Jew Süss (1934 film)
1934 film by Lothar Mendes
Jew Süss is a 1934 British historical romantic drama film based on Lion Feuchtwanger's 1925 novel Jud Süß, about Joseph Süß Oppenheimer. Directed by Lothar Mendes, the film stars German actor Conrad Veidt in the role of Oppenheimer. The screenplay was written by Dorothy Farnum and Arthur Rawlinson.
Unlike the Nazis' antisemitic propaganda film Jud Süß (1940), the British film was intended to be sympathetic to Jews, and is generally considered to be a faithful adaptation of Feuchtwanger's novel. It was hoped the historical analogy, condemning antisemitism in 1730, would be a successful means of evading the ban by the British censors on political topics in films.
The latter film with the same title, produced in Nazi Germany, is considered by some to be an antisemitic response to Mendes' philosemitic film.
Plot
In Württemberg in 1730, Jews are confined to a ghetto and subject to restrictions on where they may live and conduct business. Josef Süss Oppenheimer, a wealthy and ambitious Jewish financier, hopes to gain enough political influence to improve their position, while also desiring power and social advancement for himself.
While traveling with his friend Landauer, Süss encounters Karl Alexander, cousin of the reigning Duke of Württemberg. Learning that Karl is short of money, Süss lends him financial assistance and makes himself useful to him.
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Object files, edition statements, performance records and contemporary criticism preserve different stages of the work’s history. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 8, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2156798. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1934, 1925, 1940 and 1730.
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