“THE WANDERING JEW”

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 November 1934, Page 13

“THE WANDERING JEW”

NOT TO BE SHOWN IN AMERICA. A New York report indicates that owing to opposition from Jewish rabbis and others, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation have decided not to show “The Wandering Jew,” the Veidt.

“The Wandering Jew,” made by the Twickenham Film Company, impressed the M.G.M. company’s New York executives as likely to be popular in America. They made, a contract with the Twickenham Film Company whereby a minimum of £15,000 in respect of the American rights was gauranteed. Then, after much preliminary advertising, the picture was shown to a group of rabbis. They seriously objected to certain aspects of the story. According to a New York theatrical journal, “The Wdndering Jew” was then shown to a second audience of rabbis in the hope that they would be less critical. But, again, the film aroused protests, and when secular organisations raised objections in turn, M.G.M. decided to abandon it, at all events, for the time being. “The Wandering Jew” is the most costly and important film the Twickenham company has made, and much was expected of the American market. It is based, of course, on the popular play in which Mr Matheson Lang has played thousands of times in London and the provinces. GRETA GARBO’S NEXT PICTURE. Rumours about the immediate future of Greta Garbo—that she would marry and retire, that she would make films in Sweden or in England, •and so on—have been set at rest. A message from Hollywood announces that she has signed another contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, though only for a single picture. . When that is made negotiations will doubtless be renewed.

It was recently asserted that, judged by box-office takings, Miss Garbo was not in the first ten American screen stars. It. is significant however, that her salary.has been raised from £50,000 to £60,000 a picture. No other player in the world receives nearly as much for one picture, although, owing to the infrequency of her productions, two or three other stars may receive as big an income in a year.