From Buchenwald to Hollywood, The Robert Clary Story : The Documentary (Extended Version) • 20250419 • A film by Karen and Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg
Today 80 years ago , April 19, 1945 – the Buchenwald band ‘Rhythmus’ – with Jiří Žák & Robert Clary – gave a jazz concert in the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald for their comrades and US soldiers that liberated the camp .
We , today, present the extended version of our Robert Clary documentary, now featuring also Robert Clary’s desire that Jiří Žák be nominated as a Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem…
Geluidsopname ter Groote Synagoge • NIW 15 Nov 1935 • Miracles•Media • 20241025
Friday, 15 Nov 1935 • NIW (1)
“Sound recording at the Great Synagogue
The jubilee of the N.I.H.S., which has attracted interest in our community in many circles, has also attracted the attention of Polygoon, the well-known sound journalists. They wanted to record something specific of this jubilee and in honor of the jubilee on the sound film and insert it as part of the cinema newsreels this week. Chief cantor I. E. Maroko and the synagogue choir, led by his well-known conductor S. H. Englander, were prepared to perform a synagogue song. And so the recording took place last Wednesday evening in the Great Synagogue. When we came to take a look at the Synagogue, which was already decorated for the occasion, at 8 o’clock, all preparations had been made. A number of lamps, together 25,000 candles strong, provided sufficient lighting. The choir sang Psalm 118, while Mr. Maroko sang the solos. The recording, which was made under the direction of the popular Polygoon man Jo Levi, and in which Max Tak was present, will certainly attract the interest of the cinema-loving public and for those who do not regularly go to the cinemas, we can certainly recommend a visit this time.”
This NIW 1935 news (1) describes the ‘sound film’ was made Wednesday 13 Nov 1935 under the direction of Polygoon man Jo Levi. Below the ‘sound film’ and first part of my description, as posted Aug 20, 2019 (2).
November 1935, on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the NIHS Jewish Community of Amsterdam (orthodox Ashkenazi congregation started 1635) the dutch film factory Polygoon brought this unique cinema sound newsreel of the Amsterdam Choir of the Great Synagogue led by choirmaster Samuel Henri (Sam) Englander, with a solo perfomance by chazzan (cantor) Izrael Eljasz Maroko in the Great Synagogue (inauguration building 1671) – now home to the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam, Holland (2).
Notes
1. Today I found this article on the Polygoon ‘sound recording’ (2) in the dutch weekly ‘Nieuw Israelietisch weekblad’ (Transl: New Israelite Weekly) of Friday, November 15, 1935. URL Delpher.nl (retrieved 20241025) .
Dutch transcript
Geluidsopname ter Groote Synagoge
Het jubileum der N.I.H.S., dat de belangstelling in vele kringen op onze gemeente heeft gevestigd, heeft ook de aandacht getrokken van Polygoon, de bekende geluidsjournalisten. Men wilde n.l. iets specifieks van dit jubileum en ter eere van het jubileum op de geluidsfilm vastleggen en dit deze week als onderdeel in de bioscoopjournaals inlasschen. Oppervoorzanger I. E. Maroko en het sjoelkoor, onder leiding van zijn bekenden dirigent S. H. Englander, werden bereid gevonden om een synagogaal gezang ten gehoore te brengen. En zoo vond Woensdagavond j.I. de opname plaats in de Groote Synagoge. Toen wij om 8 uur een kijkje kwamen nemen in de reeds in feesttooi gestoken Synagoge, waren alle toebereidselen getroffen. Een aantal lampen, tezamen 25.000 kaarsen sterk, zorgde voor voldoende belichting. Het koor zong Psalm 118, terwijl de heer Maroko de soli zong. De opname, welke onder leiding van den populairen Polygoonman Jo Levi geschiedde, werd vervaardigd en waarbij o.a. Max Tak tegenwoordig was, zal zeer zeker de belangstelling van het bioscoopminnend publiek trekken en zij, die niet geregeld in de cinema’s komen, kunnen wij ditmaal zeker een gang daarheen aanbevelen.
Amsterdam Lift-Off Film Festival 2022 – “From Buchenwald to Hollywood, The Robert Clary Story” — A film by Karen and Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg — about a Hollywood legend, an internationally known actor, Broadway star, singer, artist, author and Holocaust lecturer.
Amsterdam Lift-Off Film Festival 2022 is now live!
The Robert Clary Story is screening in the FEATURES programme of the AMSTERDAM LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVAL 2022, starting Monday 10th October – Monday 7th November.
Hollywood legend
The Robert Clary Story, about a Hollywood legend, an internationally known actor, Broadway star, singer, artist, author and Holocaust lecturer.
The truly inspiring story of Holocaust Survivor, Robert Clary, born Robert Widerman, who at the age of 16 was deported from Paris along with 13 members of his family to the death camps and was the sole survivor, liberated by the U.S Army on April 11, 1945 from Buchenwald after having endured 31 months in four Nazi camps and a death march. He was discovered singing in a Paris nightclub in 1947, signed to a recording contract and brought to the United States in 1949 where he met Merv Griffin, who introduced him to Eddie and Ida Cantor and their daughter, Natalie, who he would later marry in 1965. He would become a Hollywood legend, internationally known for his portrayal of Corporal Louie LeBeau on the long running hit TV show Hogan’s Heroes, of which at age 96, he is the sole surviving original cast member, as well as for his Broadway, soap opera and movie roles, his record albums, paintings, autobiography and as an impassioned Holocaust speaker.
Robert Clary Story | Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival | 20220829 | Miracles•Media
Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival 2022 – “From Buchenwald to Hollywood, The Robert Clary Story” — A film by Karen and Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg — about a Hollywood legend, an internationally known actor, Broadway star, singer, artist, author and Holocaust lecturer.
Screening
Festival screening will be online at Vimeo On Demand for one month: 05 September – 03 October.
Raleigh Studios
If Lift-Off – @LiftOffGlobalNetwork – had shown the film live at the Raleigh Studios only 8 miles from Robert Clary’s home, a Hollywood legend, they would have had a packed theatre, but to no avail.
Hollywood legend
The Robert Clary Story, about a Hollywood legend, an internationally known actor, Broadway star, singer, artist, author and Holocaust lecturer.
The truly inspiring story of Holocaust Survivor, Robert Clary, born Robert Widerman, who at the age of 16 was deported from Paris along with 13 members of his family to the death camps and was the sole survivor, liberated by the U.S Army on April 11, 1945 from Buchenwald after having endured 31 months in four Nazi camps and a death march. He was discovered singing in a Paris nightclub in 1947, signed to a recording contract and brought to the United States in 1949 where he met Merv Griffin, who introduced him to Eddie and Ida Cantor and their daughter, Natalie, who he would later marry in 1965. He would become a Hollywood legend, internationally known for his portrayal of Corporal Louie LeBeau on the long running hit TV show Hogan’s Heroes, of which at age 96, he is the sole surviving original cast member, as well as for his Broadway, soap opera and movie roles, his record albums, paintings, autobiography and as an impassioned Holocaust speaker.
“From Buchenwald to Hollywood, The Robert Clary Story” – A film by Karen and Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg .
March 1, 2022 – Celebrating Robert Clary’s 96th birthday today announcing this special gift :
Watch online free now our full feature documentary “From Buchenwald to Hollywood, The Robert Clary Story” – A film by Karen and Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg.
Synopsis
The truly inspiring story of Holocaust Survivor, Robert Clary (born Robert Max Widerman, March 1, 1926 in the heart of Paris, France) who was liberated from Buchenwald on April 11, 1945 by the U.S.Army. Discovered singing in a Paris cabaret and brought to the United States where he became internationally known for his portrayal of Corporal Louie LeBeau on the long running hit TV show Hogan’s Heroes as well as for his Broadway, soap opera and movie roles, his record albums, paintings, autobiography and as an impassioned Holocaust spokesperson.
After the world premiere at the FLIFF (2018) in Hollywood (Florida, USA), and screening at the Paris (2021) Sydney & Melbourne (2021) and Berlin (2022) Lift-Off Film Festivals, the “The Robert Clary Story” film is now made public worldwide available for free watching via their YouTube channel by Richard Bloom Productions (richardbloomproductions•com).
Special thanks to Robert Clary, and Christopher Ray Allison (interview – cinematography) and Nathaniel Link (interview – sound) and many many others…
Watch Free Online – The Robert Clary Story | 20220301
“From Buchenwald to Hollywood, The Robert Clary Story” – A film by Karen and Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg .
Watch now online at the Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival 2022 … a truly inspiring film about a Hollywood legend ….
Click ⓘ right corner YouTube screen – for link to the site of the Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival 2022 Monday 7th February – Monday 7th March.
Features films
The Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival 2022 is screening 52 feature films The Robert Clary Story is Episode 40 .
Festival Tickets
Get a ‘Features’ ticket with access to all the 52 Features from the Lift-Off Film site, which also allows voting (2 votes) for the films — for direct link Click Checkout ⓘ right corner YouTube screen.
Robert Clary
The producers of Transport XX to Auschwitz and Defending Holocaust History are proudly bringing to the screen, the inspirational film, From Buchenwald to Hollywood, The Robert Clary Story, about a Hollywood legend, an internationally known actor, Broadway star, singer, artist, author and Holocaust lecturer.
Mr. Clary is widely known for his role as Corporal Lebeau on the long running TV series Hogan’s Heroes. What is little known by the public is that Robert’s real last name is Widerman, and in 1942 at the age of 16, he and thirteen members of his family were rounded up in Paris, France and deported by the Nazis to concentration camps. He was the only one to survive, having endured 31 months in four Nazi camps and a death march until his liberation from Buchenwald by the U.S. Army on April 11, 1945. He was discovered singing in a Paris nightclub in 1947, signed to a recording contract and brought to the United States in 1949 where he met Merv Griffin, who introduced him to Eddie and Ida Cantor and their daughter, Natalie, who he would later marry.
The World Premiere was at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in Cinema Paradiso, Hollywood, Fl (USA) in 2018.
Last year the film was screening at the Paris Lift–Off Film Festival 2021, and the Sydney & Melbourne Lift-Off Film Festival 2021.
The film is also available at the holocaust centers USHMM and Yad Vashem.
Promo film (20220224) by Michel van der Burg | Miracles•Media
Robert Clary Story – Official selection BERLIN LIFT-OFF 2022
Feature documentary “From Buchenwald to Hollywood, The Robert Clary Story” — A film by Karen and Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg — Selected for BERLIN LIFT-OFF 2022 Film festival 7th February – 7th March , 2022 in Germany.
