The film, “The House of Rothschild,” is a huge commercial success in New York, chiefly because of the fine acting of George Arliss. Shortly after its New York premiere we pointed out its shortcomings and its offensive features as so-called pro-Jewish propaganda. Since then several reviews have pointed out the same faults. The Nation of this week contains a striking estimate of “The House of Rothschild” by William Troy, whose concluding paragraph follows:
“As for the pro-Jewish elements in the picture, no truly intelligent member of the race of Spinoza and Einstein is likely to derive any satisfaction from seeing it reach its screen apotheosis in a dynasty of money-lenders. The traits held up for admiration are cunning, avarice, and revenge; and these are traits which are neither admirable nor peculiarly Jewish. If one may add a paradox of one’s own to the many paradoxes with which this film is bristling, one would like to suggest that it really amounts to a libel on the race which it pretends to champion.”
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