actors they did.
All four of the actors who played the Nazis on the show were Jewish. That included
Werner Klemperer, Leon Askin, John Banner, and Howard Caine. They all served during
WWII and each of them, except for Howard, had to escape real Nazi persecution during WWII.
Harold Gould was also Jewish and a service member. John was the one who suggested going in
this direction. He talked to the producers about it. When asked why, he said, "Well,
who better to play Nazis than us Jews?" Werner auditioned for Sergeant Schultz and
John was considered for Commandant Klink. Their roles were later switched.
Werner once said about the role, “I am an actor. If I can play Richard
II, I can play a Nazi.” Despite this, he only accepted the role after a bit of
reassurance. The show’s creator told him that the inept Colonel would never succeed in his schemes.
That was all he needed to know to be sure that he could play him with the right comedic tint.
The main cast weren’t the only Jewish cast members. Harold Gould and Harold
J. Stone were also Jewish actors who made appearances as German generals.
Only two actors appeared in all 168 episodes. They were Bob Crane and Werner Klemperer.
Ivan Dixon left at the end of the fifth season to find new experiences as an actor. All the
original cast members were signed to a five-year contract but had the option to sign on for another
two years, and he declined. He was replaced by Kenneth Washington as Sgt. Baker with no mention
of what happened to his character Sgt. Kinchloe. Ivan became a successful director and
actor. He later said that if he’d known Hogan’s Heroes would have only lasted a year
after he left, he may have stayed. He also had a wonderful friendship with the cast and
would often visit Howard and his family. Cynthia Lynn broke her five-year contract
with the show after the first season, but it was an amicable split. She was replaced
by Sigrid Valdis for seasons two through six. Robert Clay died on November 16, 2022. That
means the only original cast member still alive is Kenneth Washington.
Reusing and Borrowing Actors Hogan’s Heroes had a tendency to reuse and
recycle actors for multiple roles. It allowed them to fill in what was necessary for the story
without having to go over budget to find extras. Kathleen Freeman typically played Frau Gertrude
Linkmeyer but once played Alice Gohstley. Cynthia Lynn played Helga in season one. Bob insisted she
be replaced by Sigrid Valdis who played Higa after he began dating and later married her.
Hogan’s Heroes didn’t only recycle, it borrowed. Actors from other
series also came on to the hit show. Some came over from similar wartime programs.
William Christopher of M*A*S*H played a POW, a German soldier, and a British
pilot. Harold J. Stone played an American agent and a German general.
The list of other cast members beyond the main crew is large and somewhat surprising.
Antoinette Bower played Berlin Betty who was an underground agent. Arlene Martel played Tiger in
certain episodes and also Olga and Gretchen in others. Henry Corden, the voice of Fred Flinstone,
played five different characters in five episodes. A Deeper Dive Into the Main Cast Members
Bob Crane Bob played Colonel Robert Hogan, the senior
ranking officer in the camp. He used wit and skill to sabotage the plans of the Germans.
The vision was to make him smart but also a “guy next door” type. He got offered the
part after appearing in roles such as The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Donna Reed Show.
On June 29, 1978, Bob was discovered after being viciously attacked in his apartment
in Scottsdale. It was his temporary home while he was living there and starring in a
dinner theater production of Beginner’s Luck. He missed a lunch meeting with costar Victoria Ann
Berry. She was concerned and went to his apartment where she discovered his body. He was shirtless,
lying on the side of the bed. He’d been bludgeoned to death with two gashes on his head. There
was also an electrical cord wrapped around his neck. There was blood throughout the apartment.
The violent crime scene showed no evidence of a struggle or a murder weapon. Police concluded that
whoever murdered Bob must have known him. They found his blood in a rental car belonging to an
acquaintance named John Henry Carpenter. He’d been taking illicit photos of Bob’s many affairs, and
they’d been working together to make adult films. Bob allegedly wanted to stop their
arrangement when he got to Scottsdale, but John wasn’t having it. Witnesses saw them
arguing at a restaurant the night before he died. He was the prime suspect but was acquitted
due to a lack of DNA evidence or a murder weapon. The unsolved murder continues to fascinate to this
day. It inspired a 2002 movie, over five books, three investigations, and plenty of speculation.
His son Robert says there’s still fog and that he wishes he could have closure.
Howard Caine Howard appeared in two episodes at the beginning
of the series playing different characters. He was Major Keitel in season one episode 17 Happy
Birthday Adolf. He also played Colonel Feldkamp in Season 2 episode 5, The Battle of Stalag 13.
He eventually found a permanent role as Major Hochestetter. He was a talented actor and
language expert, mastering 32 foreign and American dialects.
Leon Askin Leon Askin played General Burkhalter.
He was a prisoner at an internment camp in Meslay du Maine, France. His parents
were transported to Theresienstadt, then Austcwits, and killed at Lubin.
When he got out, he got immigration papers and went to America. His English was limited, but
he managed to find his way. He also served in the army during the war.
Werner Klempner Werner played Colonel Wilhelm Klink, the
commandant of the camp. He and his family had to flee Germany during the war in 1933.
He served in the US Armed Forces in the US Entertainment Unit. He had a connection to fame
from the beginning. His father Otto Klempner conducted the Beatles in their 1965 film Help!
He may not have been proud of his son’s career choice, though. Werner once said that during the
filming of Hogan’s Heroes, his father told him, “Your acting is fine, but who writes this stuff?”
Werner tried to take everything in stride. He had played a Nazi once before in 1961’s Judgment
at Nuremberg and again in 1961 in the lead of Operation Eichman where he joined up
with his Hogan’s Heroes costar John. An article once said he was at a restaurant one
day when a waiter nearly dropped a saucer. He put on his best Colonel Klink voice and said,
“For that, you will turn and face the wall for 100 minutes” before returning to his normal smile.
He got typecast into villainous roles for a while, but it didn’t last forever. He once said,
“If you have an accent, you get typecast. I’ve played villains in almost every country
you can think of.” The end of Hogan’s Heroes brought an end to that streak, and he
never played a straight villain after it. John Banner
John played Sergeant Hans Schultz. He was the camp’s inept but lovable sergeant.
John always saw Schultz as not an instrument of the German empire but a “representative
of some kind of good in any generation.” (1:08,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD2QRDLnZIc) He always seemed to be playing for
both teams or maybe neither one. That catchphrase of “I see nothing” may have been him
deliberately turning a blind eye to the heroes. John also had a response for those who said that
a comedic show about an event as serious as WWII could never work. He brought up Arsenic and Old
Lace, a successful comedy film about women who poison male visitors in their basement.
John was born to Jewish parents and was a sergeant during WWII in the US Army. He was
held in a pre-war concentration camp where his family was killed during the war. He had to flee
Austria after the Anschluss or union of Germany and Austria in 1938. He came to the US and knew no
English. He got hired to be the emcee of a musical revenue and learned his lines phonetically.
After Hogan’s Heroes, he played a similar role to Sergeant Schultz. He
appeared in the 1964 film 36 Hours. John died at the age of 63 on January 28,
1973, in his hometown of Vienna, Austria. Robert Clay
Robert played Corporal Louis LeBeau, a patriotic Frenchman
and gourmet chef. He earned the nasty nickname of “the cockroach” and trained the guard dogs.
He was a French Jew who went to a concentration camp with the identity tattoo A-5714.
His parents and family were killed there. It was Robert’s ability to entertain that saved
his life. He once said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, “Singing, entertaining,
and being in kind of good health at my age, that's why I survived. I was very immature
and young and not really fully realizing what situation I was involved with ... I don't know
if I would have survived if I really knew that.” (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-mar-24-la-et-mn-classic-hollywood-robert-clary20130325-story.html) It was also survival that made him
choose the part of Corporal Louis. "We are actors. Are we going to say no
to a part that gives us money every week, especially if the part is
good? It's a tough business." Richard Dawson
Richard played Corporal Peter Newkirk, the main group’s resident con man. He got into the POW camp
for impersonating German soldiers but was one of its most talented residents. He could sew clothes,
pick locks or pockets, crack safes, pull off magic tricks, and do whatever else the group needed.
Richard got the role mainly because of his previous experience with military characters.
That included his work on 1965’s King Rat. Ivan Dixon
Ivan played Staff Sergeant James Kinchole from seasons 1-5. He
worked to contact the underground by radio. Casting an African-American actor in such a
positive light was a step forward in the 1960s. The show fortunately didn’t stop the progression
after he left, replacing him with another African-American, Kenneth Washington.
Larry Hovis Larry played Technical Sergeant Andrew Carter.
He specialized in chemistry and explosives. He was discovered by Richard Linke, producer
of the Andy Griffith Show. He had a recurring role on that show’s spinoff, Gomer Pyle,
U.S.C.M, before joining Hogan’s Heroes. Kenneth Washington
Kenneth played Sergeant Richard Baker in season 6. He took over Sergeant
James’ duties after Ivan left the cast. He became the last surviving member of the
original Hogan’s Heroes cast after Robert Clay’s death on November 16, 2022.
Special Skills The cast of Hogan’s Heroes were more
than actors. They and their families had talents beyond what fans saw on camera.
There was a running gag in the show that Klink was a terrible violinist. Werner was skilled with the
instrument and learned from his conductor father. He could also conduct a bit himself and was a
frequent narrator for operators from 1973-1995. Another gag was the way Sgt. Schultz
often criticized his wife’s cooking. John Banner had the good fortune of
not having art imitate life here. His wife’s cooking was delicious and made him
gain over 250 pounds before he was hired. There were also several other musicians
in the cast. Bob played the drums. Howard was an award-winning banjo player.
Richard was a musician. Robert, Larry, and Ivan were singers. Many of them would get to
show off their talents on the show’s hit album. Working Together Again
Most of the Hogan’s Heroes cast got along well together. They had a sense
of humor and enjoyed letting loose on set. Many of the primary members got to work
together again. They joined for the 1968 film The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz.
Werner and John also got another chance to work together. In 1955, they
appeared in Safe Conduct, season one episode 21 of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Like and subscribe to FactsVerse for more behind-the-scenes info on your favorite
classic wartime shows. Keep watching to learn why this scene wasn’t edited, look
again at the Hogan’s Heroes blooper. Secrets
Cars Many men feel like their car is one of a
kind. General Burklhalter could truthfully say this of his Mercedes-Benz W31.
Only 57 of the black-and-gray models were ever made. Only three remained after the
war. One belonged to the Spanish monarchy, another was a fire engine, and the last
one appeared on the set of Hogan’s Heroes. The show also used another unique car. The
Mercedes G4 Parade Car seen in the opening credits was popular with the German elite during
the war. That made it another important part of automotive history.
Special Headwear Cars weren’t the only precious items
in the Hogan’s Heroes cast. A few of them had headwear they cherished.
Colonel Klink had a pre-World War I Prussian army helmet on his desk
known as a PIkcelhaube. He treated it as if it was his most prized possession.
It’s different from similar items found in museums. Historians believe that it’s most likely
to be a replica from the prop department. That doesn’t make it any less important to fans. It’s
on display at the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, Ohio along with Hogan’s Army Corp cap.
Sets and Filming Hogan’s Heroes was set in the fictional Luft
Stalag 13. It was inspired by Stalag XIII-C, a real prisoner-of-war camp in Hammelburg, Bavaria.
It was overcrowded and lacked basic amenities. It inspired Hogan’s Heroe’s Stalag XII-C set.
The filming was done in two locations. Indoor shots were done at Desilu studio, later
renamed Paramount Studios for season four. They moved to Cinema General Studios for
Seasons Five and Six. Outdoor shots were handled in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area
Despite the warm climate, every episode of Hogan’s Heroes was intentionally set in winter.
The first several seasons created snow with salt but then used white paint. Robert says he
can “remember the production designer being a very savvy guy and on the hill nearby he
staked out the sheets to like decaying snow, sections of snow, and it was all cold and muddy
and hideous and it just looked wonderful.” There were a few episodes
with non-winter settings, such as D-Day at Stalag 13. These weren’t
filmed outdoors and they didn’t add any snow. The choice of weather was meant to
highlight how bleak and depressing the character’s situations were. The
actors had to wear coats and act cold, regardless or not of whether
they were in 90-degree weather. The winter season also allowed episodes to be
shown in any order without continuity errors. There were a few issues, though, such as palm
trees sneaking into frames in a few scenes. Most night scenes used a day-for-night filter. It
made scenes filmed during the day look darker. The effect helped but wasn’t perfect because you
could still see shadows cast by the sunlight. The set was used in several other movies. They
include 1968’s Trial By Fury and 1975’s Ilsa: She Wolf of the SS. It was burned during the
filming of the latter film. The cleared lot was the set of 1975’s The Fotrunte but got bulldozed
in 1976 and turned into an industrial park. A Real Scar
General Burkhalter had an intimidating scar on his face. It turns out that wasn’t makeup or purely a
character detail added to make him look tougher. Leon got that scar as a child. He was
beaten up by the SS for being Jewish. They knew by his birth name, Leo Asckenasy.
The mental scars he suffered were even worse. Robert Clary’s emotional wounds were ripped open
again when he did a documentary called Robert Clary A5714, titled after his internment number.
He remembers prisoners being carried in cattle trains and never knowing how many would survive.
He wonders, “Why can we be that inhuman towards other people? Why do they do that? Why can’t they
let other people live the life they want to live? Goofs and Weird Details
“Top Secret” Documents and Codenames Hogan’s Heroes came up with several unique
ideas for how to handle secret information. Many of them are a bit odd on closer inspection.
Consider the third season episode How to Win Friends and Influence Nazis. General Burkhalter
gives Colonel Klink documents marked Top Secret. This would have made sense if not for the fact
that the document was German in origin. Writing in English would have only caused more suspicion.
Colonel Hogan also comes up with secret codenames for the other members of his outfit. They include
Papa Bear, Goldilocks, and Little Red Riding Hood. One nickname went unexplained. Why did Schultz
and Klink always call LeBeau “cockroach?” The simplest explanation is his
height. He’s short and scrappy. There’s also another explanation if you look into
the German language. The two words for cockroach, Kakerlake and "Küchenschabe", both translate to
kitchen blattodea, the order of bugs cockroaches belong to. They’re often found in the kitchen,
and LeBeau is the camp’s designated cook. Wardrobe Malfunctions
Carter’s jacket is like a piece of his skin. It’s also a special piece of film history, originally
worn by Frank Sinatra in 1965’s Von Ryan’s Express and later by Greg Kinnear in 2002’s Auto Focus.
The jacket looks well-worn and dirty in almost every scene except one. There’s an
episode of season 6 where it looks shiny and new. No one knows why this happened.
Another wardrobe malfunction happens in a season 2 episode. A red hat suddenly becomes green for
a moment. Robert was given the wrong one between takes. No one seemed to notice or fix the slip-up.
Factual and Timeline Problems Hogan and his heroes make for an entertaining
group. The problem if you look at it logically is that they wouldn’t have been stationed
together in reality. Officers were almost always stationed apart from unranked POWs.
The show seemed to struggle with maintaining the right ranks for characters.
They didn’t always wear the proper insignia or clothes for their position.
The insignia on Major Hochestter’s collar is that of a Standartenführer or the U.S. Army
equivalent of a full colonel. Group Captain Crittendon wears the wrong hat for a Captain. The
RAF corporal wears US-issued hats and uniforms. Hogan’s Heroes is set in the 1940s. That
doesn’t prevent the characters from discussing Speedy Gonzales more than once. The popular
cartoon mouse wouldn’t be introduced until the 1953 cartoon Cat-Tails for Two. Maybe the
rodent ran so fast that he went back in time? Colonel Hogan also couldn’t have been
working in The Pentagon like he claimed. It wasn’t fully constructed until 1943.
The wardrobe also created a timeline problem. The Gestapo didn’t wear the black uniforms they
do in Hogan’s Heroes. They were reserved for ceremonial affairs. The plain clothes in 1981’s
Raiders of the Lost Ark are more accurate. Continuity Issues
You’d think the details of the POW camp where the Heroes are being kept
would stay consistent, but that’s not true. In the first season, its title alternates between
Stalag 13 and Camp 13. Perhaps the showrunners couldn’t decide if they liked the original
name from the pilot or the later one better. Sgt. Schutlz often announces his serial
number. The problem is that it changes every time that he does. It can’t seem to
stay consistent from episode to episode. Carter’s actual level of chemical knowledge
is inconsistent. In the episode The Scientist, he says he can’t teach LeBeau chemistry because
he only runs a drugstore. An earlier episode, German Bridge is Falling Down, shows him making
chlorine gas out of pneumonia and bleach. A later episode, Hogan Springs, shows him mixing
a batch of mineral water. How much does he know? It seems he even understood elements that
weren’t understood yet at the time of the show. A periodic table of elements in one episode
shows all 103 elements known by the 1960’s. Only 92 would have been discovered in the 1940s.
Another quote that sums up Robert’s directing style is “Right or wrong, I don’t care, I care
about the audience, that’s all I care about.” Several odd details and goofs passed his
notice and got through into the show. He’d probably only be upset to learn about
them if they took away audience enjoyment. They range from the glaringly obvious to
the ones that only superfans would find. What’s your favorite war comedy?
Let us know in the comments below.
