MovieChat Forums > Hogan's Heroes (1965) Discussion > The source of humour

The source of humour

posted 11 years ago by jimeeb-1
23 replies | jump to latest

In my opinion, the Schultz character was a German soldier - but not a Nazi. He had no time for politics or war. He just wanted to get through the war with as little hassle as possible. He didn't hate anyone.

In many ways, I see the Klink character as being similar except that Klink wanted the trappings of the higher rank. If being an SS sycophant helped, fine but only to a point because, to his great frustration, Klink had a conscience.

Both characters were simpletons obviously but both lovable.

[–] codykilgore 11 years ago

I agree. Klink was vain and arrogant. But he wasn't cruel and sadistic.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] caseyrook 11 years ago

My theory of Hogans Heroes is that Schultz was not a complete dumkopf and knew exactly what was going on with the Heroes.

[–] XweAponX 11 years ago

In "stalag 17" on which this series is very loosely based, they have a "Schulz" character, who plays dumb but is actually very smart. I can't say that character was lovable though, but he was very funny especially with "Animal" and the other short guy.

Hogan's Schulz comes off the same way, he says "I know nothing, I see nothing" but in fact knows everything- it's just that nobody would believe him. This is set up in the first ep with "The informer"- nobody believed him, it was too outrageous, but then again hogan tricked the fook out of that guy.

[–] srubin5190 11 years ago

Regarding the pilot episode. I believe you are thinking of Wagner, the actual German plant.

[–] Fletcherj119 11 years ago

There were instances where Klink would come up with some new initiative that would make things rougher on the prisoners and he'd sadistically rub it in Hogan's face.

[–] mlaughlin22 11 years ago

One time Hogan opened the tunnel with Shultz standing next to the bunks . He covered his eyes and said I Know nothing and see nothing.

Fix the error reports on this site

[–] Fletcherj119 11 years ago

I remember that. There was one time when Schultz posed as Himler(?) on one of Hogan's missions. When the allies finally stormed the camp, I would've insisted Schultz be pardoned and have he and his family sent to America.

[–] seldon913 11 years ago

I can't name the episode, but I remember one time of Schultz saying to Hogan's crew, "If you ever do escape, take me with you."

It actually bothered me in the episode where Schultz turns out to be a friend of a high ranking general that the crew referred to him as a monster.

[–] Fletcherj119 11 years ago

I don't recall that one.

[–] seldon913 11 years ago

I can't remember where the 'take me with you' came from, but the monster comment was in s02e06.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tNsvYgh3pI

The comment is about 7 minutes in.

[–] Fletcherj119 11 years ago

That is odd that Hogan would say "two old monsters". Schultz had most likely been drafted.

[–] seldon913 11 years ago

Probably, though not certain since they were talking about WWI. But the big thing is Schultz is probably the friendliest person in that entire camp even if he is in the other uniform. He does what he has to in order to avoid a transfer to the Russian front, but is never worse with the prisoners than he absolutely has to be. Referring to him as a monster is totally uncalled for.

[–] Fletcherj119 11 years ago

Hogan must've been rattled over the situation. Maybe he was worried the General might turn Schultz into a monster - and he already knows enough about their operation to have them all shot.

[–] chuckbuckner 9 years ago

But according to that episode Schultz was also in the First World War.

[–] seldon913 9 years ago

It's been a while, but Schultz said it in 1.31, The Flame Grows Higher.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0602408/

No idea why I didn't turn that up a year and a half ago...

[–] garrisonaw 10 years ago

Don't recall Schultz EVER posing as Himmler. It never would have worked - mainly because Himmler didn't weigh 300 lbs, and everyone in Germany knew what Himmler looked like.

There was, however, an episode where Schultz posed as Klink to help Hogan (because no one where he was going knew what Klink looked like), although Hogan had to practically blackmail him into it, and then another episode where he posed as Hermann Göring, because they were both fat.

[–] Fletcherj119 10 years ago

Goering - that's what I was thinking of. That one was just on last week. He had his face covered with shaving cream to fool Major Hockstetter.

[–] Zebra 3 10 years ago

One time Hogan opened the tunnel with Shultz standing next to the bunks . He covered his eyes and said I Know nothing and see nothing.

Schultz actually looks down into the open bunk in Sergeant Schultz Meets Mata Hari (#3.4).

'Huuutch!' - Starsky

[–] chuckbuckner 9 years ago

Yes, like not allowing them in the recreation hall for one week, then lengthening it to two weeks. Very sadistic, LOL.

[–] fatdogtavern 10 years ago

Klink says in the first episode of season 1 that he is a member of the old Prussian and Heidelberg school. He was no Nazi. Werner Klemperer only took the role of Col. Klink if his character was portrayed as a bumbling incompetent.

[–] andy2008 10 years ago

When Klink was "incognito" in the staff car and he thought Crittenden was Gestapo, he told Crittendon that he was on his way to Berlin "to join the party", meaning he wasn't officially a "Nazi".

Build a man a fire, he's warm for a day. Light a man on fire & he's warm for the rest of his life!

[–] chuckbuckner 9 years ago

Yes, and at times would say (while exiting a phone call) "what? Oh yes of course, Heil Hitler" as if blah blah.
Neither Klink nor Schultz were Nazi Party members, no doubt about that!