JEWS OBJECT TO “OLIVER TWIST”

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25736, 23 February 1949, Page 5

JEWS OBJECT TO “OLIVER TWIST”

MOBS ATTACK BERLIN CINEMA FILM WITHDRAWN BY MANAGEMENT BERLIN, February 21. Because mobs of angry Jews rioted and twice attacked ana damaged a Berlin theatre showing the British film “Oliver Twist,” the cinema manager has withdrawn the film from exhibition. The British authorities had refused to ban the showing of the film in spite of protests from Jews in Berlin that it was anti-Semitic and the signing of a petition by German politicians asking that the film be withdrawn. The Lord Mayor (Professor Ernst Reuter), who signed the petition, said that the film threatened to arouse German anti-Semitism and harked of* Nszi propaganda. Yesterday a crowd of Polish Jews took matters into their own hands and burst into the cinema where the film was showing. Cinema seats were broken and several people were inbefore British military police and Western sector German police made several arrests and restored order. When “Oliver Twist” - screened again to-day, an angry mob of 5000 Jews gathered outside the theatre and mught with the police. The police used fire hoses and clubs in an attempt to hold back the demonstrators. " u t without much success. British Public safety officers then intervened theat° r d ere d the patrons from the mob tore down the signs out®K»e the cinema, smashed the window ar>^ a « p °h ce radio car. hurled rocks, na finally used heavy stones to break f^ n a side door of the theatre and *“. e ir way inside. By this time t . audl ® nce had dispersed. ♦i3" e theatre manager said that if could get British military police Protection they would attempt to an *®en “Oliver Twist” again, but in announcing the withdrawal of the film. prr^ ld ?hat the British Military Gov“Ujent did not intend to intervene. World Jewish Congress has n -x to the British Foreign Office TwiP+m to withdraw the film “Oliver from exhibition in Germany j ® Us e “the grotesque caricature of a nroL 1 * the film would only serve to Promote racialism.”

N. von Nida to Play in N.Z.—Norman von Nida confirms that he will e m New Zealand next month to P*ay a series of golf exhibition matches sponsored by a sports goods firm. He l at present resting with relations in Queensland.—Sydney, February 22.