Comedians Joke Against Hitler

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 67, 21 March 1935, Page 3

Comedians Joke Against Hitler

PROTEST TO GOVERNOR SYDNEY, Atarcli 14. A story is going tho rounds in Sydney just now wdiich involves three such distinct and different personalities as his Excellency Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven, Herr Hitler and a popular comedian, Gus Bluett. Thu comedian has been for tho past two or three months tho high light in a musical diversion which affords him full scope for liis omnivorous sense of humour. It happened that tho fiftieth performance of “Nice Goings On’> corresponded pretty closely with the arrival of our new Governor, and Williamsons, always enterprising, invited his Excellency to attend once this cheerful “jubilee.” Now there was ail incident in the comedy which, though Gus may not have been aware of it at tho time, had given serious offence in certain quarters here. In one scene Gus is disguised as a waiter, wearing a huge moustache and speaking broken German. At a critical speaking broken German. At a critical moment the moustache fall's off, and Gus is revealed wearing a “Charlie Chaplin mo,” of the precise type worn by Hitler. To point tho moral, lie at once raises liis hand in the Nazi salute and cries, “Ileil, Hitler.” Of course, everyone laughs. But tho incident, trivial as it is, caught tho attention of somebody who told the German Consul, who at once appealed to the Chief Secretary with the request that he should use his authority to “censor” tho play by cutting out this little joke. But Air. Chaffcy, who knows what a lot of trouble the censorship has caused wellmeaning people in other walks of life, declined to interfere, and Gus Bluett, continued to get his “round ’’ nightly from the gallery with his Hitler “mo.” Appeal to Governor. But Dr. Asmis is a Teuton of the peculiary conscientious and patriotic type, and ho was not beaten yet. When it was announced that tho Governor was to bo present at a special performance of “Nico Goings On,” the German Counsul brought tho matter specially under his Excellency’s notice, and suggested that he and his compatriots would regard as “unfriendly” the Governor’s public acquiescence in this piublic slight to tho Nazis and their chief. I do not suppose that Sir Alexander llore-Ruthven was really afraid that Dr. Asmis might declare war and march down Alacquario Street at tho head of his "storm troops’’ to sack Government House, but: lie evidently felt that it, would be a pity to inaugurate his term of office here by quarrelling with any section of the community. Therefore, to please Dr. Asmis and the Nazis, he asked the theatre people to excise the little incident to which the German Consul had taken exception.

Of course, the J.C.W. management responded promptly and politely to the Governor’s request, and the wrath of our local Nazis is presumably assuaged. But people have written to tho papers suggesting that his Excellency—of course, with the best of intentions—may have established a rather unfortunate precedent. It happens that we are to have a Gilbert and Sullivan season here shortly. Now, supposing when the “Alikado” is produced; the Japanese Consul-General writes protesting against the humorous treatment to which tho Emperor of Japan is subjected in that delightful piny? That difficulty actually arose when the “Alikado” was first produced in Lonj don, but, of course, nothing happened. Not the First Protest. There is another aspect of the case with which his Excellency as a newcomer to Sydney could not have been familiar. It lias become the practice with German officials in Australia to complain about any reference, however indirect, to the past history or present circumstance of their country if it does not: agree precisely with their views and opinions. For instance, when a public statement was issued by the Returned Soldiers’ Association last year in connection with the Anzac Day celebrations, the Germans here objects to a reference to our dead heroes as having fallen “fighting for humanity and freedom,” or words to that effect. They declared that this was a “reflection” on their country and its people; and the R.S.A., backed up by our newspapers, had to go to some trouble to convince them that there arc some matters about which Australians

will accept, no dictation from foreigners, no matter how willing wo may be to remain on good terms with them, so long us that is possible. Clearly, this question of a censorship for our playwrights and poets, to make certain that they shall never offend the sensibilities of “our friends the enemy,” is a serious and far-reaching one. Every now and then something happens in a foreign country which attracts public attention on this side of tlic world, and some Australian says what lie thinks about it in characteristically vigorous language. And why should ho lie prevented? Ban on Chaplin’s Films. It happens that a good example of the kind has just been submitted to public notice here, and as it happens it once more concerns Hitler. Colin W ills, ono of the cleverest of Australian’s occasional poets, has been interested in tho news that Hitler has barred all Chaplin film from the German screen, on account of Chaplin’s alleged Jewish descent. Wills tells us first how the ban was pronounced on “the big black boots and the small black tile,” and then gives Hitler’s reason for his edict; “Ho wasn’t funny; he couldn’t lie; He wasn’t an Aryan, don’t you see? Tho men who are funny arc men like me.” Says Hitler. That third line is a splendid example of fictitiously unconscious humour —but there is something even better to follow: — “For I am an Aryan born and bred, With a Nordic soul and a Teuton head, And the critics who criticised me arc dead,” Says Hitler. There is tremendous irony in the ferocious snarl which closes that verse, and I for one would have been very sorry to miss it. No doubt it will displease Dr. Asmis and tho Nazis, if ever they come across it. But is that a good reason for suppressing it or for deviating that it, should never have been written?