Lots of WWII stuff, Einstein BBC style, new movies, more

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Stars of David Contributing Columnist

Editor’s Note: Persons in bold are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of this column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in, or identify with, a faith other than Judaism. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish.

“Masters of the Air”

This “major” Apple+ limited series (9 episodes) began streaming on Friday, Jan. 26. New episodes are released on successive Fridays.

The series is based on a 2006 nonfiction study entitled “Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought and the Air War Against Nazi Germany.”

Steven Spielberg, 77, is the main producer of “Masters.” I guess he has great confidence in “Masters,” which cost more than $250 million to make.

There are over 70 members in the cast list. I presume that the 70+ character names were all real persons and almost all were bomber crew members.

I have read the “Masters” book, and I can tell you that Major Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal is prominent in the book and is a star character in the Apple series. In real life, he was Jewish and was highly respected as a pilot and, later, as the head of bomber units.

My problem: It appears that the producers consciously selected little-known actors to play the bomber crew members. For example, Nate Mann plays Rosenthal. He’s 24, has been in one Broadway play (2020) and has had two small film roles. That’s pretty much his whole online biography.

I am pretty sure he is Jewish, but I can’t confirm that now. I can say that I think Spielberg wouldn’t cast a non-Jew in the “best” Jewish hero role.

Spielberg’s own son, Sawyer Spielberg, 31, is way down the long credit list. He plays Lt. Roy F. Clayton. Interestingly, Clayton isn’t mentioned in the book. Also not in the book, are two characters with Jewish names: Lt. David Salomon and Aaron Jacobs. They are played by two unknown actors with Jewish names.

As I write this, “Masters” hasn’t premiered. Perhaps interviews released in early February will clear things up.

Staying on the WWII theme: Back in 2022, I wrote a column item about WWII vets who became famous after the war and were still alive. I found 14 famous living vets (half were Jewish). Sadly, five Jewish vets died in 2023 and four non-Jewish vets died. We are approaching the end of “The Greatest Generation.” By the way, most of “7” saw combat. Norman Lear flew 52 missions on a bomber.

Here are the famous Jewish WWII vets who died and the two survivors. Shecky Greene (comedian, died age 97); Bernard Kalb (CBS reporter, died age 100); Henry Kissinger (Sec. of State, died age 100); Newton Minow (FCC chairman, died age 97); and Norman Lear (producer/writer, died age 101). Survivors: Alan Bergman, 98, top songwriter, and Mel Brooks, 97.

“Einstein and the Bomb”

More WWII: On Feb. 19, Netflix will premiere a new BBC docudrama entitled “Einstein and the Bomb.” Its subtitle should be “How do we cash in on the success of ‘Oppenheimer,’ the film?” Plus, it has those English/BBC “things:” (1) The Brits almost never import an American actor to play an American character, Jewish or not, and (2) non-Jews almost always play Jews in English films and series that have Jewish characters.

Playing Einstein is Aidan McArdle, an almost unknown, not Jewish, UK actor. The rest of the cast are completely unknown Brits. McArdle did play Einstein in a PBS program about Einstein in 2004 — so, he’s qualified, I guess. I can tell you that I am 99% sure that the unknowns aren’t Jewish, but several will play Jewish characters — like Einstein’s wife. Not very sporting!

Capsule plot: Einstein writes a letter to President Roosevelt warning him that the Nazis could make “the bomb.” Einstein has regrets after the war and says that he might not have written the letter if he knew how behind Nazi scientists were in “the bomb race.”

“Argylle”

A big budget spy-thriller film, “Argylle” was written by Jason Fuchs, 37. He co-wrote “Ice Age: Continental Drift (2017), a huge moneymaker. His father grew up Hasidic. (Opens Feb. 2)

“It Ends Here”

This film is based on a big-selling novel about Lily, a woman whose father beat her mother and, to her shock, her husband, a doctor, turns out to be a wife-beater, too. Lily’s best friend, Allysa (played by Jenny Slate, 41), is also Lily’s husband’s sister. (Opens Feb. 9)

Upcoming series

The long actors’ strike delayed the fall return of many series. Here are two hit ABC shows that are finally returning: “The Connors” (8 p.m., Feb. 7). Its main cast includes two Jews: Sara Gilbert, 48, and Michael Fishman, 42, and “The Good Doctor” (10 p.m., Feb. 20) has two Jewish main cast members: Richard Schiff, 68, and Noah Galvin, 27.