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128

Unfurling Flag

September 21 • 2006

daughter, Ellen, who dated Brando for
several years. 'At one rehearsal, his
performance was so intense that my
uncle Luther was moved to tears. And
roadway plays don't usually
it wasn't just acting — Marlon really
produce political or social
cared about the Jewish refugees, just as
change. But Ben Hecht's
he later became active for black civil
controversial pro-Zionist play, A Flag is rights and the American Indians."
Born, which debuted 60 years ago, had
On Sept. 5, 1946, Flag debuted at
an impact on three of the most con-
Manhattan's Alvin Theater, known
tentious issues of its day: the fight to
today as the Neil Simon Theater.
establish a Jewish state, the smuggling
Due to popular demand, the four-
of Holocaust survivors to Palestine and week opening run was extended to 10
the battle against racial segregation in
weeks.
the United States.
The characters' sharp criticism of
Hecht, an Academy Award-winning
British rule in Palestine irked many in
screenwriter, was active in the Bergson
England. The London Evening Standard
Group, a 1940s political action corn-
called it "the most virulent anti-British
mittee that lobbied for the rescue of
play ever staged in the United States."
Jews from Hitler and for the creation of
American reviewers were kinder.
a Jewish state. It made waves by using
Walter Winchell said Flag was "worth
protest tactics that were unusual for
seeing, worth hearing, and worth
that era, including full-page newspaper remembering ... it will wring your
ads and theater productions.
heart and eyes dry ... bring at least 11
Among the many celebrities whom
handkerchiefs."
Hecht helped bring to the Bergson
Brando's powerful performance,
group were the Adlers, the "first family" especially his lines criticizing
of Yiddish theater, and they were cen-
American Jewry's response to the
tral to A Flag is Born.
Holocaust, touched a nerve.
Luther Adler directed the play. His
"You Jews of America!" he shouted.
half-sister Celia and another Yiddish
"Where was your cry of rage that could
star, Paul Muni, co-starred as elderly
have filled the world and stopped the
Holocaust survivors straggling through fires?"
postwar Europe. Their sister Stella, the
The accusation "sent chills through
statuesque actress and acting coach,
the audience," Brando later recalled. At
shared the role of narrator with jour-
some performances, "Jewish girls got
nalist Quentin Reynolds.
out of their seats and screamed and
Stella's most promising student, 22-
cried from the aisles in sadness, and
year-old Marlon Brando, was cast in
at one, when I asked, `Where were you
the role of David, a passionate young
when 6 million Jews were being burned
Zionist who encounters the elderly
to death in the ovens of Auschwitz?' a
couple in a cemetery
woman was so overcome with anger
"When my mother came home from
and guilt that she rose and shouted
the first rehearsal, she said of Brando,
back at me, 'Where were you?'"
• 1 can't remember his name, but boy,
When the Zionist flag was raised in
is he talented:" recalled Celia Adler's
the final scene, with Kurt Weill's music
son, Selwyn Freed, a retired professor
in the background, "it sent a chill
of urology
through the audience said Miriam
"Marlon was simply gorgeous, and
Chaikin, a children's book author who
his acting was astounding': said Stella's
worked for the Bergson Group. "It

Rafael Medoff
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

B

WISHING OUR CUSTOMERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR

0

The 1946 premiere of Ben Hecht's controversial pro-Zionist Broadway play,
A Flag Is Born

Zionist play marks 60 years.

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