Hollywood History of the Blacklist
Added 1/4/2010
In 1947 the House Un-American Committee (HUAC) held hearings on the Communist influence in Hollywood. Those who refused to "cooperate" were sent to prison for contempt. No one could work unless they cooperated by naming their friends as known Communists. In 1951 one man refused to cooperate, Larry doesn't want to be an informer. How did they get his name? Guilty by association? Then David Merrill returns from France. There is a surprise party. Outside somebody writes down the license plate numbers. [Its best to park on the next block to avoid a parking problem.] Redheaded Dorothy says goodbye. Larry burns his books. David meets his sone and ex-wife Ruth. David will make a picture for Darryl Zanuck. "Now this." David must see a lawyer to clear his name from guilty by association. He is told what he must do to "be reasonable".
Can someone be called to testify if they didn't do anything? [Is he naive?] They want the $50,000 advanced to David back. Is Dorothy temperamental? She has a family problem. Jerry will leave the country to avoid testifying. Bunny Baxter is scared. David is now banned from the film factory. Nobody wants him now. David has some personality flaws [pride?[. David visits New York to see old friends. Who is following David? They're after him. He returns to Los Angeles. Dorothy has dreams for her future. Is she OK? David has a job offer at Monogram Studios to direct a low-budget Western. [Does it remind you of "High Noon"?] Television is winning the hearts and minds of America, movies have a declining box office. David is under stress!
David sees an old friend, the lawyer Felix Graff. He advises David to answer questions, else he is guilty by suspicion. "Is it worth all this?" Bunny tells what happened to him after he cooperated. Will he turn on David? Darryl Zanuck offers him another chance is he cooperates. David goes to Washington to star in this drama. He will not name the people he visited! David does not cooperate with the committee. It is a dramatic scene. Bunny refuses to name names. The last words say the people on the Hollywood blacklist were "vindicated" in 1970, but they don't say what happened. Did they tack on a happy ending?
Hollywood movies are a money-making machine for the investors who put up the funds. The producer is responsible for running the operation, the director for producing the story. They use paid workers like actors, writers, etc. Their personal lives are seldom a concern unless it costs money. The audience for movies declined before the war ended. Hollywood had excess employees on their payrolls. The new television entertainment industry needed talent that would work for less. Those who couldn't find work in Hollywood often went into television.
The hidden agenda behind these investigations was an attack on democratic rights to make people afraid of signing a petition or organizing for political purposes (First Amendment rights). There was also an economic campaign to attack small businesses to favor corporate chains. In the 1940s most people walked to shop at local small businesses. That soon changed in just a few decades so shopping meant driving to a mall. Corporate chains sucked the profits from localities so they ended up poorer overall. You can compare your small town from the 1940s to today.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Liberalism's Passion Play
Added 12/9/2007
I'm so tired of Hollywood whining about the McCarthy era. Most recently it was "Good Night and Good Luck"; before that, "The Majestic"; before *that*, "The Crucible." They're like a dog with an old slipper it can't stop chewing. Hollywood's thirst for victim status needs to be slaked wherever and whenever possible, but it sure does make for boring viewing. The only thing that saves this film from total ignominy is a passel of great performances. Contrived performances, but great nonetheless.
Note to the producers: put your talent to more worthy efforts next time. To paraphrase a famous McCarthy era Hollywood luminary: "Have you no shame Hollywood? At long last, have you no shame? The McCarthy era is dead!"
1 out of 5 people found this helpful.
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A sober history lesson
Added 6/7/2006
Before you know it our rights can be taken away. Don't believe it? It happened before...watch this movie to find out how easily it happened.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Not to be missed
Added 6/7/2006
A compelling motion picture and an important reminder of what's possible if we are not vigilant citizens.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Excellent script and acting. Based on actual events, it's hard to believe these things actually happened in this country.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Hollywood History of the Blacklist
Added 1/4/2010
In 1947 the House Un-American Committee (HUAC) held hearings on the Communist influence in Hollywood. Those who refused to "cooperate" were sent to prison for contempt. No one could work unless they cooperated by naming their friends as known Communists. In 1951 one man refused to cooperate, Larry doesn't want to be an informer. How did they get his name? Guilty by association? Then David Merrill returns from France. There is a surprise party. Outside somebody writes down the license plate numbers. [Its best to park on the next block to avoid a parking problem.] Redheaded Dorothy says goodbye. Larry burns his books. David meets his sone and ex-wife Ruth. David will make a picture for Darryl Zanuck. "Now this." David must see a lawyer to clear his name from guilty by association. He is told what he must do to "be reasonable".
Can someone be called to testify if they didn't do anything? [Is he naive?] They want the $50,000 advanced to David back. Is Dorothy temperamental? She has a family problem. Jerry will leave the country to avoid testifying. Bunny Baxter is scared. David is now banned from the film factory. Nobody wants him now. David has some personality flaws [pride?[. David visits New York to see old friends. Who is following David? They're after him. He returns to Los Angeles. Dorothy has dreams for her future. Is she OK? David has a job offer at Monogram Studios to direct a low-budget Western. [Does it remind you of "High Noon"?] Television is winning the hearts and minds of America, movies have a declining box office. David is under stress!
David sees an old friend, the lawyer Felix Graff. He advises David to answer questions, else he is guilty by suspicion. "Is it worth all this?" Bunny tells what happened to him after he cooperated. Will he turn on David? Darryl Zanuck offers him another chance is he cooperates. David goes to Washington to star in this drama. He will not name the people he visited! David does not cooperate with the committee. It is a dramatic scene. Bunny refuses to name names. The last words say the people on the Hollywood blacklist were "vindicated" in 1970, but they don't say what happened. Did they tack on a happy ending?
Hollywood movies are a money-making machine for the investors who put up the funds. The producer is responsible for running the operation, the director for producing the story. They use paid workers like actors, writers, etc. Their personal lives are seldom a concern unless it costs money. The audience for movies declined before the war ended. Hollywood had excess employees on their payrolls. The new television entertainment industry needed talent that would work for less. Those who couldn't find work in Hollywood often went into television.
The hidden agenda behind these investigations was an attack on democratic rights to make people afraid of signing a petition or organizing for political purposes (First Amendment rights). There was also an economic campaign to attack small businesses to favor corporate chains. In the 1940s most people walked to shop at local small businesses. That soon changed in just a few decades so shopping meant driving to a mall. Corporate chains sucked the profits from localities so they ended up poorer overall. You can compare your small town from the 1940s to today.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Liberalism's Passion Play
Added 12/9/2007
I'm so tired of Hollywood whining about the McCarthy era. Most recently it was "Good Night and Good Luck"; before that, "The Majestic"; before *that*, "The Crucible." They're like a dog with an old slipper it can't stop chewing. Hollywood's thirst for victim status needs to be slaked wherever and whenever possible, but it sure does make for boring viewing. The only thing that saves this film from total ignominy is a passel of great performances. Contrived performances, but great nonetheless.
Note to the producers: put your talent to more worthy efforts next time. To paraphrase a famous McCarthy era Hollywood luminary: "Have you no shame Hollywood? At long last, have you no shame? The McCarthy era is dead!"
1 out of 5 people found this helpful.
|
A sober history lesson
Added 6/7/2006
Before you know it our rights can be taken away. Don't believe it? It happened before...watch this movie to find out how easily it happened.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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