When Phil begins on his piece, he insists on a complete immersion in his Jewish identity, which begs the question of why he needed to adopt this strict, uncompromising approach to uncovering society’s systematic discrimination toward Jews. As he becomes absorbed into his new persona, Phil increasingly finds fault with Kathy’s reluctance to expose the underlying racial prejudice in her Wasp community. While the two eventually reconcile, this initial hesitation prods at society’s inability to recognize its own hypocrisy and hints that passivity can be equated to being complicit in perpetrating discrimination.
In the film itself, depictions of Jewish life, culture, and religion are erased from the film entirely. This absence could have been an intentional choice made by Zanuck, who felt that the full effect of the film’s anti-Semitic undertones were best experienced when the audience were forced to clarify what they had seen themselves. Rather than explicitly call for reform, Zanuck’s production angle illuminates the shock factor to arm the public with the resolve necessary to create reform.
Dave’s role as a uniformed man also hints at the film’s attempt to address the events of the Holocaust. Since it is never mentioned directly, Dave plays a critical role in critiquing the position of the United States in their fight against Hitler. While the US maintains the pretense of fighting anti-Semitism overseas, racial discrimination flourishes back home, creating a sharp contrast between intended goals and actual outcomes.