The Empire, biggest cinema theater here, today withdrew the film “Merry Monarch,” in which Emil Jannings played the main part, after it had appeared for one night. The film had been extensively advertised and its elaborate production was said to have involved the expenditure of half a million dollars.
Catcalls and cries of ridicule when the picture was shown last night compelled the management of the Empire to abandon further public performances. The obstruction to the showing of the “Merry Monarch” is allegedly attributed to the anti-German boycotters, who are said to have opposed the picture because Jannings is a German.
Some persons, however, believe that public dissatisfaction with the film was due solely to the fact that it provided bad entertainment. This might have been caused by the board of censors, members of whom cut the picture considerably before they released it to the exhibitors.
The matter is causing considerable excitement in motion picture circles here. Prominent exhibitors have said that they doubt whether they will be able to show pictures in London in the future starring German artists. Even if the film is not produced in Germany, but has German actors participating, it was stated, public sentiment would be against it.
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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.
