Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Film Company Criticized for Dropping “it Can’t Happen Here”

July 6, 1939
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Sharp criticism of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for abandoning production of “It Can’t Happen Here,” projected film version of the Sinclair Lewis novel, was voiced today in a letter to Louis B. Mayer, president of MGM, by President Henry Pratt Fairchild of the Film Audiences for Democracy. Abandonment of the anti-Fascist film in the middle of production, Prof. Fairchild said, “was doubly surprising as you are not only a leading personality in our country, but also a Jew.” He urged the company, in the event it did not feel justified in re-opening production, to sell the film rights to another firm, and cited the financial success of such anti-Fascist films as “Confessions of a Nazi Spy” (Warner Bros.) in refutation of the MGM contention that the public was not interested in “propaganda” films.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement