Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

See Dancer in “nathan the Wise”

February 2, 1923
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

The Berlin “Vorwaerts” reports from Munic(###) that the film censorship committee there have before it an application f(###) the release of the film “Nathan the Wise”, a dramatisation following very closely the play by Lessing.

Dr. Merberger, Councillor for public order and security at the police headquarters in Munich, reported: “Put into so many words, the contents of the film are that the Jew is everything, and the rest, Christian, or Turk, nothing. The exhibition of this film, colored in typically Jewish form must hurt persons thinking differently on matters and encounter resistance in present day politically excited conditions under which large masses of the people see in the Jews the cause of their misfortunes.” Dr. Merberger concluded his report by saying that the film appeared to be exceptionally well fitted to endanger the maintenance of public order and security.

The second expert, a clergyman, was of the opinion that the solution given in the drama to the question of which was the best religi(###) was calculated to hurt the feelings of the rest of the population, Catholic and Protestant, and must not be allowed to be shown.

Notwithstanding the objections, however, it has been decided that the film should be released.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement