The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-08
|NAZI SPY MOVIE
 HASROUCH ROAD
Numerous Difficulties, But Warner Bros. Says Pic
 ture Will Be Produced
BY FREDERICK c. OTHMAN United Press Hollywood
 COrresnOndent)


 Hollywood, Feb. 8s-(UP)-The troubles of the Warner Brothers in making an anti-Nazl movie reached crescendo today when actor Horace Brown, in storm troop uni- form and swastika arm band, re- fused to salute Adolf Hitler--even in make believe--and stomped of the set.
 q wouldn't do 1t for all the money in the world," said Brown, Q Rich- mond, Va, policeman turned pie ture player.
 Numerous other performers re- fused to have their names mem toned, even in trade circles, be- cause of relatives still living in Ger many. Uniformed officers guarded the doors of sound stage Il, while plainclothesmen mingled with the actors within. The studio said 1t had received more than 100 threatening letters since production of Con fessions of Q Nazi Spy" was an- nounced.
 Only the Beginning That was only the beginning of trouble encountered by the pro- ducers of the first propaganda pic- ture ever filmed in Hollywood. Offi- cials said they were having the greatest difiiculty obtaining news reel "clips" showing Hitler address ing throngs in Germany. They hint ed that pressure" was being brought to bear, not only by German sources, but by rival movie concerns. Re- ports that the $l,500,000 production never would be released met with heated denials from Jack L. Warner, vice-president in charge of produc- ton.
 we are going through with this picture" he said. "It is time that America wakes up to the fact that Nazi spies are operating within our borders. Our picture will tell the truth, all of 1t, and 1t will speak for itself this summer"
 No Nazi Costumes Dance Director Bill O'Donnell had 300 extras ct his headquarters, teaching them the intricacies of the goose step. There wasn't Q Nazi uni- form available in all Hollywood and the regular costume companies rec fused to make any. The studio cos- tune department starting turning out the brown-shirt costumes of the storm troopers, youth organizations, American Bunds and other similar organizations.
 Virtually all the actors in the pic- ture were forced to have their hair clipped short.
 Edward c. Robinson, taking the part of Leon Turrou, the d-man who broke up spy ring in New York last year, insisted upon being given the job as part of his new contract. Those performers not fear ful of having their names published included Paul Lukas, Francis Led- erer, Lya Lys, George Sanders, Dor- othy Tree, Henry Victor and Grace Stafford. All took the parts of Ger man spies and military leaders. Swastllkas Ripped or They wore their uniforms to the studio restaurant, but ripped the bWuSukhS 1Tom bHeH hrnb pvIore appearing outside stage ii. There tho studio had erected c set, show ing the S. S. Europa. The script charged that storm troopers patrol oil German liners.
 Sanders, taking the part of Franz schlager, contact man between headquarters in Germany and the spy ring in America, lined up per- haps 120 men aboard steamer while the cameras turned. The men were supposed to be sea-going storm troopers. He lecttired them on, their duties and then ordered them to click their heels give the Nazi salute and shout in unison: "Ieil Hitleri"
 T won't do it," protested Brown. He left the stage and was about to leave the studio when Director Ana tole Litvak persuaded him to return, promising that he would not have to salute the German Fuehrer.
 Copyright 1889 by United PresO