John Banner
Also Known As: Johann Banner, جان بنر
Biography: John Banner (Height: 6 feet 1 inch [1.85 meters]), born Johann Banner (January 28, 1910-January 28, 1973), was an Austrian-American actor who achieved lasting fame for his portrayal of the bumbling German Sergeant Hans Schultz in the beloved sitcom Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971). Banner was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine). He studied acting at the prestigious Reinhardt Seminar and began his career on the Viennese stage. In 1938, with the rise of the Nazis, Banner, a Jew, fled Austria for the United States. After arriving in America, Banner struggled to find work in his chosen profession. He took on odd jobs to make ends meet while continuing to pursue his passion for acting. Eventually, he began landing small roles in Hollywood films, often playing stereotypical Germans. In 1965, Banner landed the role of Sergeant Schultz in the CBS sitcom Hogan's Heroes. The show was set in a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II and followed the exploits of a group of American officers led by Colonel Robert Hogan (Bob Crane). Banner's portrayal of Schultz, the guard who was always "seeing nothing" and "hearing nothing" while the prisoners tunneled out of the camp or conducted other escapades, was a comedic highlight of the show. Banner's comedic timing and delivery of the catchphrases "I see nothing!" and "I know nothing!" endeared him to audiences around the world. He remained with the show for its entire six-season run, becoming synonymous with the role of Sergeant Schultz. After Hogan's Heroes ended in 1971, Banner continued to act, appearing in guest roles on various television shows. He also returned to the stage, performing in a number of productions. In 1973, Banner died of a heart attack while visiting Vienna. He was 63 years old.
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: Stanislau, Galicia, Austria-Hungary [now Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine]
Adult: No
Birthday: January 28, 1910
Age: 115 years old
Gender: Male
Deathday: January 28, 1973
Popularity:
Known For:
My Girl Tisa
Overview: 1905 was a period of heavy immigration from Europe to America before laws were passed restricting the flow of immigrants. Almost every character in this movie is a recent arrival. Tisa has been in America only four months, yet she is holding four jobs to save enough money to pay for her father's boat passage to America. She works in a garment factory in Greenwich Village owned by Mr. Grumbach, who is studying to pass his citizenship test. Denek, a brash young man, tries to help her but gets her into trouble and her deportation is ordered by an immigration judge.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-02-07
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The Wonderful Country
Overview: Having fled to Mexico from the U.S. many years ago for killing his father's murderer, Martin Brady travels to Texas to broker an arms deal for his Mexican boss, strongman Governor Cipriano Castro. Brady breaks a leg and while recuperating in Texas the gun shipment is stolen. Complicating matters further the wife of local army major Colton has designs on him, and the local Texas Ranger captain makes him a generous offer to come back to the states and join his outfit. After killing a man in self-defense, Brady slips back over the border and confronts Castro who is not only unhappy that Brady has lost his gun shipment but is about to join forces with Colton to battle the local raiding Apache Indians.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1959-10-21
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It Started with Eve
Overview: A young man asks a hat check girl to pose as his fiancée in order to make his dying father's last moments happy. However, the old man's health takes a turn for the better and now his son doesn't know how to break the news that he's engaged to someone else, especially since his father is so taken with the impostor.
Genres: Comedy Romance Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-09-26
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The Fallen Sparrow
Overview: Imprisoned during the Spanish Civil War, John "Kit" McKittrick is released when a New York City policeman pulls some strings. Upon returning to America, McKittrick hears that a friend has committed suicide, and he begins to smell a rat. During his investigation, McKittrick questions three beautiful women, one of whom has a tie to his refugee past. Pursued by Nazi operatives, McKittrick learns of the death of another friend, and begins to suspect the dark Dr. Skaas.
Genres: Drama Mystery Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-08-19
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The Story of Ruth
Overview: Ruth is one of two Moabite women who marry the sons of Elimelech and Naomi. When Elimelech and sons Mahlon and Chillion die, leaving Naomi a widow with two widowed daughters-in-law, Naomi decides to return to Israel. One daughter-in-law, Orpah, bids her goodbye. Daughter-in-law Ruth however says she will not desert her.
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1960-06-17
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36 Hours
Overview: Germans kidnap an American major and try to convince him that World War II is over, so that they can get details about the Allied invasion of Europe out of him.
Genres: Drama Thriller War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1964-11-26
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Go for Broke!
Overview: A tribute to the U.S. 442nd Regimental Combat Team, formed in 1943 by Presidential permission with Japanese-American volunteers. We follow the training of a platoon under the rueful command of Lt. Mike Grayson who shares common prejudices of the time. The 442nd serve in Italy, then France, distinguishing themselves in skirmishes and battles; gradually and naturally, Grayson's prejudices evaporate with dawning realization that his men are better soldiers than he is.
Genres: Action Drama War History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1951-05-04
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Hitler
Overview: Richard Basehart stars as one of the most influential and one of the most reviled men in history in this probing psychological study of a man who nearly gained dominance over the entire western world--at the cost of millions of lives--Hitler.
Genres: History War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1962-03-21
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Bedtime Story
Overview: Benson, is a Casanova who tricks women into having sex with him before leaving them. He is content with his game until he meets Jamison, a real operator who poses as an exiled prince and not only gets women to share his bed but also to give him money to help him fund his supposed counter-revolution.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1964-06-10
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Seven Miles from Alcatraz
Overview: After Pearl Harbor, convicts at Alcatraz prison live in fear of bomb attacks, driving Champ Larkin and his pal Jimbo to a desperate escape attempt which lands them on a tiny lighthouse island, where they take over. The five inhabitants are stymied in their efforts to summon aid. But the island also figures in the schemes of a big Nazi spy ring; which will win out, the gangsters' greed or their patriotism?
Genres: Drama Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-11-18
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Never Say Goodbye
Overview: In present-day U.S., Dr. Michael Parker, a prominent surgeon, unexpectedly runs into his German-born wife whom he thought was dead. Victor, an artist and his "dead" wife's now boyfriend, berates Dr. Parker for "killing" her. The bulk of the story flashes back to Austria during World War II as we learn how Dr. Parker met and married his wife, and the one mistake that may have cost him his family.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1956-03-10
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20,000 Eyes
Overview: An investment counselor turns jewel thief when the gangster he embezzled funds from demands to be paid back.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-06-14
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The Argyle Secrets
Overview: A framed reporter and the crooks on his trail scramble to locate a book containing the names of American war profiteers and traitors who collaborated with the Nazis during the war.
Genres: Mystery Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-05-07
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The Last Laugh
Overview: Feature documentary about humor and the Holocaust, examining whether it is ever acceptable to use humor in connection with a tragedy of that scale, and the implications for other seemingly off-limits topics in a society that prizes free speech.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2016-04-18
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With This Ring
Overview: Dramatised promotional film for the Miller Brewing Company.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1954-01-01
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Spring Parade
Overview: In this light and lovely romantic musical, a Hungarian woman attends a Viennese fair and buys a card from a gypsy fortune teller. It says that she will meet someone important and is destined for a happy marriage. Afterward she gets a job as a baker's assistant. She then meets a handsome army drummer who secretly dreams of becoming a famous composer and conductor. Unfortunately the military forbids the young corporal to create his own music. But then Ilonka secretly sends one of the drummer's waltzes to the Austrian Emperor with his weekly order of pastries. Her act paves the way toward the tuneful and joyous fulfillment of the gypsy's prediction.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-09-27
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The Blue Angel
Overview: Remake of Josef von Sternberg's 1930 classic.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1959-09-04
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They Came to Blow Up America
Overview: Based on a true incident that occurred in 1942 when nine Nazi saboteurs were put ashore on the coast of Long Island, New York, by submarine, with orders to blow up various defense installations.
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-05-07
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The Beast of Budapest
Overview: Archival footage combined with new footage re-creates the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. It is also a love story between a devout communist woman and the liberal son of a prominent professor. Because of their political differences, the two can never be together.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: hu
Release Date: 1958-02-23
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The Juggler
Overview: A Holocaust survivor moves to Israel and experiences difficulty adjusting to life.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1953-05-11
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The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz
Overview: A beautiful East German Olympic hopeful pole-vaults over the Berlin Wall to freedom.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1968-01-03
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The Gypsy Moon
Overview: Rocky Jones and his buddies happen upon two strange moons orbiting each other. They soon discover that both are inhabited by civilizations at war with each other. Needless to say, Rocky and his crew do their utmost to bring about peace.
Genres: Science Fiction Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1954-12-25
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The Moon Is Down
Overview: The story of a small town in Norway that resists German occupation during World War II. Based on a John Steinbeck novel.
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-03-14
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Once Upon a Honeymoon
Overview: A radio correspondent tries to rescue a burlesque queen from her marriage to a Nazi official.
Genres: Comedy Romance Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-11-27
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Guilty of Treason
Overview: The story of Cardinal Josef Mindzhenty, a Roman Catholic cardinal from Hungary who spoke out against both the Nazi occupation of his country during World War II and the Communist regime that replaced it after the war.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-02-20
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Callaway Went Thataway
Overview: Two smart marketing people resurrect some old films starring cowboy Smoky Callaway and put them on television. The films are a big hit and the star is in demand. Unfortunately no one can find him. When a lookalike sends in a photo, the marketing team hires him to impersonate Callaway. Things get sticky when the real Callaway eventually shows up.
Genres: Comedy Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1951-11-15
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To the Victor
Overview: An American serviceman remains in France after WWII and becomes a black marketeer.
Genres: Drama Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-10-26
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One, Two, Three
Overview: C.R. MacNamara is a managing director for Coca Cola in West Berlin during the Cold War, just before the Wall is put up. When Scarlett, the rebellious daughter of his boss, comes to West Berlin, MacNamara has to look after her, but this turns out to be a difficult task when she reveals to be married to a communist.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-12-15
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The Yellow Canary
Overview: Andy is an arrogant pop singer about to be divorced by his wife who treats his staff badly. On the same night he starts a job at a theater in Los Angeles his infant son is kidnapped. Despite requests from the lead police officer on the case, Lieutenant Bonner, Paxton plays along with the kidnappers as they string him along even though they are willing to kill.
Genres: Thriller Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1963-05-15
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The Young Lions
Overview: The lives of three young men, a German and two Americans, during WWII.
Genres: War Drama Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-04-02
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The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
Overview: The story of young Tchaikovsky through the premiere of his "Sleeping Beauty" ballet.
Genres: Music History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1959-01-30
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Crash of Moons
Overview: A three-part episode from the TV series Rocky Jones, Space Ranger edited together and released as a feature for 16mm rental only. Season 1 episodes 21, 22, 23. Episode 21: Rocky saves a space station and his friends when they are trapped between gypsy moons. Episode 22: Cleolanthe tries to destroy one of the gypsy moons with a barrage of missiles. Episode 23: Rocky evacuates the gypsy moon Posetta and stops Cleolanthe's missile barrage.
Genres: Action Adventure Science Fiction TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1954-07-10
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This Land Is Mine
Overview: Somewhere in Europe, in a city occupied by the Nazis, a gentle school teacher finds himself torn between collaboration and resistance, cowardice and courage.
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-05-07
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Kisses for My President
Overview: A hapless husband takes a back seat to his wife, the first female president of the United States.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1964-08-21
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King Solomon's Mines
Overview: Fortune hunter Allan Quatermain teams up with a resourceful woman to help her find her missing husband lost in the wilds of 1900s Africa while being pursued by hostile tribes and a rival German explorer.
Genres: Adventure Action Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-11-09
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The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
Overview:
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1964-04-18
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Pacific Blackout
Overview: Falsely convicted of murder, young Robert Draper escapes custody during a practice blackout drill. Under cover of darkness, Draper hopes to find the real killer, who turns out to be a member of a Nazi sabotage ring. Completed shortly before America entered WW2.
Genres: Mystery Romance Thriller Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-12-31
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Togetherness
Overview: Nina, a gorgeous blonde communist, attracts the attention of two wealthy bon vivants. Prince Solomon and Jack attempt to impress the young woman and win out over their rival, surrounded by the stunning scenery of Greece.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1970-09-13
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Operation Eichmann
Overview: Drama about the life Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi officer responsible for the deaths of countless Jewish people during World War II.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-03-15
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Nocturne
Overview: In 1940s Los Angeles, when womanizing composer Keith Vincent is found dead, the inquest concludes it was a suicide but police detective Joe Warne isn't so sure.
Genres: Crime Drama Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1946-10-29
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Star Spangled Salesman
Overview: A collection of television celebrities pitch United States Savings bonds.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1968-02-09
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Bing Crosby Color Christmas Show
Overview: Bing emcees and performs in this special Christmas show packed with guest stars including the cast of Hogan's Heroes, a comedy dog, and more.
Genres: Music Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1965-12-25
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