Challenges to Portrayals and Casting

In his film “Avalon,” director Barry Levinson casts four non-Jews in the major roles. And although there is a subliminal Jewish star at a cemetery, the word Jew is not used once in the movie.

Where were the Jewish actors? Martin Scorsese unabashedly casts Italians as Italians in “GoodFellas.” He loves his paisani so well he casts them in all the roles. He’s not worried what others might think.

I don’t know why Levinson chose this path. It awakens in me all those ancient fears that if the Gentiles know who the Jews really are they will drive us out of this country.

LEV MAILER, Studio City