High Commissioner John J. McCloy approved the production of the film, “The Desert Fox,” which glorifies Nazi Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, a spokesman for Twentieth Century-Fox said here today.
Anthony Muto, Washington representative of the film company, said that Geoffrey Lewis, acting director of the Bureau of German Affairs of the State Department, must not have been aware of the “true facts” when he wrote Paul Ginsberg, National Commander of the Jewish War Veterans, that the Department opposed the showing of the film in Germany.
The German portions of the film were produced with the “knowledge and co-operation” of Mr. McCloy, he stated. Henry J. Kellermann, a State Department official, refused to read the script but did indicate that he thought it would be unwise to exhibit such a film in Germany, Mr. Muto said. He added that Mr. Kellermann did not oppose the showing of the film outside of Germany.
Government authorities concerned with the German question said that they were inclined to doubt that Mr. McCloy had encouraged the production of the film and that they are surprised at the attitude of the film company. The State Department today told the J.T.A. that it had pointed out to Twentieth Century-Fox studios before production was started on “The Desert Fox” that the film would aid Communist propaganda against the United States and strengthen and encourage Nazi elements in Western Germany.
The Department has studied the film and is strongly opposed to its exhibition in Western Germany. The film is scheduled for release in German theatres in mid-January.
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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.
