NAZI PRESSURE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20863, 20 October 1937, Page 16

NAZI PRESSURE

EXERTED ON FILM ACTORS The United States Government rerecently took action to end Nazi attempts to influence production in Hollywood, lodging strong protests with the German Government and securing an agreement that Germany’s diplomatic officers in the United States will no longer threaten to “black-list” any Hollywood actors or producers who engage in the production of motion pictures which may be considered undesirable under Nazi policy, states an American source. After protests from the U.S. State Department the German Government is also reported to have approved a rebuke sent by the German Ambassador, Herr Dieckhoff, to Dr. Georle Gyssling, German consul at Los Angeles, and ordered Gyssling to desist from sending threatening letters to Hollywood players, as he did in the case of the cast appearing in new Universal’s “The Road Back.’’ The Hollywood Anti-Nazi League and the Screen Actors’ Guild also participated individually in the protest to Washington. Dr. Gyssling, when questioned about the protest which his actions had caused, denied that he had received any orders from Germany, and if they were as described they did not constitute a rebuke from his superiors. He admitted, however, that he “did just what I was advised to do in an order formerly originating in Berlin.” Dr. Gyssling warned twelve players in “The Road Back” that their future work would be barred from the Reich, because they had ignored repeated warnings that their appearance in "The Road Back” would be considered unfriendly to the German Government. He also told them that any personal appearance in Germany would be impossible. Universal Pictures, it was said, would also come under the ban as the producer. From Remarque Novel “The Road Back’’ is an adaptation by the famous playwrights. R. C. Sheriff and Charles Kenyon, or Erich Maria Remarque’s novel of the same name, and represents the sequel to his “All Quiet on the Western Front.” which is said to have sold 3,000.000 copies throughout the world and which was also produced by Universal some years ago. Five of the twelve players who received the warnings were Barbara Read. Louise Fazenda. John King. Slim Summerville, and Andy Devine. Each letter, sent by registered mail, read as follows:—“With reference to the picture ‘The Road Back.’ in which you are said to play a part, I have been instructed by my Government to issue to you a warning in accordance with Article of the German decree of June 28. 1932. regulating the exhibition of foreign motion picture films. Copy and translation of the article are enclosed herewith. You will note that the allocation of permits may be refused for films with which persons are connected who have already participated in the production of pictures detrimental to German prestige in tendency or effect in spite of the warnings issued by the competent German authorities.” A few weeks ago, on completion of “The Road Back’” New York Executives of the New Universal received final notification from the German Government that “The Road Back” would be banned in that country.