A Nazi attempt to exercise censorship over American films by banning future productions of actors playing in pictures the Hitler regime does not like was disclosed today in a letter bearing the signature of the German consul in Los Angeles.
It is addressed to Isobel Steele, who was held four months in a Berlin prison, and made public by Albert T. Mannon, producer of a picture about Miss Steele’s experiences. He said similar letters had been received by other members of the cast, but would not disclose their names.
A purported photostat of the letter to Miss Steele, bearing no date, but written on the consulate’s letterhead and signed by Dr. George Gyssling, German consul, says:
“Dear Miss Steele:
“As you might be interested in it with regard to your participation in the making of a film allegedly dealing with certain experiences of yours in Germany, I beg to send you herewith copy of paragraph 15 of the German decree concerning the showing of foreign films published in the “Deutscher Reichsanzeiger” of June 28th, 1932.”
The attached paragraph says:
“The allocation of permits may be refused for films, the producers of which, in spite of warning issued by the competent German authorities, continue to distribute on the world market films, the tendency or effect of which is detrimental to German prestige..
“The same applies to films in which appear film workers who have previously participated in the making of films which have the tendency of effect to be detrimental to the German prestige.”
Mr. Mannon said the latter paragraph meant, in effect, that if a large film company produced a picture in which appeared one film worker whom the Nazis did not like, then all further productions of that company would be barred from the German market. He said he intended to lodge a protest with United States authorities.
His picture is entitled, “I Was a Captive of Nazi Germany” and was produced by the Malvina Co., Hollywood, which name, Mr. Mannon said, was made up of initials of the mother and close friends of Miss Steele. The producer said the production was in the last stages of cutting and a New York showing had not yet been booked.
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.
