Metro-goldwyn Withdraws ‘callahans and Murphys,’ Film Objected to by Irish

Producers of Picture Regarded Offensive Yield to Public Demand (Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The motion picture, “The Callahans and the Murphys,” objected to by the Irish in America, has been withdrawn by the Metro – Goldwyn – Mayer Distributing Corporation, states the News Service of the National Catholic Welfare Council.

The decision to withdraw this film from circulation was communicated by Metro-Goldwyn to John A. Gallagher, editor of the “Standard and Times,” Catholic weekly of Philadelphia.

The action, says the Catholic paper, was taken to comply with the wishes of Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia, who had delegated Mr. Gallagher, as editor of his official organ, to exert every means possible to have the film withdrawn, The immediate cause of the move for with-drawal was the scheduling of the picture for showing in some Philadelphia houses, although the larger theaters had refused to run it.

Following a telephone conversation and a confirmatory letter to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation, says the “Standard and Times,” Nicholas Schenck, president of the Corporation, wrote Mr. Gallagher. After discussing the various protests over the film, Mr. Schenck said in his letter: “Please state to His Eminence that we feel he would not make this request unless he felt compelled to do it. In spite of the fact that it entails financial loss to us, we are happy to meet the request of the Irish people and have given notice to our offices to withdraw the picture immediately.’

On the next day, the following telegram was despatched to all branch managers of the corporation: “Withdraw ‘Callahans and Murphys’ from circulation immediately. Accept no further dates under any circumstances and do not supply this picture anywhere to anyone excepting those who may have it advertised for showing next week; telegraph acknowledgment your understanding and compliance foregoing.”

Protests by Irish and Catholic individuals and groups against the film “The Callahans and the Murphys” began immediately upon the appearance of the picture, and have since intensified steadily in almost every part of the country. As a result, many motion picture theater owners have in recent months either cancelled showings of it at their own expense or have refused to book it.

Catholic groups and publications assailed the film throughout the country, with telling box-office effect. Its showing in Washington was protested by the Irish-American organizations of the District of Columbia, and a tentative body was formed to protest against any film unjustly caricaturing the Irish race. In Pittsburgh, following protests, receipts at the house where the picture was shown dropped sharply. The motion picture owners of Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia condemned the film and asked members of their organization not to show it.

In London, when the picture was introduced there, it received instant condemnation.

Attempts by the company to cut the film in such a manner as to eliminate distasteful parts failed, the protesters insisting that it was an insult in any form.

Moses Glikin of Migdal. Palestine, arrived in the United States on the steamer Aquitania. Mr. Glikin is here in the Interests of the corporation proposed by Prof. Otto “Warburg for planting bananas in Palestine. The corporation, to be known as the Palestine Banana Corporation, will begin its activities with the planting this spring of bananas on 100 dunams of land in Migdal. Mr. Glikin stated.

Mr. Glikin is here also in the interests of the Migdal American Hotel Company which is erecting a hotel at Migdal.