MIRELE EFROS
(The Jewish Queen Lear)
Based on a play by Jacob Gordin
Directed by Joseph Berne
1939, 80 minutes
The film was released in the U.S. on October 20, 1939.
Mirele Efros, "the Jewish Queen
Lear," was the masterpiece of Ukrainian-born Jacob Gordin,
an enormously influential Yiddish playwright whose works
sought to describe and promulgate the ethos of
mentshlekhkeyt: the practice of honesty, decency, and
devotion toward family and community. This sophisticated
version of his stage classic faithfully recreates Jewish
life in turn-of-the-century Grodno, Poland. Berta Gersten
gives a memorable performance as Mirele, a wealthy and pious
widow whose devotion to her children extends to hand-picking
a wife for her eldest son, gravely mistaking the young
woman's character as giving and devout. The resulting
conflict between the noble Jewish matriarch and her
ungrateful, self-serving daughter-in-law provides both a
cautionary tale and a lesson in the value of filial piety.
-- The National Center for Jewish Film
Manhattan: Now showing -- The only
New York theatre that will be showing this ...!
A great play -- then a greater film! Berta Gerstin in a new version
of Jacob Gordin's "Mirele Efros."
With Michael Rosenberg and Ruth Elbaum ("Pines and Needles") ...
Adpated by Ossip Dymow
from Jacob Gordin's international stage success -- directed by
Joseph Bern.
Today a special midnight show ... The cast will personally appear.
25 cents until 2 p.m. weekdays.
Cameo Theatre, 42nd Street, East of Broadway, Wisconsin 7-1789.
(This ad appeared in the Forverts newspaper on October 21, 1939.)
Brooklyn: "Mirele Efros" ... A great
play -- then a greater film! Berta Gerstin,
together with a great company of artists, in Jacob Gordin's great
masterpiece.
Tomorrow Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Supreme Theatre, 520
Livonia Avenue, corner of Williams avenue.
Wednesday and Thursday: Alba Theatre, 750 Flushing Avenue;
Senate Theatre, 18th Avenue and 74th Street; Benson Theatre, 20th
Ave. and 86th St.
(This ad appeared in the Forverts newspaper on January 15, 1940.)
Bronx: Today (February 9, 1940) is
the last day. Berta Gerstin in Jacob Gordin's international
classical stage work,
"Mirele Efros." At the Ward Theatre on Westchester and Ward Aves.,
and the Pelham Theatre on Lydig Ave. and White Plains Rd.
