Harrison's Reports (1946)

Entered as second-class matter January 4, 1921, at the post office at New York, New York, under the act of March 3, 18T9. Harrison's Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: 1270 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS Published Weekly by United States $15.00 (Formerly Sixth Avenue) Harrison's Reports, Inc.. U. S. Insular Possessions. 16.50 M v , _» M v Publisher Canada 16.50 wew 1 orK 1 • P. S. HARRISON, Editor Mexico, Cuba, Spain 16.50 A Motion Picture Reviewing Service Great Britain 15.75 Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors Established July 1, 1919 Australia, New Zealand, India, Europe, Asia .... 17.50 Ug Editorial p0iicy : No Problem Too Big for Its Editorial Circle 7-4622 35c a Copy Columns, if It is to Benefit the Exhibitor. A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XXVIII SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1946 No~48 A Thoughtless Degradation of Racial Minorities According to a report in the November 6 issue of whose minds racial prejudices do not exist, may see weekly Variety, a reviewing committee, made up of this picture and be left with the erroneous impression members of different religious and public groups, that the feelings and thoughts of all Jews are convoiced vehement objections against Bing Crosby's pro trolled by the almighty dollar, and that all Irishmen duction of ''Abie's Irish Rose," which they described are aggressive, thick-headed individuals, ready to fight as "the worst sort of caricature of both Jews and Cath at the drop of a hat — in other words, "shanty" Irish, olics— much worse than the 1928 original— and a Harrison's Reports does not believe that Bing film that sets us back twenty years in the work we have Crosby's producing company intended to either mabeen trying to do in bringing the people of America lign or cast an odious reflection upon the integrity of closer together." the Irish and the Jews. It is just that those connected u r ^.u • ^ with the picture's making were thoughtless. They did The members of this reviewing committee were v . , , 5 . • i ■ ' \ _. • i i • j . i i . • not stop to consider that comic racial caricatures, such particularly incensed over the derogatory manner in , y , , . , , „ . tt*t , which the film, for comedy purposes? depicts the main as the^ def)lc,teld' 15 °f ^ stuff that adds {uf t(\the Jewish and Irish characters. For instance, throughout fires of racial hatred wherever it exists— and it does the action the "economy" trait, which is supposedly a ex*st to an aPPalllkng degree; ™ey failed to realize that Jewish characteristic, is stressed. The Jewish father is what,may have been comical *> the public m years shown "feeling the goods" as he helps the heroine ZonehV 15 no longfr funny in these critical days. Hav with her coat, remarking on whether or not she re in§ J"* emerged from a world conflict that was ceived value for what she paid; refusing to alter a sPark^d h? racial tolerance, the public is in no mood i . i . i r i • i *. ii to nnd comedy in situations or characterizations that dress suit that was too large for him because it would . , / , . r " i i r tend to degrade peoples, mean cutting away part of the value; arranging for 6 f his future daughter-in-law's wedding gown to be In producing "Abie's Irish Rose," Bing Crosby did bought "wholesale"; using oranges instead of orange not exercise much discretion, and his unwitting but blossoms as wedding decorations because they can be unpardonable blunder should serve as a warning to eaten; and ever so many other stereotyped gags im other producers that they and every one connected plying that "what-it-costs" is a motivating factor of Wlth their organizations must be discerning in their major importance in a Jew's life, and that he is in selection of what goes into a picture, particularly in herently stingy and calculating. The Irish father is these tlmes' when we are g°mg through difficult days, caricatured in a way that is just as bad as the Jewish and when the United States, as the leading nation of father. He is depicted as argumentative, bull-headed the worlcJ5 is looked to by suffering minority groups in and thick, holding his head in his hands and moaning war-torn nations as the one country that is in a posi "Wurra! Wurra!" to denote that he is a grieved man tion to promote universal peace. It can readily be un with unbearable troubles. The Jewish father, too, holds derstood how an American film, which exaggeratedly his head in his hands when faced with troubles, but he, ridicules minority groups, even though such ridicule swaying from side to side with ludicrous gesticula is meant to be no more than good-natured spoofing, tions, moans "Oy! Oy! Oy!" can damage the prestige the country now enjoys. . . . . Another important fact the producer has to conHaving seen the picture, the writer of this article sider is thatj in selecting his material, he has a definite agrees wholeheartedly with the protestations made by obligaton insofar as the exnibitor is concerned, for, in the reviewing committee of these organizations. And the final anaiysiS) he is the one who has to bear the he is of the opinion that many others who will see the wrath of> not only the powerfui organizations opposed picture will feel likewise, for there is no question that to the picturCj but also the trons who wlU resent that the film s depiction of these racial characterizations is which it portrays in the worst possible taste, even though no harm may TT r . , .f , , ■ , i • .r j ii , ° ' Unfortunately, it seems as it little can be done to have been intended by the producer. . . ' . c ■> . . „ f , , . r stop the distribution oi the picture, oerore booking Handled delicately, "Abie's Irish Rose" could have it, however, the exhibitor would do well to consider been, in terms of entertainment, a fine propaganda carefully just what effect its exhibition may have in picture for the teaching of religious tolerance between their particular situations lest they suddenly find Christians and Jews, for it has an emotional content themselves pressured from all sides. And in gauging that would appeal to most people. But as it now shapes the public's temperament, the exhibitor should take up it will do more harm than good because of the into consideration also that, about a year ago, an ordisparaging racial caricatures, which, though meant ganized protest by radio listeners compelled Procter to be comical, will serve only to delight bigots at the 6? Gamble, soap manufacturers, to drop their sponsorexpense of minority racial groups. What is even more ship of the "Abie's Irish Rose" radio program, which catastrophic is the fact that millions of people, in was then taken off the air.