Jew Suss (1934 film)
Encyclopedia
Jud Süß is a 1934 British historical romantic drama film. Directed by Lothar Mendes
, the film stars German actor Conrad Veidt
in the role of Joseph Süss Oppenheimer. British censor
s did not allow a film to openly criticize the persecution of Jews, since it would have appeared as an attack on German policy and led to a diplomatic incident. The film had little success in America or most of Europe, but a great political impact in Vienna
, where it was banned. Unlike the 1940 version
, the 1934 version is based on Lion Feuchtwanger
's 1925 novel
and is a condemnation of anti-Semitism, not a justification of it. The 1940 version is considered by some to be a response to the British version.
Lothar Mendes
Lothar Mendes was a German screenwriter and film director. His most important work was Jew Suss- Personal life:...
, the film stars German actor Conrad Veidt
Conrad Veidt
Conrad Veidt was a German actor best remembered for his roles in films such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , The Man Who Laughs , The Thief of Bagdad and Casablanca...
in the role of Joseph Süss Oppenheimer. British censor
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
s did not allow a film to openly criticize the persecution of Jews, since it would have appeared as an attack on German policy and led to a diplomatic incident. The film had little success in America or most of Europe, but a great political impact in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where it was banned. Unlike the 1940 version
Jud Süß (1940 film)
Jud Süß is an antisemitic propaganda film produced in 1940 by Terra Filmkunst at the behest of Joseph Goebbels. The movie was directed by Veit Harlan, who wrote the screenplay with Eberhard Wolfgang Möller and Ludwig Metzger, and starred Ferdinand Marian and Harlan's wife Kristina Söderbaum.The...
, the 1934 version is based on Lion Feuchtwanger
Lion Feuchtwanger
Lion Feuchtwanger was a German-Jewish novelist and playwright. A prominent figure in the literary world of Weimar Germany, he influenced contemporaries including playwright Bertolt Brecht....
's 1925 novel
Jud Süß (Feuchtwanger novel)
Jud Süß is a 1925 historical novel by Lion Feuchtwanger based on the life of Joseph Süß Oppenheimer.-Historical background:Joseph Süß Oppenheimer was an 18th century Court Jew in the employ of Duke Karl Alexander of Württemberg in Stuttgart...
and is a condemnation of anti-Semitism, not a justification of it. The 1940 version is considered by some to be a response to the British version.
External links
- Two Films About Jud Süss essay by Edgar Feuchtwanger, nephew of Lion Feuchtwanger
- Britmovie: Jew Suss (1934)