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‘jewish Chronicle Voices Protest Against Showing ‘king of Kings’ in England

November 29, 1927
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(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

A protest against the exhibition in England of the film ‘King of Kings” was voiced by the London “Jewish Coranicle.” The paper urges the authorities to prohibit the showing of the film.

“We besitate the less to protest against its exhibition because we know it is as ##ensive to many Christians as it should ## to all Jews, for it is a breach of what has become almost a canon of public taste which forbids the representation on the Stage of the great founder of the Christian faith,” the paper writes. “We will not him the body whose attention should be directed to this matter in case some constitution or the other should be meanbed to her the suggestion. And we trast that the strong demur we have made to this film for the reasons we have explained, will be sufficient in itself to inciuce these responsible to see to it that its exhibition in this country is prohibited.“A few days ago a private view was afforded to a Committee of the London Country Council of the ‘King of Kings.’ It purports to render the life of Jesus of Nezareth according to the Story in the Gospels, and so ill?strates the Gospel narrative of his death. The incident, as told in the New Testament, is in many details untrue and biased.

“The Crucifixion story,” the “Coronicle” continues, “in short has been used against us as a veritable hymn of hate for nearly two thousand years. It is accountable for most of the misunderstanding between Christians and Jews; to it is traceable a great deal of what is called Anti-Semitism in all its forms, and not least the ghastly shape it from time to time assumes of persecution and pogrom. Is it right, is it fair, is it just, is it consistent with all that we mean when we talk of modern civilization that this story should be further propagated among the vast multitudes who throng the ‘pictures?’ “

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