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A great number of Austrian and German actors were forced to flee their homeland during the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis in the late 1930s only to find themselves smack dab in Hollywood pictures playing thoroughly nefarious Gestapo commanders. Viennese performer John Wengraf was one such actor. Born in 1897, his father was a theatre critic whose occupation obviously encouraged John's early interest in performing. His acting career began on the repertory stage in 1920, eventually becoming a member of the Vienna Volkstheater. He went on to earn a sturdy reputation as a dramatic performer both in his homeland and in Berlin.

Because he was Jewishm Wengraf emigrated to England in 1933 as the Nazis began their rise to power. There he appeared unbilled in a couple of films there, as well as in some of the first BBC live-television shows ever presented, but his career began to languish. In late 1941, however, he had the good fortune of appearing on Broadway with Helen Hayes in "Candle in the Wind" and decided to stay in the United Stes, where he eventually was naturalized. The following year he headed west and settled permanently in the Los Angeles area. A dark, cold-eyed, thin-lipped player with a precise, meticulous air about him, he found himself invariably playing the very characters he detested. Some of his more nefarious nasties surfaced in such films as the Humphrey Bogart classic Sahara (1943), as well as The Boy from Stalingrad (1943), U-Boat Prisoner (1944) and Till We Meet Again (1944).

In postwar years, he was often spotted portraying ethnic professionals (scientists, doctors, professors, foreign royalty). Some of the higher quality roles he portrayed were Tomorrow Is Forever (1946); Count Von Papen in 5 Fingers (1952); and Ronchin in the Ethel Merman musical Call Me Madam (1953). Although Wengraf never made it to the very top of the Hollywood character ranks, he remained a thoroughly strong and reliable player. In the 1950s and 1960s he transferred his talents to TV, appearing on a number of dramatic showcases and on such popular programs as The Untouchables (1959), Hawaiian Eye (1959), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) and The Time Tunnel (1966). His last few films included minor roles in the war-themed Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), Hitler (1962) and Ship of Fools (1965). He retired in 1966, and died in Santa Barbara, California, at age 77, on May 4, 1974.

Gerhard Lamprecht was born on 6 October 1897 in Berlin, Germany. He was a director and writer, known for Children of No Importance (1926), Menschen untereinander (1926) and Schwester Veronica (1927). He was married to Elisabeth Donath. He died on 4 May 1974 in West Berlin, West Germany.

Pianist (a child prodigy) and band leader, trained at London's Royal Academy of Music. The son of a master tailor, Geraldo began as a relief pianist at a cinema on the Old Kent Road and then played organ at a restaurant in London. He first fronted his 'Light Orchestra' -- under his real name, Gerald Bright -- at the Hotel Majestic at St. Anne's-on-Sea for a five-year residency. After touring South America to study Latin rhythms and collect arrangements, he created the 'Geraldo Tango Gaucho Band' and briefly became 'The Tango King' of England, based for ten years at the Savoy from where he made more than 2000 broadcasts. By 1933, he led a more conventional dance orchestra under the tag line 'Geraldo & His Sweet Music' with "Hello, Again" as his signature song. He revamped this organisation yet again in the 1940's and 50's, transforming it into one of the foremost American-styled swing bands in Britain, particularly after the inclusion of trumpeter Leslie Jiver Hutchinson, saxophonist/arranger George Evans, guitarist Ivor Mairants and saxophonist Harry Hayes.

In addition to his prolific broadcasts for BBC radio and numerous recordings for Decca and Parlophone, Geraldo also sidelined as musical director for Herbert Wilcox's British & Dominions film studio from 1935 to 1940. During World War II, he took on another job as Supervisor of Bands for ENSA and conducted several tours of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. After the war, he became involved with band management, supplying ensembles (popularly known as 'Geraldo's Navy') to perform on Cunard ocean liners. In the mid-1950's, he became musical director for Scottish television after retiring as a band leader.

Maurice Ewing was born on 12 May 1906 in Lockney, Texas, USA. Maurice is known for Our Mr. Sun (1956) and Gateways to the Mind (1958). Maurice was married to Margaret Sloan Kidder and Avarilla Grace Hildenbrand. Maurice died on 4 May 1974.