Nazis’ Ban on New British Film

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7471, 23 May 1934, Page 5

Nazis’ Ban on New British Film

DISTURBANCE AT SCREENING OF “CATHERINE THE GREAT.’’ There were disturbances at the first screening of the British film “Catherine the Great,’’ in Berlin recently, which culminated in a dramatic announcement to “the public’’ on the steps of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church by Group-Commander Ernst, the young leader of the Berlin Storm detachments, that the Prussian Government had decided to forbid the film as from the following day. Elizabeth Bergner, who plays the principal part in the film, is one of those Gerinan-Jewish players who had to go abroad because of the anti-Jewis-h restrictions on the German stage. It was thus rather annoying to the authorities to find her playing the leading part in one of tho most successful films shown in Germany since the National-Socialist revolution rid the German stage of Jews —for all seats for this, and many subsequent performances fcad been sold out long in advance. Just before tho first presentation a number of uniformed Storm Troopers forced their way into the theatre, but. were soon forced out again by the “field police,” a force which has a special status and authority in dealing with Storm Troopers. Large forces of regular police were then stationed outside the theatre. Across the street, on tho steps of the Memorial Church, some hundreds of “the public” then gathered and shouted “Perish the Jews.” A few police were about the move them gently on when Herr Ernst arrived with a largo staff, and, asking the police to hold their hand, in his most dramatic manner gave the undertaking that the film would bo forbidden. On this the crowd cheered and allowed itself to be dispersed. The next day the president of the Reich Film Chamber took steps to prevent the. further exhibition of the film. The Film Chamber is one of the component bodies of the Reich Chamber of Culture, over which Dr. Goebbels, Minister for Propaganda and National Enlightenment, presides, and, under his supervision, has wide powers of intervention.