George Arliss has muffed a cue and shattered a beautiful illusion. The distinguished British actor, who played Disraeli and whose speaking shadow is currently flitting across the Astor Theatre’s screen in the role of that famous Jew, Mayer Amschel Rothschild, was to have sailed last night for Europe. Which in itself is neither cue-muffing nor illusion-shattering What is both of these, however, is the unusual choice of ships that Arliss made. When you read this Mr. Arliss-Rothschild probably will be treading the planks of the boycotted North German Lloyd liner Bremen.
Not a Jew himself, the actor, veteran Jewish press agents around town said Friday, might have made the first page of every newspaper in the city, by announcing that he would continue the illusion of his role by refusing to patron a German enterprise. Perhaps, though, after a second glance at the steamer’s passenger list, Arliss should not be criticized too severely. For, sailing on the same vessel is a Mrs. Marie-Anne von Goldschmidt-Rothschild. Whether or not this passenger has any closer relation to the famous Jew than has Arliss, could not be ascertained.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
