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John Wengraf

John Wengraf

Actor · Died May 4, 1974, aged 77 · Vienna, Austria-Hungary, now Austria

Emigrating to England in 1933 as the Nazis began their rise to power, Wengraf 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. 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/I), 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 more quality pictures he enhanced 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 throughly 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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 22, 1897
Died
May 4, 1974 (aged 77)
From
Vienna, Austria-Hungary, now Austria
Works as
Actor
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 67 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 53% in 30 days

What are John Wengraf's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
40%
Bonds
24%
Survival
15%
Power
8%
Self
7%
Ideas
4%
Society
2%
Marriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 8 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Melancholic
5
Dread
5
Absurd
4
Romantic
3
Other
11

How their films linger

Bittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch John Wengraf's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Wengraf's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

67 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page.

  • Jericho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Monseigneur Paul

  • The Time Tunnel(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Hans Kleinemann

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Ship of Fools(1965)

    as Graf

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Rogues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Drozhin

  • The Prize(1963)

    as Hans Eckhart

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Hitler(1962)

    as Dr. Morell

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Judgment at Nuremberg(1961)

    as Karl Wieck

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Portrait in Black(1960)

    as Dr. Kessler

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • 12 to the Moon(1960)

    as Dr. Erich Heinrich

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Detectives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Varchek

  • Hawaiian Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bourbon Street Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Third Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • One Step Beyond(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Ernest · as Felix Borgner

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bat Masterson(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel Anders Dorn

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Behind Closed Doors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Von Elm

  • The Return of Dracula(1958)

    as John Merriman

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Walter Winchell File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Disembodied(1957)

    as Dr. Carl Metz

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Valerie(1957)

    as Mr. Louis Horvat

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Pride and the Passion(1957)

    as Sermaine

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Panic! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Oh, Men! Oh, Women!(1957)

    as Dr. Krauss

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Telephone Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Never Say Goodbye(1956)

    as Prof. Zimmelman

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Racers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Dr. Tabor

  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Count Victor Turec

  • The Gambler from Natchez(1954)

    as Nicholas Cadiz

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Gog(1954)

    as Dr. Zeitman

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Paris Playboys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Vidal

  • The French Line(1953)

    as Commodore Renard

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Hell and High Water(1954)

    as Col. Schuman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Danny Thomas Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Victor Waingraft

  • The Desert Rats(1953)

    as German Doctor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • You Are There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Zimmerman

  • Tropic Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Lukats

  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as German Colonel · as Von Schwarz

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Denoir

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • 5 Fingers(1952)

    as Count Franz Von Papen

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Assignment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Landau · as Max von Mayerling

  • The Lovable Cheat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Pierquin

  • Wake of the Red Witch(1948)

    as Prosecuting Attorney

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Sealed Verdict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as German Doctor

  • Sofia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Peter Goltzen

  • T-Men(1947)

    as 'Shiv' Triano

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Razor's Edge(1946)

    as Joseph - Gray & Isabel's Butler

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Tomorrow Is Forever(1946)

    as Dr. Ludwig

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Week-End at the Waldorf(1945)

    as Alex

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Strange Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Rudolph Kruger

  • Till We Meet Again(1944)

    as Gestapo Chief

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • U-Boat Prisoner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Gunther Rudehoff, Gestapo Agent

  • The Seventh Cross(1944)

    as Overkamp

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Sahara(1943)

    as Maj. von Falken

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Boy from Stalingrad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as German Major

  • Mission to Moscow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Polish Ambassador Grzybowski (uncredited)

  • Lucky Jordan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Herr Kesselman

  • Three Cockeyed Sailors(1940)

    as German Captain

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Convoy(1940)

    as Commander Deutschland

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Night Train to Munich(1940)

    as KL Physician (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • All Hands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as German

  • Dangerous Comment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as German Radio Operator

  • The Moon in the Yellow River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Tausch

  • Bretter, die die Welt bedeuten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Paul Rainer

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 67 titles from 1935 to 1966; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

5 Fingers (1952)

$46K worldwide

Highest rated

5 Fingers (1952)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

The Pride and the Passion (1957)

Film career

19351966

Peak 1960 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting67 of 67: 67 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score65th

By decade

1930s2 · acting1940s21 · acting1950s35 · acting1960s9 · acting

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 0% of 16 roles
405060

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do John Wengraf's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 29; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Hitler (1962)

57th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

Midcredits 99th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does John Wengraf work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Wengraf's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Banner shares the most, 2.

Actors

Cinematographers

Mixed roles