Visiting Frieder Films, Incorporated in the Far East
The five Frieder brothers from Cincinnati, Ohio (Philip, Henry, Alex, Morris, and Herbert) made their fortune in cigars, which they manufactured in the Philippines. The brothers took turns managing the cigar production. Every two years, one of the brothers (excluding Henry) and his family would relocate to their home at 44 Brixton Hill, Santa Mesa, Manila. The Frieder brothers were passionate poker players and often played with influential individuals, such as President Manuel L. Quezon, the US High Commissioner Paul V. McNutt, and Army Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower. In the late 1930s, together, they devised a way to provide refuge in the Philippines to German and Austrian Jews. President Quezon stipulated that those who came not be a burden on the Philippine economy, so the tiny Jewish community in Manila accepted that responsibility. While McNutt pressured the US State Department to keep Philippine borders open to refugees, the Frieder brothers (working with the Joint Distribution Committee) arranged transportation and visas for European Jews who possessed skills in fourteen occupations, one being cigar manufacturing. President Quezon provided a temporary home for the refugees where they could live and grow their own food on the land he was developing for his son. The haven was named Mariquina Hall. Between 1937 and 1941, the Frieder brothers, McNutt, Quezon, and Eisenhower aided in the rescue of over 1,300 Jews. In December 1941, the Japanese invaded the Philippines. All Frieder brothers had returned to the US a month earlier in anticipation of the invasion. Between December 1941 and September 1945, Manila was under Japanese occupation. Ironically, during that time, unlike all other internationals who were interned in a make-shift prison in Santo Tomas University, the Jewish refugees were considered Germans - therefore allies of Japan - and not imprisoned. A few refugees were killed in the crossfire between US and Japanese armies as the battle for Manila ended. Birthdates: Alex Frieder - December 2, 1893 Corinne Rosenberg Frieder - March 11, 1893 Edna Frieder Lichtig - August 7, 1918 Louise Frieder - June 12, 1922 Alice Frieder Weston - July 1, 1926
Alex Frieder and two men smoke cigarettes by a doorway with movie posters. Pan up to"Frieder Films. East Indies, Inc, Distributors of Republic Pictures In The Far Eas" sign. The men walk past the building and turn a street corner. Alex takes a ride in a rickshaw. The Frieder family and children relax at a swimming pool. Note the film camera case and yellow Kodak box on the coffee table. Farms. The South Bali Airport. Alex shakes hands with a women and two men. CUs, locals in colorful traditional dress wading into the water and riding in boats. A cock fight. Views of green landscape. Farmers pick berries. Tourist views from inside an airplane. Alex stands under a sign,"Frieder Films, Siam, Inc. Distributors of Republic Pictures" A sign inside reads"Welcome Alex Frieder" Buddhist temples. Boxing match. Alex in a rickshaw. Daily life in the city including monks and children. Women and children stand in line at an airport (in Korea?) with a Northwest Airlines plane. [NO FILM FROM 01:06:47 to 01:06:57]. A couple (man in military dress uniform). Modern building (an embassy?). Communist demonstration on streets (in China?). 01:07:50 A young mother and her daughter play ball outside.