Jews Condemn English Film Version
Of Dickens Novel for Anti-Semitism
By -LEON GUTTERMAN
HOLLYWOOD,-"Oliver Twist,"
J. Arthur Rank's filmization of
the Charles Dickens' novel, is
posing a terrific problem to
Eagle Lion, its U. S. distributor.
The film has been charged in
some quarters with having anti-
Semitic overtones and studio ex-
, ecutives are now searching for a
recipe to send the picture to
American screens without en-
couraging religious discrimina-
tion. This is the chief reason for
the delay in releasing the pic-
ture. •
The film company is approach-
ing the question carefully and
with an attempt at an open mind.
"Oliver Twist" has already been
screened for the Anti-Defamation
League and it is understood the
League has not condemned the
film. being inclined to accept the
issue of "authentic Dickens," but
is seriously considering \its pos-
sible impact on the American
public.
Complaints against "Oliver"
center on the part of Fagin. Fol-
lowing closely to the original
Cruikshank illustrations of the
. novel, the film's producers gave
Fagin the long, ill-kempt beard
and hooked nose of those
sketches. By coincidence only, it
is said, that very characterization
was widely used by the Nazis in
their film treatises of hate pro-
duced under Adolf Hitler. While
the novel refers to Fagin as a
Jew, the film skirts actual men-
tion of that point.
Another blast at the picture for
its "blatant anti-Semitism" was
delivered this week by the New
York Board of Rabbis in a cable
to Eric Johnst' n, head of Holly-
wood's motion picture producer
association. The rabbis asked
Johnston to do everything pos-
sible to keep the film off the
screens here because the "villain-
ous Fagin as a central figure is a
horrid stereotype, certain to stir
up in the public mind hatred and
prejudice." Showing of this film .
"in one American theatre will
undo all the splendid work of
such American films as "Gentle-
man's Agreement' and 'Cross-
fire,' " they said.
Jewish Shipping Magnate -
Restoring Old Service
NEW YORK (JPS)—The house
flag of Arnold Bernstein, German
Jewish shipping magnate whose
fleet was confiscated by the Nazis
before the war, will soon fly over
two 18,000-ton passenger liners
in the North Atlantic service if
his applications for operating and
construction subsidies receive
favorable action by the Maritime
Commission.
62—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, October 1, 1948
Britain has no Objection to Israel Office in London
Emphasizing that the Govern-
LONDON (JTA).—The Foreign
Office indicated that the British ment of Israel "cannot of course
Government has no objection to have a minister here," a Foreign
the establishment of an Israeli Office spokesman added: "But no
representation in London, not- one can stop them from putting
Edwin Samuel, director of withstanding the fact that Israel `State of Israel' over their door if
they want to."
broadcasting in Palestine from is not recognized by Britain.
1945 to 1948, ar
rived on t h e
U. S. Britannic
to assume his
new duties as
visiting profes-
sor at Dropsie
-College's n e w
• Sporting Goods
• Glidden Paints
'Institute for Is-
• Children's Toys
• Electrical Appliances
rael and t h e
'Middle East. The
AUTHORIZED DELTA DEALER
son of Viscount
"We try to stock everything a completely
.Herbert Samuel,
modern hardware store should carry."
Prof. Samuel first High Com-
missioner for Palestine, was
greeted at the boat by Samuel
Finkel, executive vice-president
of Dropsie College. Prof. Samuel,
who is married to a Palestinian,
haS lived in the Holy Land since
1920.
Palestinian to Teach
At Dropsie Institute
A. BLACK HARDWARE
HOUSEHOLD & BUILDERS HARDWARE
UN. 4-3436
19185 LIVERNOIS AVE.
First move toward creating a
national organization of Amer-
ican Jews came from the New
York YMHA when its 1875 an-
nual meeting proposed to appoint
a committee to consider the feas-
ibility of organizing a Central
Board of American Jews "to
take cognizance of any and all
matters affecting the welfare of
our co-religionists."
Vases, urns, pitchers, flasks, candle sticks, figurines, statuary
and other keepsakes converted into artistic table lamps.
_
Oil lamps electrified.
LAINIP SHADES MADE
LAMPS MODERNIZED,
AND RECOVERED
REPAIRED & REFINISHED
Old style floor tamps made Custom made and recovered.
into indirect lamps and
Styled to your lamp. Large
stock on display.
torcheres.
PICKUP AND DELIVERY ALL PARTS OF DETROIT
HOUSE OF. L
PS
16841 Livernois Ave.. y2 Block South of Six Mile
Open Thursday to 9 P.M.
Phone UN. 2-8338
Sincere Best Wishes to the Jewish Community
for a
HAPPY NEW YEAR
DETROIT TULLER
ENVELOPE CO.
2744 W. Fort
DUNITZ BROS.
REALESTATE
1210 David Stott Bldg.
Eagle Moving Co.
M. GREENBAUM
Morris Bedding Co.
LOUIS G. REDSTONE
PLUMBER
Al Brown
Architect
2915 Doris
8046 W. Fort St.
3510 Woodward
GLOBE PAPER CO.
Nathan P. Rossen,
Insurance
SOBER MAN &
MILGROM
1563 National Bank Bldg.
8675 12th St.
Stafford Restaurant
602 E. Warren
Economy Linoleum
Window Shade Co.
235 W. Jefferson
8931 Linwood
FLOWERS-GIFTS
Fishman Waste Paper
Co.
LLOYDS FRIENDLY
HARDWARE
National Goal & Coke
Co.
Book Cadillac Hotel
10565 Grand River
Fenkell at Greenfield
9141 Monica
Grand River Lumber
Co.
LINWOOD COAL CO
KAY DANZER
DETROIT LIVE FISH
CO.
9515 Oakland
DETROIT CANDY CO.
35 W. Jefferson
27765 Telegraph
Louis Levin & Son
GOLDSTEIN'S
BAKERY
10230 Dexter
'
Osher and Sam Goldberg
15000 Linwood
MR. & MRS.
AARON B. MARGOLIS
and Family
3322 Buena Vista
PUBLIX CLEANERS
Wolverine Ginger Ale Co.
3601 E. Hancock
RESTRIOK LUMBER
CO.
UNIVERSAL SCRAP
METALS CO.
14400 Wyoming
4690 Humbolt
E. ROSENGARD &
CO.
MARTZ SELECT
BEER
2438 Grand River
2536 Orleans
Eastman Kodak
Stores, inc.
GRAND JEWELRY
CO.
MATHEW
FURNITURE CO.
ROSENBERG WASTE
MATERIAL CO.
"1563 Woodward
1224 Randolph
7760 Harper
673 E. Willis
2500 22nd St.
MR. J. M. SINGER
19500 W. McNichols
GORMAN'S AUTO
PARTS
Detroit Rendering Co.
8333 Linwood
Wholesale Fruits
7201 W. Fort
VOGUE CLEANERS
& DYERS INC.
1600 Woodward
MR. & MRS HARRY
WEXLER &
DAUGHTERS
2922 Leslie