George Dzundza who ironically would be playing many Jewish roles later on in his career plays an American Nazi Party leader who is looking for a little headline grabbing. What to do, but stage a march and stage it in a town that has a large Jewish population, Skokie, Illinois, suburb of Chicago.
The film Skokie is an account of the famous incident that never was because in the end Dzundza and his mouth breathers decide after all they didn't want to march in that "Jew town" anyway. But the question of his right to march, to assemble was in fact a constitutional issue. And the American Civil Liberties Union took on as it did this most unpopular of causes. The man who did it was John Rubinstein playing an attorney of the Jewish faith.
What the film does demonstrate is the reaction to this publicity stunt from various people. The mayor of Skokie Ed Flanders is righteously offended and also mindful of his large Jewish constituency. The city attorney Eli Wallach who happens to be Jewish as well is eager to try any legal means to keep them out, but he also realizes the free speech and freedom of assembly issues. He and Rubinstein are finely matched pair of adversaries. Police Chief Brian Dennehy just wants to make sure public order is maintained without bloodshed.
There are several generations of Jews in the town and they're deeply read in their culture, the young ones. But for Danny Kaye and Kim Hunter this is up close and personal. They are survivors of the camps and well remember what they didn't do back in the day and how friends, family, and neighbors paid when the Holocaust came. No one carrying that symbol of hate is going to march in their town, the hell with the American Civil Liberties Union.
Skokie as it records the famous controversy in 1977 is finely cast and well crafted and could have also been a big screen theatrical release film. I wish it was in fact. Everyone should see this film.
This marked the final feature film appearance of Danny Kaye whose last two roles, Skokie and The Madwoman Of Chaillot showed a fine dramatic talent that more than hints came out in such films as Me And The Colonel and The Five Pennies. We should have seen more of it, but Kaye was way too good a clown to keep that talent under wraps.
Skokie is a must see film, a great tribute to the town and the people who were united in never seeing these people soil their fair city.
The film Skokie is an account of the famous incident that never was because in the end Dzundza and his mouth breathers decide after all they didn't want to march in that "Jew town" anyway. But the question of his right to march, to assemble was in fact a constitutional issue. And the American Civil Liberties Union took on as it did this most unpopular of causes. The man who did it was John Rubinstein playing an attorney of the Jewish faith.
What the film does demonstrate is the reaction to this publicity stunt from various people. The mayor of Skokie Ed Flanders is righteously offended and also mindful of his large Jewish constituency. The city attorney Eli Wallach who happens to be Jewish as well is eager to try any legal means to keep them out, but he also realizes the free speech and freedom of assembly issues. He and Rubinstein are finely matched pair of adversaries. Police Chief Brian Dennehy just wants to make sure public order is maintained without bloodshed.
There are several generations of Jews in the town and they're deeply read in their culture, the young ones. But for Danny Kaye and Kim Hunter this is up close and personal. They are survivors of the camps and well remember what they didn't do back in the day and how friends, family, and neighbors paid when the Holocaust came. No one carrying that symbol of hate is going to march in their town, the hell with the American Civil Liberties Union.
Skokie as it records the famous controversy in 1977 is finely cast and well crafted and could have also been a big screen theatrical release film. I wish it was in fact. Everyone should see this film.
This marked the final feature film appearance of Danny Kaye whose last two roles, Skokie and The Madwoman Of Chaillot showed a fine dramatic talent that more than hints came out in such films as Me And The Colonel and The Five Pennies. We should have seen more of it, but Kaye was way too good a clown to keep that talent under wraps.
Skokie is a must see film, a great tribute to the town and the people who were united in never seeing these people soil their fair city.