Born in Steglitz, Berlin, Germany. A painter's son, he joined the German production company UFA in 1920, and the following year became personal assistant to Ernst Lubitsch. He accompanied Lubitsch to the US, assisting on the production of his films between 1922 and 1926. Blanke then briefly returned to Germany to act as production manager of Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS. He worked for Warner Bros. in Hollywood (1927-28), headed their production in Germany (1928-30), their foreign production in Hollywood (1930-31), and finally supervised their American output (1931-32). He became producer in 1933, turning out a great many important films on the Warners lot, often with the title of production supervisor under Hal B. Wallis.  Nominated for Best Picture 1935: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - Producer at Warner Bros.  Nominated for Best Picture 1936: ANTHONY ADVERSE - Producer at Warner Bros.  Nominated for Best Picture 1936: THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR - Producer at Warner Bros.  Best Picture 1937: THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA - Producer at Warner Bros.  Nominated for Best Picture 1938: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD - Producer at Warner Bros.  Nominated for Best Picture 1938: FOUR DAUGHTERS - Producer at Warner Bros.  Nominated for Best Picture 1938: JEZEBEL - Producer at Warner Bros.  Nominated for Best Picture 1948: THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE - Producer at Warner Bros.  Nominated for Best Picture 1959: THE NUN'S STORY - Producer at Warner Bros. 9 nominations, 1 Award