(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
Indorsing the protest of San Francisco rabbis against the film, “King of Kings,” the Rev. Leslie C. Kelley, pastor of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, declared the film to be “filled with blunders, misleading and dangerous to racial prejudice.”
The Rev. Kelley said in his statement: “Motion picture directors do not seem to realize that they are playing with fire. The ‘King of Kings’ is a picture showing Jesus as essentially a miracle worker. The part of Jesus is taken by an actor who also played an important role in ‘Alias Jimmy Valentine.’ Most of the good characters are of Anglo-Saxon type; most of the bad characters, especially Judas and Caiaphas, are Jews.
“The Rabbinical Group of California is perfectly justified in its request that this picture be withdrawn and destroyed.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
