D O C U M E N T 2 1 2 J U N E 1 9 2 2 3 2 5 Mit dem Ausdruck meiner vorzüglichen Hochachtung A. Einstein. TLS (GyBPAAA, R 64677). [43 147.1]. The letter is addressed “Auswärtiges Amt z. H. des Herrn Min. Direktor Heilbron.” [1]Heilbron (1872–1954) was director of the Cultural Department of the Auswärtiges Amt. [2]Heilbron had requested that Einstein reconsider his decision not to participate in the Dutch- German solar eclipse expedition (see Abs. 197). [3]Planck had invited Einstein to the jubilee meeting of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte (GDNÄ) in Leipzig on 22 October and 2 November 1921 (Vol. 12, Docs. 279 and 287, respectively). [4]On the controversy over Einstein’s theories at the GDNÄ meeting at Bad Nauheim in September 1920, see Vol. 10, Introduction, pp. xxxviii–xlii. [5]The joint expedition had been proposed by the Nederlandsch-Indische Sterrenkundige Ver- eeniging, which was also organizing the expedition from Batavia and on location at Christmas Island. For transportation of the expedition, the Dutch government was making a warship available (see “Ber- icht über die Deutsche Sonnenfinsternisexpedition 1922” [GyBSA, I.HA Rep. 76 Vc Sekt. 1, Tit. 11, Teil Vc Nr. 7 Bd. 3, Bl. 36]). 212. To Humboldt-Film-Gesellschaft Berlin, den 1. VI. 22. Sehr geehrter Herr! Ich habe in letzter Zeit eine Reihe von Zuschriften bekommen, die alle auf dem Missverständnis beruhen, dass ich in irgend einer Form bei dem von Ihnen vorge- führten Film über Relativitäts-Theorie beteiligt sei.[1] Der Grund hierfür liegt dar- in, dass man den Film „Einstein-Film“ statt „Relativitäts-Film“ genannt hat. Ich möchte Sie hiermit eindringlich ersuchen, mir den Gefallen zu tun, eine solche Be- zeichnung Ihres Films in Zukunft zu wählen, die solche Irrtümer ausschliesst. Mit ausgezeichneter Hochachtung TLC. [43 948]. The letter is addressed “Humboldt-Film-Gesellschaft W. Bülowstr. 104.” [1]The official title of the film was “Die Grundlagen der Einsteinschen Relativitätstheorie.” It was distributed in Germany by the Kultur-Film Aktiengesellschaft (the addressee was its representative in Berlin see Abs. 266) and premiered at the opening of the Frankfurt Trade Fair on 2 April 1922. The film had been directed and produced by Hanns Walter Kornblum, who had been aided by Georg F. Nicolai, Otto Büeck, Otto Fanta, and Rudolf Lämmel (“Der Einsteinfilm,” Die Umschau, 16 April 1922, pp. 247–249). The objective of the film was to present the theory of relativity to a lay audience. It received critical reviews, but nevertheless drew large audiences. One complaint was that, at well over two hours, the film was too long and that, furthermore, it failed to explain relativity in a comprehensible manner. The film was also listed as one more example of inappropriate advertising for Einstein’s theory, a charge that had been voiced by anti-relativists such as Ernst Gehrcke (Wazeck 2010).
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