Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3022 in DVD
• Brand: CRANE,BOB
• Released on: 2006-08-15
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Dimensions: .50 pounds
• Running time: 672 minutes

Amazon.com
Probably the most successful bad idea in television history, Hogan's Heroes took an appalling premise--the suffering of World War II prisoners-of-war played for laughs--and turned it into a hugely popular series that ran for six seasons. Wily Colonel Hogan (Bob Crane, previously a regular on The Donna Reed Show) and his merry multicultural band of P.O.W.s--including cocky cockney Newkirk (Richard Dawson, pre-Family Feud), softhearted Frenchman LeBeau (Robert Clary, later to appear on Days of Our Lives), clumsy explosives expert Carter (Larry Hovis), and steadfast radio operator Kinch (Ivan Dixon), one of the first black characters on television to be treated as an equal by his peers without any self-congratulatory comment--carried out spying and sabotage against the Third Reich, always back in the cozy confines of Stalag 13 by the end of the episode. But the good guys were not the show's real draw; Hogan (charming to some, smarmy to others) may have been the titular hero, but audiences loved high-strung Nazi commandant Col. Klink (Werner Klemperer, who won two Emmys for the role) and the adorably bumbling Sgt. Schultz (John Banner), whose cries of "I see nozzink, I know nozzink!" became the show's biggest catchphrase.

The fourth season finds the snappy one-liners, preposterous plots, oversexed atmosphere, and Nazi buffoonery all firmly entrenched. Brief bits of suspense help to balance the clownish antics. The missions change a little from episode to episode (instead of a bridge, they have to blow up an ammo dump; instead of a beautiful lady spy, they have to help...no, it's always a beautiful lady spy), but a reassuring sameness is what guarantees the success of any sitcom. It's interesting to speculate about why audiences embraced these goofball Nazis only a couple of decades after the revelation of the decidedly unfunny concentration camps. Perhaps, as the Cold War wore on and the threat of atomic annihilation felt increasingly likely, mocking the previous threat to the world made the Soviet Union less terrifying; or maybe Klink and Schultz are hapless 1950s parent figures, outwitted by their more worldly hipster children. Regardless, even contemporary viewers with a taste for daffy pranks may find Hogan's Heroes a bit of sweet comfort food. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

More Hogan Humor
The 26 episodes in this slim 4-DVD package contain those that aired in the 4th season from 22 September 1968 to 22 March 1969. There are no extra features like those in the boxed sets for Seasons 2 & 3.

The episodes you get in this package include:
Episode 1: Clearance Sale at the Black Market
Episode 2: Klink vs. the Gonculator
Episode 3: How to Catch a Papa Bear
Episode 4: Hogan's Trucking Service...We Deliver the Factory to You
Episode 5: To the Gestapo with Love
Episode 6: Man's Best Friend Is Not His Dog
Episode 7: Never Play Cards with Strangers
Episode 8: Color the Luftwaffe Red
Episode 9: Guess Who Came to Dinner?
Episode 10: No Names Please
Episode 11: Bad Day in Berlin
Episode 12: Will the Blue Baron Strike Again
Episode 13: Will the Real Colonel Klink Please Stand Up Against the Wall?
Episode 14: Man in a Box
Episode 15: The Missing Klink
Episode 16: Who Stole My Copy of Mein Kampf?
Episode 17: Operation Hannibal
Episode 18: My Favorite Prisoner
Episode 19: Watch the Trains Go By
Episode 20: Klink's Old Flame
Episode 21: Up in Klink's Room
Episode 22: The Purchasing Plan
Episode 23: The Witness
Episode 24: The Big Dish
Episode 25: The Return of Major Bonacelli
Episode 26: Happy Birthday, Dear Hogan

Werner Klemperer (Col. Klink) would win an Emmy award, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in Season 4.

Look for more hilarious antics from Hogan and company. It's another keeper!

It just never gets old.
I have been eagerly awaiting the release of season four as I am sure many other have been. I do own all previous seasons on DVD and am thrilled with the audio/video transfer. But has anyone else noticed a weak mastering of the audio on season 4? I have to turn up my TV louder to hear it which produces that "white noise" sound in the background. Oh well, I can deal with it. Can't wait for season 5!!!!

Purchase another season of hilarious antics, Schnell
Another trip to Luftstalag 13, mind you still there has never been an escape from Stalag 13. Maybe, Just maybe this will be the year of the first escape!? Not if the Iron Colonel has anything to say about it.

Another hilarious season of Hogan's Heroes. The series really began to excel at the fourth season, the show was established, and the cast had grown together.

We see some familiar guests' appearances, Colonel X, with his elite commandos appears, who outranks Hogan. Many funny episodes from the crew at Stalag 13, and Schultz is fantastic. As stated earlier extras are lacking, but at least we have a reasonable release time. So hurry and add this season to your collection and hope it holds you over until the fifth season is released.