JEWS ATTACK THEATRE

Chronicle (Levin), 22 February 1949, Page 5

JEWS ATTACK THEATRE

(N.Z.P.A.^

-ReMteri

Objection Taken To British Film " Oliver Twist "

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Received Tuesday, 10.45 a.m. BERLIN, Feb. 21. Because mobs of angrv Jews rioted and twice atta'cked and damaged a Berlin theatre showing the British film "Oiivef Twist," the cmema manager has withdrawn cne film from exhibitioh. The British authorities had rer'used to ban the showing Of the film despite protests from the Jews in Berlin that it was ariti-Semitic and the signing of a petition by German politicians asking that the lilm be withdrawn. The Lord Mayor, Herr. Efnest Reuter, who signed the petiti'on, said the film threatened to rearouse Oerman anti-Semitism and uarked of Nazi propaganda. Yesterday a cTowa 01 roiish Jews fcook ntatters into their owh hands and burst into th'e einema where cne film was showing. Cinema seats were broken and several people were injured before British military poliee and West sector German po'lice made several arrests and testored order. wnen "unver Twist" was screened again today, a mob Of 5000 Jews gathered outside the theatre and rought with the- poliee. The poliee used fire hoses and clubs in an- atcempt to hold back the demonstrators, but without much success. British public saf'ety officers then mtervened and ordered patrons from' the theatre. The mob iore down signs outside the cinema, smashed the window of a ponce raaio 6ar, hurled rocks and '-^nily used heavy stones to break down a side door of the theatre and. -oxoc Uitxr way insiae, but by this time the audience had digpersed.