This is an overview of SIX DECADES of 20th Century American history. Where names such as Gypsy Rose Lee, Lee J. Cobb, Dashiell Hammett, Lillian Hellman, Burl Ives, Orson Welles, Edward G. Robinson, and Harry Belafonte were brought before the "United States House of Representatives" accused of being active, or past COMMUNISTS!
Part One: The Birth of McCarthyism
Joseph Raymond McCarthy was born November 14, 1908, on a farm in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, to Bridget Tierney McCarthy, and Timothy McCarthy. He was the 5th of their 9-children. He had to drop out of junior high school to help his parent's with the farm, he was 14-years-old. In 1928, at the age of 20, Joseph entered "Little Wolf High School", in Manawa, Wisconsin, and graduated in one-year. One-year-later, he entered "Marquette University", a private Jesuit research university in the school of engineering, but switched to law. Joseph McCarthy graduated with a "Bachelor of Laws" degree in 1935.
The "FIRST RED SCARE" started on January 21, 1919, the "First World War" had ended on November 11, 1918. In the United States there was a fear of Far-Left movements, from Russia Vladimir Lenin's, leftest Russian movement called "Bolshevism", had reached the shores of America, as had foreign"Anarchism". There had been two world shaking events, in Russia, the "October 1917 Revolution" overthrew the Czar, and the 1918-1919 German Revolution brought down the Old German Empire. The impact of both came together in the United States at the moment, it seemed, of President Wilson's debilitating stroke, in October 1919. As the United States government felt the spread of socialism, communism, and anarchism within the American Labor Movement. Whose major contributor appeared to be the "CPUSA (Communist Party USA)".
The American government visualized a threat of a "Communist Revolution" within those labor unions. Congress was dealing with union strikes, even within the many police department's across the United States. There were mail bombs sent to politicians, and a strong anti-immigrant sentiment by citizens across the nation.
Then on May 26, 1924, the "United States Congress" passed the "Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson-Reed Act)". Followed by the "Asian Exclusion Act", and the "National Origins Act". All designed to keep America safe and predominantly white, and to deport immigrants causing the perceived unrest.
One of the major aspects of all of this, was to squarely place the blame on "Communists". Which came from the newly created, on December 30, 1922, "Union of Soviet Socialists Republics (USSR)", under Joseph Stalin. J. Edgar Hoover and his "Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)", were given another major responsibility, besides stopping America's crime wave. Round-up "Communists" and "Communist Sympathizers".
Pertaining to the "Motion Picture Industry", there were two major strikes, one in 1930, one in 1933, both by writers wanting more money from producers, leading to the forming of the "Screen Writers Guild".
"The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)" was the investigative arm of the "United States House of Representatives". It was created in 1938, near the end of the "Great Depression", to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activity on the part of private American citizens, public employees, and those organizations "Suspected, not proven", to have "Communist" ties.
Joseph Raymond McCarthy would launch a successful campaign, as a Democrat, for "District Attorney" in 1936, and in 1939. Next, he ran for the non-partisan "10th District Circuit Judge", and became the youngest circuit judge in Wisconsin history.
While McCarthy's fledgling political career was growing in 1939, a different political climate was developing in Europe. On March 14, 1939, the "Slovak State (the Slovak part of Czechoslovakia), a semi-fascist state, declared its independence and asked Nazi Germany for help against Hungary. The following day, Nazi Germany Chancellor Adolph Hitler, ordered the "Wehrmacht (the combined German Military)" to invade Czechoslovakia and from Prague Castle, declared the country a German protectorate. As a result of this action, Hitler declared Great Britain the enemy and country he was most concerned about. Next, on August 22, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, and the Second World War had begun.
September 3, 1939, honoring their commitment to guarantee Poland's borders, Great Britain, and France, declared war on Germany. While on September 17, 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east.
The following link takes my reader to my article about how "Hollywood" and others looked at Nazi Germany. Many of the motion pictures I mention are based upon real events and real people. The title of this article is "Nazi Germany As Seen In Theatrical Motion Pictures" at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2020/02/nazi-germany-as-seen-in-theatrical.html
At the start of 1941, "Circuit Judge McCarthy" was censored for losing evidence in a price fixing case. He had dodged other possible illegal actions before this case that could have impacted his political career.
Also, in 1941, Walter Elias Disney took out an ad in the trade paper, "Variety". He was accusing "Communist Agitation" as being behind the March 29 - September 21, 1941, "Disney Animators' Strike".
It was early morning, on Sunday, December 7, 1941, when aircraft from the Japanese Imperial Navy, in a surprise attack, bombed the United States Navy and Army bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The following is slightly modified from my article "I BOMBED PEARL HARBOR: December 7, 1941 in Motion Pictures" found at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/12/i-bombed-pearl-harbor-december-7-1941.html
Should I mention the name "Godzilla" to my readers. Most would agree that name is easily recognized around the world. His first appearance was in the 1954 film "Gojira", "Godzilla's" actual name, made in Japan by Toho Studio's. This "Giant Monster", in Japanese the word is "Kaiju", was conceived and produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and "Godzilla's" first motion picture was directed by Ishiro Honda, but it was Special Effects Genius Eiji Tsuburaya who brought one of the most famous motion picture monsters to life. Tsuburaya also recreated the events of December 7, 1941, in the first motion picture version of the attack on Pearl Harbor ever made.
Hawai Mare Okikaisen (The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya) (1942)
Below is a shot of Eiji Tsuburaya's staff creating the realistic model of Pearl Harbor as it looked on December 7, 1941. According to historian August Ragone in his excellent biography:
Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, page 28:
On Toho's back lot, Tsuburaya and his team painstakingly re-created Pearl Harbor in meticulous miniature, working from photographs supplied by the Navy. This enormous outdoor set was the most elaborate ever built in Japan, and allowed for a very realistic reenactment of the attack on Battleship Row.
Eiji Tsuburaya's Special Effects would bring to life other Japanese victories the followed Pearl Harbor into the Maylaya Campaign for the motion picture. Toho Studio's had been given a budget of $380,000 to make the propaganda movie. The average Japanese motion picture at the time was budgeted at $40,000, or less.
Propaganda has always been a means of increasing morale on the Home Front and at times the troops on the Front Lines. What the Japanese High Command, who commissioned the motion picture from Toho Studio, could not of imagined was the reaction by the American's to a copy of Eiji Tsuburaya's work.
August Ragon wrote on page 30 of his biography that after Japan surrendered:
Occupation officers believed that to have gained access to such detailed information about the U.S. Naval base, Tsuburaya must have been part of an espionage ring.
However, it was Tsuburaya's commitment to the smallest detail, as the above photograph indicates, that would actually fool "The Office of Strategic Services (OSS)" and Photographic Intelligence Officer, Commander John Ford. As Eiji Tsuburaya was not a member of any espionage ring, but was a dedicated film maker.
According to Ford and members of his Unit. The picture was initially discovered on a downed aircraft probably on it's way to a carrier, or Naval base. John Ford reviewed the movie and determined that the motion picture was using actual combat footage of the attack on Battleship Row. Being such a revered Hollywood Director it was presumed he knew what he was talking about. After the war according to Ford biographers this became a touchy subject with the director.
All known copies of "The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya" would be completely confiscated by the Supreme Allied Command Powers from Toho and other locations. After Japan's surrender, the Navy Department would give a copy of "The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya" to the newsreel company Movietone for release to movie houses throughout the United States for the purpose of showing how terrible the actual attack had looked .
December 8, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed Congress and requested a declaration of war against Japan. He referred to the Pearl Harbor attack as "A Day of Infamy".
December 11, 1941, first Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. This was followed by the United States declaring war on Germany, Italy, and Japan, on that same date.
The "USSR" became "our friend", "our ally", to fight Nazism. In February 1945, FDR, and Churchill, sat down with Stalin for the "Yalta Conference".
At the start of 1942, Joseph Raymond McCarthy joined the Marine Corps. Being a "Circuit Judge" exempted him from military service, but McCarthy wanted to serve. Because he was a college graduate, he was immediately made a "First Lieutenant". Lieutenant McCarthy would serve as an "Intelligence Briefing Officer" for dive bomber squadron, "VMSB-235" in the Solomon Islands and at Bougainville.
According to David M. Oshinsky's, 1985, "A Conspiracy So Immense: The World of Joe McCarthy". https://archive.org/details/conspiracysoimme00oshi
Joseph Raymond McCarthy volunteered to fly 12-missions as a "Gunnery Observer", not an actual "Tail Gunner". Some biographies list only 11 missions and then you have the"Intelligence Briefing Officer", himself. According to Ted Morgan, in his "Reds: McCarthyism in Twentieth Century America", page 341, at:
https://books.google.com/books?id=4ijWhgff9XEC&pg=PA341#v=onepage&q&f=false
McCarthy listed 32-missions.
On May 8, 1945, the Second World War in Europe was over, and the United States government returned to its war on communism. It was as if there had been no working together for almost five-years.
Less than two-full-years later, a new term for the tension between the United States and the Soviet Union appeared, "The Cold War". The term was first used on March 12, 1947, when President Harry Truman announced "The Truman Doctrine" to the United States Congress. He also signed "Executive Order 9835" aka: "The Loyalty Order". This was the first general loyalty program in the United States. It was designed to root out communist influence in the federal government. However, Truman advised the "Loyalty Review Board" to limit the role of J. Edgar Hoover's "FBI", to avoid witch hunts.
Returning to David M. Oshinsky, before he resigned his Marine Corps commission in April 1945. Oshinsky, and others, stated the "Captain McCarthy" was taken out on one "safe mission" and permitted to shoot as much ammunition as he wanted, mainly at coconut trees. As a result, he earned the nickname "Tail Gunner Joe".
Captain McCarthy remained, after April 1945, a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Which brings me to Joseph Raymond McCarthy's, 1946, race for the Senate. The Democrat was now a Republican and his primary opponent was the current United States Senator from Wisconsin, Robert M. La Follette, Jr.
One of the three-main charges laid out by McCarthy against La Follette, during his Senate campaign, was that his opponent hadn't enlisted in the military after Pearl Harbor. Which conveniently overlooked the fact that La Follette, Jr. was 46-years-old on December 7th. McCarthy played up that he was a "Conservative", and that his opponent had founded the "Wisconsin Progressive Party". Previously, there had been many clashes with the "Wisconsin Communist Party" over Robert La Follette's progressive policies.
McCarthy won the Republican primary, during which he had started telling the potential voters that:
CONGRESS NEEDS A TAIL-GUNNER
Next, "Tail-Gunner Joe" McCarthy needed to beat his old party's Democratic opponent for the Senate, he did, 61.2% to 37.3%.
Would my reader like a little irony here?
Journalist Arnold Beichman, in the "Hoover Institution's Policy Review", March 12, 2008, at:
Stated that the only way Republican Joseph Raymond McCarthy could have beaten Democrat Thomas E. Fairchild, was because of McCarthy's continued support from the Communist Controlled, "United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America". That Union had been very vocal against PROGRESSIVE, ANTI-COMMUNIST, Robert M. La Follette, Jr., and believed that McCarthy was open to their manipulation.
The resumed fear of the "USSR" by individual American's, became known as the "SECOND RED SCARE". Over which was the added fear of, "Nuclear War"!
NOW I AM BECOME DEATH, THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS
The above quote came from the "Father of the Atomic Bomb", J. Robert Oppenheimer. My article about the creation of the first atomic bombs and what they brought to the world is entitled, "H. G. Wells - J. Robert Oppenheimer - ゴジラGOJIRA" found at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2024/03/h-g-wells-j-robert-oppenheimer-gojira.html
On August 29, 1949, the "Union of Soviet Socialists Republics (USSR)"successfully tested its "First Atomic Bomb". To many American's the fear of a Soviet Nuclear attack on the United States increased. Cities started Civil Defense drills, and the government warned that your next door neighbor might be a communist agent. Seemingly, overlooking, that that same neighbor was thinking the same about you.
While is the Senate, President Truman's, "Executive Order 9835", had become one-half of the rise of Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy. Using the order as a base, McCarthy started speaking about:
Part Two: "THE ENEMY WITHIN!"
The Date: February 9, 1950, the 141st Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln.
The Place: "The Women's Republican Club", in Wheeling, West Virginia
It appeared like any other day with a politician addressing a group of people, BUT the politician was named JOSEPH RAYMOND MCCARTHY. For the first time he spoke to the main theme of what became known as "McCarthyism", "THE ENEMY WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT".
State Department harbors a nest of Communists and Communist sympathizers who are helping to shape our foreign policy
Now, let's see what happens when individuals with communist connections are forced out of the State Department. Gustave Duran, who was labeled as, I quote, "a notorious international communist," was made assistant secretary of state in charge of Latin American affairs. He was taken into the State Department from his job as a lieutenant colonel in the Communist International Brigade. Finally, after intense congressional pressure and criticism, he resigned in 1946 from the State Department -- and, ladies and gentlemen, where do you think he is now? He took over a high-salaried job as chief of Cultural Activities Section in the office of the assistant secretary-general of the United Nations. ...
This, ladies and gentlemen, gives you somewhat of a picture of the type of individuals who have been helping to shape our foreign policy. In my opinion the State Department, which is one of the most important government departments, is thoroughly infested with communists. I have in my hand 57 cases of individuals who would appear to be either card-carrying members or certainly loyal to the Communist Party, but who nevertheless are still helping to shape our foreign policy.
For my reader interested in reading the complete speech. The following link from the website for the "University of Texas at Austin" website will take you there:
https://minio.la.utexas.edu/webeditor-files/coretexts/pdf/195020mccarthy20enemies.pdf
In June 1951, Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy addressed the Senate Chamber, condemning current "United States Secretary Defense" and former "United States Secretary of State", Army General George Marshall, who created, at the end of the Second World War, "The Marshall Plan", to assist Europe's recovery. Without any evidence, McCarthy implied that Marshall was a Communist. The following excerpt of his speech is found in its entirety on the website "Alpha History" at:
https://alphahistory.com/coldwar/joseph-mccarthy-condemns-george-marshall-1951/
It was Marshall who, at Tehran, made common cause with Stalin on the strategy of the war in Europe and marched side by side with him thereafter.
It was Marshall who enjoined his chief of military mission in Moscow under no circumstances to “irritate” the Russians by asking them questions about their forces, their weapons and their plans, while at the same time opening our schools, factories, and gradually our secrets to them in this count.
It was Marshall who, as Hanson Baldwin asserts, himself referring only to the “military authorities,” prevented us having a corridor to Berlin. So it was with the capture and occupation of Berlin and Prague ahead of the Russians.
It was Marshall who sent Deane to Moscow to collaborate with Harriman in drafting the terms of the wholly unnecessary bribe paid to Stalin at Yalta…
It was Marshall, with Acheson and Vincent eagerly assisting, who created the China policy which, destroying China, robbed us of a great and friendly ally, a buffer against the Soviet imperialism with which we are now at war.
It was Marshall who, after long conferences with Acheson and Vincent, went to China to execute the criminal folly of the disastrous Marshall mission.
It was Marshall who, upon returning from a diplomatic defeat for the United States at Moscow, besought the reinstatement of 40 million [dollars] in lend-lease for Russia…
It was the State Department under Marshall… that sabotaged the $125 million military aid bill to China in 194S.
It was Marshall who fixed the dividing line for Korea along the 38th parallel, a line historically chosen by Russia to mark its sphere of interest in Korea.
It is Marshall’s strategy for Korea which has turned that war into a pointless slaughter, reversing the dictum of Von Clausewitz and every military theorist since him that the object of a war is not merely to kill but to impose your will on the enemy…
It is Marshall who, advocating timidity as a policy so as not to annoy the forces of Soviet imperialism in Asia, had admittedly put a brake on the preparations to fight, rationalising his reluctance on the ground that the people are fickle and if war does not come, will hold him to account for excessive zeal.
What can be made of this unbroken series of decisions and acts contributing to the strategy of defeat? They cannot be attributed to incompetence. If Marshall were merely stupid, the laws of probability would dictate that part of his decisions would serve this country’s interest…
What is the objective of the great conspiracy? … To diminish the United States in world affairs, to weaken us militarily, to confuse our spirit with talk of surrender in the Far East and to impair our will to resist evil. To what end? To the end that we shall be contained, frustrated and, finally, fall victim to Soviet intrigue from within and Russian military might from without…
In 1952, Senator McCarthy was preparing for a re-election campaign and submitted a request for the "Distinguish Flying Cross". Which would look good to the voters, but it required 25-combat missions. He submitted copies of obviously edited pages from his "Flight Log Books". Which stated he had flown, the previously mentioned, 32-combat missions. The Marine Corps and the "Department of Defense" overlooked the truth in the matter, because of McCarthy's growing power base.
Above, Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy receiving the "Distinguish Flying Cross" and the "Air Medal" from Colonel John R. Lanigan, commanding officer of the Fifth Marine Reserve Unit.
After being re-elected as part of the Republican Controlled Congress under President Eisenhower in January 1953, Joseph Raymond McCarthy obtained the pentacle of his power. He became the head of the "Senate Committee on Government Operations" and its subcommittee, the "Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations". In short, Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy CONTROLLED all of the Senate's investigations into Communism and the "HUAC", now followed his lead.
On January 22, 1953, at the "Martin Beck Theatre (Al Hirschfeld Theatre)", the first production of playwright Arthur Miller's, "The Crucible" was performed. Set during the "Salem Witch Trials", the play was a direct attack on "McCarthyism", veiled as the witch trials. A group of young women led by "Abigail Williams" are caught dancing in the forest by the "Reverend Parris", one of the women is his own daughter "Betty". As dancing is forbidden, they counter by naming others in the town of Salem as witches, catching the main characters of "John" and "Elizabeth Proctor" in their lies.
Part Three: Communism in the Motion Picture Industry
One major point overlooked, or not, by the "HUAC", during their "Motion Picture Industry Witch Hunt's", is the fact that the Soviet Union was the wartime ally of the United States. During the Second World War the United States government stressed showing support for the USSR by the average American. As a result, millions of Americans joined the "CPUSA (Communist Party USA)".
The following paragraph is from my article "Lucille Ball Dramatic Actress 1933 to 1949" at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2024/10/lucille-ball-dramatic-actress-1933-to.html
In 1936, Lucille Ball did something that would come back to hunt her. When questioned before the "House Committee for Un-American Activities", on September 4, 1953, during the "McCarthy Era". Along with her mother and brother, she had registered to vote as a member of the "Communist Party". Which, at the time, was considered as nothing more, then registering as a Democrat or Republican. This was the recognized means of showing support for the major candidate for the "57th District of the California State Assembly". Who was a member of the "Communist Party U.S.A."
A fact, which became overlooked, and gave the "HUAC" and the Senate's "Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations" the means of accusing innocent American's of being a communist. It should be noted that at the height of his power, in 1953, when American's had become tired of the "United Nations Police Action", known popularly as, "The Korean War", the Chairman of that Senate committee was Joseph Raymond McCarthy.
On September 27, 1947, "HUAC" had actually subpoenaed 19-people from the motion picture industry that they believed belonged to "CPUSA", only 11 showed up. The others basically claimed to be sick, or had scheduling conflicts.
One of the eleven, was Bertolt Brecht, a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. He pretended to cooperate and at his first opportunity, left the United States for Germany. He would pass away on August 14, 1956 in East Berlin, East Germany.
The remaining ten men were accused of being "Communists" by the "HUAC". They went down in history as "THE HOLLYWOOD TEN!"
The ten were, alphabetically:
Alvah Bessie was an American novelist, screenplay writer, and journalist. He was one of nearly 3,000 American volunteers who joined the "Abraham Lincoln Brigade" and fought in the Spanish Civil War.
Herbert Biberman was a screenwriter and film director.
Lester Cole was a screenplay writer.
Edward Dmytryk was a Canadian born, American film director. He had been nominated for the "Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Best Director Oscar", for 1947's, "Crossfire".
Ring Larder, Jr. was a screenplay writer.
John Howard Lawson was a screenplay writer, playwright, arts critic, and cultural historian.
Albert Maltz was a playwright, fiction writer, and screenplay writer.
Samuel Ornitz was a screenplay writer and novelist.
Adrian Scott was a screenplay writer and film producer.
James Dalton Trumbo was a screenplay writer, 1939's, Lucille Ball, "Five Came Back", Spencer Tracy's, 1944's, 'Thirty Second Over Tokyo", and as "Uncredited" for 1950's, "Rocketship X-M: Expedition Moon". Trumbo moved to the United Kingdom, more on him later.
Also in 1947, three ex-FBI agents started publishing "Counterattack". Which was nothing more than an ever enlarging list of names of people within the motion picture industry and radio. The published names, mostly without evidence, were said to be members of the "Communist Party", and the three agents demanded they all be fired.
Major Radio entertainment host Ed Sullivan, below at the time, had the Sunday night radio program the "Toast of the Town". That would later be turned into television's Sunday night, "The Ed Sullivan Show". On both versions, Sullivan would interview major "Hollywood" actors, directors, and producers. Along with being a syndicated entertainment columnist for both the "New York Daily News", and the "Chicago Tribune". Ed Sullivan used "Counterattack" to screen his potential guests and, if their name was on the list. Then he wouldn't permit them, no matter how famous, on his show.
Bram Stoker wrote the definitive novel about vampire's, "Dracula". The following comes from my article about the author of the definite novel about werewolves, 1933's, "Werewolf of Paris". Which would become, "Hammer Film's", 1961, "Curse of the Werewolf".
Also, among this writer's screenplay's, were director Tod Browning's, 1935, "Mark of the Vampire", and he was nominated for the "Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Best Screenplay", for "The Story of G. I. Joe", from 1945.
The article is "Guy Endore: Black Listing and Communism in the Motion Picture Industry" to be read at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/12/guy-endore-communism-in-motion-picture.html
I open my article with:
For my article's main focus I have selected a favorite screenplay and author of mine Guy Endore. His choice is to remind my readers that there were individuals other than Dalton Trumbo, Ring Lardner, Jr. and the other eight of "The Hollywood Ten" that we never hear about. These unknowns fell prey to an industry lashing out to protect themselves from both the imagined, and real powers of "The House Un-American Activity Committe (HUAC)". However, in Guy Endore's case he was a real Marxist.
Later I write:
It should be noted that the "HUAC" never took the action of "BLACKLISTING" anyone.
It should also be noted, that their only jailing of members of the Film Industry was directed against "The Hollywood Ten" for their refusal to testify. Each of "The Ten" had taken their Constitutional Right, under the 5th Amendment, not to incriminate themselves. Each had asked to read a prepared statement, which was denied.
After which, the "House Un-American Activities Committee" held each of "The Ten" in CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS!
Their "Blacklisting" was the decision of the Studio Heads after the "Contempt of Congress" charges were brought against "the Ten". Their thinking was the action was to show the studio heads were not "un-Loyal American's". The problem was it didn't stop with just these ten men.
And still later in the article, I write:
What today in hindsight seems incredible, is that the creation of "The Hollywood Ten" was really a revenge move by a rejected man who had a little power. On July 29, 1946, ten months after World War 2 ended. William R. Wilkerson the publisher and founder of "The Hollywood Reporter", published what he titled "A Vote for Joe Stalin", and listed ten names he claimed were Communist sympathizers. Wilkerson's ten names were Dalton Trumbo, Maurice Rapf, Lester Cole, Howard Koch, Harold Buchman, John Wexley, Ring Larder, Jr., Harold Salemson, Henry Meyers, Theodore Strauss and John Howard Lawson.
As simple as that, "The Hollywood Ten" was created on Wilkerson's word, and what became known as "Billy's List", or "Billy's Blacklist", would continue to grow as he published more names.
Several of the above names went to the United Kingdom to work in their film industry, and write screenplays for American motion pictures. For each "Blacklisted" screenplay writer, someone else's name was placed upon the American released motion picture. One such "Front", was screenplay writer Philip Yordan, and one of the "Blacklisted" screenplay writer's he "Fronted For". Had been Oscar nominated Ben Maddow, the writer of director John Ford's, 1950, "The Asphalt Jungle". While Yordan's name appeared on Maddow's screenplay's for George Pals, 1954, "The Naked Jungle", and director Anthony Mann's, 1957, "Men at War". For "Blacklisted" Bernard Gordon, Philip Yordan "Fronted" on 1963's, "Day of the Triffids", and 1964's, "Circus World"
The following incident comes from my article "RONALD REAGAN MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION ACTOR" at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/03/ronald-reagan-motion-picture-and.html
At this time Ronald Reagan was the "President of SAG (Screen Actor's Guild)".
Prior to his last picture for 1949 entering into his life was a young actress named Nancy Davis.
Their meeting happened on November 14, 1949 when the actress approached the Screen Actors Guild President for help. She was being accused of Communist sympathies and was being confused with another actress also named Nancy Davis.
The Hollywood "Black Listing" started in 1947 as a result of the "Hollywood Ten" being accused of being Communists by the "House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)", Ronald Reagan and his wife at the time, Jane Wyman, were on record of naming names to the FBI of those they felt might either be, or associated with known Communists.
Another actor that was both "Blacklisted" and had faced "Racism" was the great African-American singer Paul Robeson. My article is entitled:
"PAUL ROBESON: Before Ol' Man River To After Joseph McCarthy 'The Artist Must Elect To Fight" singing loud and clear at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/05/paul-robeson-before-ol-man-river-to.html
The first "Hollywood Motion Picture" to look at the "COLD WAR" was based upon a true story:
THE IRON CURTAIN released on May 12, 1948
The screenplay was based upon the writings of Soviet Union cipher clerk Igor Sergeyevich Gouzenko, from his post at the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. His article was "I Was in Stalin's Spy Ring", published in the "Hearst International's Cosmopolitan" magazine.
The screenplay was by Milton Krims, who in 1939, wrote the screenplay for the Edward G. Robinson, and Francis Lederer,, "Confessions of a Nazi Spy".
The motion picture was directed by William "Wild Bill" A. Wellman. During the First World War he flew in combat for the French Air Force. After which, he directed the first "Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science, Best Picture" motion picture, 1929's, "Wings". My article is "WILLIAM A. 'WILD BILL' WELLMAN: '3' with JOHN WAYNE: 'Island in the Sky', 'The High and the Mighty' and 'Blood Alley" at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/07/william-wild-bill-wellman-3-with-john.html
Dana Andrews portrayed "Igor Gouzenko" Andrews had just co-starred with Joan Crawford and Henry Fonda in 1947's, "Daisy Kenyon".
Above Dana Andrews, below, Igor Gouzenko
Gene Tierney portrayed "Anna Gouzenko". Tierney had just co-starred with Rex Harrison and George Sanders, in 1947's, "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir".
Above Gene Tierney, below Svelana Borisovna "Anna" Gouzenko.
It should be noted that the co-founder of "20th Century Fox", Daryl F. Zanuck, went on record, stating that he made this motion picture as his studios response to speeches given by the "House of Representative's", John Parnell Thomas, from the state of New Jersey. "The Chairman of the House Committee on Un-American Activities", claim that "Hollywood" didn't make "Anti-Communist Movies".
According to the Turner Classic Movie Website:
https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/79403/the-iron-curtain#notes
An opening title states that "This story is based on the Report of the Royal Commission June 27, 1946 and evidence presented in Canadian Courts that resulted in the conviction of ten secret agents of the Soviet government." In addition to court transcripts, the screenplay was also based on published articles by Igor Gouzenko (1919-1983) about his 1945 defection, as well as conversations between Gouzenko and screenplay writer Milton Krims.
According to news items, a scheduled preview at the Roxy Theatre in New York was picketed by approximately a thousand "right wingers" as well as communists and liberals. An article in Time stated: "Their advent was not unexpected. For four hours a group of Catholic War Veterans had been trickling up with signs of their own, to picket the pickets. In strength they about equaled the opposition. Thousands of expectant bystanders choked the streets." The article noted that over 100 policemen broke up the mob with nightsticks and horses, and that six weeks before, the Roxy management had decided not to hold the preview, but had neglected to tell anybody about it. The picture opened uneventfully the next morning.
The growing fear that a member of "CPUSA" might be someone you knew. First appeared on-screen, from "Columbia Pictures".
WALK A CROOKED MILE released on September 2, 1948
This was the first anti-Communist motion picture and was about an FBI Agent and a Scotland Detective joining forces to bring down a California based Communist spy ring after nuclear secrets.
The title of this "Columbia Pictures" production began as "Face of Treason", which was changed to the "FBI vs Scotland Yard". Next, J. Edgar Hoover suggested the title become the "FBI Meets Scotland Yard". However, producer Edward Small, wanted no contact with Hoover. Who had controlled the making of the anti-Nazi, 1945, "The House on 92nd Street", featuring FBI characters.
The motion picture was the first feature film made by director Gordon Douglas. My article is "Gordon Douglas: The Little Rascals (Our Gang) - Giant Ants - Francis Albert Sinatra" found at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2024/07/gordon-douglas-little-rascals-our-gang.html
The original story was by Bertram Milhauser, who worked on the 12, "Universal Pictures", "Sherlock Holmes", Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce films.
The screenplay was by George Bruce, who worked on Louis Hayward's, 1938, "The Duke of West Point", and 1939's, "The Man in the Iron Mask".
According to the Turner Classic Movie Website at:
https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/27563/walk-a-crooked-mile#notes
This picture is meant to acquaint the people of the United States with the problems of our Federal Agents, to whom is entrusted the safeguarding of our nation's top secrets-and with the character of our enemies, who walk their crooked miles along the highways and byways of Free America.
The "Columbia Pictures" contract actors for this motion picture were a strong group of "B" actors:
Louis Hayward portrayed "ScotlandYard Detective, Philip 'Scotty' Grayson". He had just starred in the period adventure, 1948's, "The Black Arrow".
Dennis O'Keefe portrayed "FBI Agent Daniel F. O'Hara". He had just co-starred with Claire Trevor in 1948's, "Raw Deal".
Above, O'Keefe and Hayward
Louise Allbritton portrayed "Dr. Toni Neva". She had been seen as the Vampire's love, in 1943's, "Son of Dracula".
Carl Esmond portrayed "Dr. Ritter von Stolb". The Austrian born actor had just been seen in the Yvonne De Carlo adventure, 1947's, "Slave Girl".
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Onslow Stevens portrayed "Igor Braun". At this time, Stevens was best known for 1945's, "House of Dracula", and in 1954, the actor would be reunited with Gordon Douglas for "THEM!".
Raymond Burr, in his 11th on-screen appearance, portrayed "Krebs". He had just been seen in the Dick Powell and Lizabeth Scott, 1948, "Pitfall". My article is "RAYMOND BURR BEFORE PERRY MASON: Film-Noirs, 'B' Westerns, A Certain Monster and the Queen of the Nile" at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2020/04/raymond-burr-before-perry-mason-film.html
touchstone for establishing who was not a "red": you offered [it]... to anybody you thought was a communist, and if they turned it down, they were.
The world "touchstone" referred to director John Cromwell, who was brought in front of the "HUAC" as a suspected "Communist", and was almost "Blacklisted". In his 1973 interview for "Action Magazine", conducted by film historian Leonard Maltin, as mention by author Kingsley Canham, in his 1976, "The Hollywood Professionals, Volume 5", Cromwell stated:
I began to feel the pressure alright...I had asked my agent to find out whether I was on a list of 200 names [of suspected Communists] which was supposed to be universally circulated in all the big studios, and he did what he could to find out, and said: "Absolutely not!" And I felt this was virtually a clearance because my name was on the local state [of California] list and had cropped up very often. So I got the contract from RKO.
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As a straight action fare, I Married a Communist generates enough tension to satisfy the average customer. Despite its heavy sounding title, pic hews strictly to tried and true meller formula ... Pic is so wary of introducing any political gab that at one point when Commie trade union tactics are touched upon, the soundtrack is dropped.
Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy had fully declared his war against "Communism" in Wheeling, West Virginia as quoted above. However, if the list actually existed, historians believe the list was no longer than 53-names.
Of interest was a low budget movie described as a Science Fiction Spy Story that was released one-month prior to the Wheeling, West Virginia, speech.
THE FLYING SAUCER premiered in New York City on January 4, 1950
Producer, director, co-writer, and star, Mikel Conrad hit upon blending the growing "Unidentified Flying Object (UFO)" sightings and the "Second Red Scare". Today, this might seem silly, but put yourself in Roswell, New Mexico, on July 5, 1947, or as one of those Air Force and commercial Air Line pilots reporting "UFO's" as reported in American newspapers.
The above front page became part of an official "United States Air Force Investigation". My article is "FLYING SAUCERS: U. S. Air Force Project 1794 and as Seen in 1950's Science Fiction Motion Pictures" sighted at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2021/12/flying-saucers-us-air-force-project.html
In the "New York Times", for January 5, 1950, film critic Bosley Crowther wrote:
A film called 'The Flying Saucer' flew into the Rialto yesterday and, except for some nice Alaskan scenery, it can go right on flying, for all we care. In fact, it is such a clumsy item that we doubt if it will go very far, and we hesitate, out of mercy, to fire even a critical shot at it.
Strangely, the quality and acting of this movie aside, it was the first indication of a means to criticize both the "HUAC" and what was slowing developing, "McCarthyism". I will be mentioning a few more Science Fiction movies, and at least one major Western, that took on Senator "Tail-Gunner Joe"
On June 22, 1950, the right-wing journal, "Counterattack", that now claimed to be published for all "Freedom Loving American's". Contained a list of 151 names of actors, writers, musicians, and broadcasters, found in both motion pictures and radio. However, the publishers added the first attack on television programing. The article was entitled, "Red Channels: The Report of Communist Influence in Radio and Television".
Also in 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy would "assault (?)", major newspaper columnist, Andrew Russell "DREW" Pearson. Drew Pearson had one of the largest radio followings in the country. This took place in the coatroom of the "Sulgrave Club", in Washington, D.C. Pearson claimed he was kneed in the groin, but McCarthy, claimed to have only slapped the journalist.
The incident took place right after McCarthy had spoken about those 205-Communist Names in the "State Department. Drew Pearson started a series of columns and radio programs attacking Joseph McCarthy's credibility over the next two-months. In response, Senator McCarthy made 7 counter speeches, on the Senate floor, attacking Pearson. As a result of the growing power/fear of the Senator, 12-newspaper's cancelled their contracts with the journalist.
While in the "House of Representatives", it appeared Blacklisting of names within the motion picture industry took a short one-year hiatus, and the "HUAC" shifted focus toward radio, and the somewhat new medium, for the American public, of television.
March 1951:
In 1946, Larry Parks portrayed Al Jolson in "Columbia Picture's" "The Jolson Story", doing an outstanding job of lip-sinking Jolson. The actor was nominated for the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Best Actor Award". In 1949, Parks was back in "Jolson Sings Again", lip-sinking the singer once more.
In 1950, British film exhibitors voted Larry Parks the 9th most popular star in the United Kingdom.
Then came the following, from the website for "The Guardian", found at:
22 March 1951:
Larry Parks is the first Hollywood figure to admit to House of Representatives’ Un-American Activities Committee that he had once been a member of the Communist party
Washington
Larry Parks, star of the Al Jolson films, said to-day that he expected ten words he uttered to-day to end his Hollywood career. The words were “I was a Communist party member from 1941 to 1945.”
He is the first Hollywood figure to admit that he had been a member of the party. He made the admission before the House of Representatives’ Un-American Activities Committee.
“But there is a difference between being a Communist in 1941 and one in 1951,” he said. “I was younger then.” Giving evidence in a low voice, often scarcely audible, Parks said he had had no connection with the Communist party since he left it. He attended very few meetings and drifted out the same way as he drifted in.
“I think that being a member of the party ten years ago fulfilled certain needs of a man who was a Liberal,” he told the committee. It was sympathy for the “little man” that caused him to join the party.
There were certain principles in which he believed deeply. “I was taught that equality meant equality of peoples before the law and before God.” For that reason he believed in equal rights for Negroes, that anti-Semitism “is a crime against humanity,” and that all men have a right to worship freely. His only loyalty was to America and the freedom of all Americans.
I return to Science Fiction and a movie that author Isaac Asimov thought was one of the worst movies he had ever seen. However, if box office meant anything. it beat out the same years, George Pal classic, "When Worlds Collide", and director Robert Wise's, "The Day the Earth Stood Still".
The following comes modified from my article, "WHO GOES THERE? 1938, 'THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD' 1951, 'THE THING' 1982, 'THE THING' 2011, 'HORROR EXPRESS' 1972" at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/02/who-goes-there-1938-thing-from-another.html
THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD released on April 21, 1951
The screenplay for this classic Science Fiction motion picture was credited to Charles Lederer. For gossip, his Aunt was Marion Davies, the mistress of newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. Davies raised the boy after his parents divorced and would have nothing more to do with him. Charles Lederer married Virginia Nicolson in 1940, after she divorced his good friend Orson Wells the same year. Some of Charles' other movie credits include 1953's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", 1957's "The Spirit of St. Louis" and the original "Rat Pack" 1960 version of "Ocean's Eleven".
Two other names are associated, but without on screen credit, with the screenplay. Ben Hecht was one of the greats of screenplay writing. He was also a journalist and novelist, J. Edgar Hoover labeled Hecht a "Communist Zionist", but his motion picture credits contain the original 1932 "Scarface", both Alfred Hitchcock's 1945 "Spellbound" and 1946's "Notorious", Carlo Ponti's 1954 "Ulysses". Where he adapted Homer's "The Odyssey" for a movie starring American actor Kirk Douglas. Hecht also wrote the original story "Queen of the Universe" that was turned into the 1958 cult Sci-Fi classic "Queen of Outer Space".
The other screenplay contributor, as with all his films, was Howard Hawks. Scenes like the opening Poker Game have his signature crossover character dialogue. As one character starts talking over another character's lines giving a realistic touch to the conversation within Hawks' crisp dialogue.
The first time credit for directing a feature film went to Howard Hawks' long time cameraman and film editor Christian Nyby, but there are three views on who actually directed "The Thing from Another World".
One holds that it was only Nyby. The counter opinion focuses on scene composition, indicating within some of the shots, there is the known look of Howard Hawks. As Christian Nyby's defenders point out. After being Hawks' cameraman for so many years. It is logical that Christian Nyby should have been aware of how Hawks shot certain types of scenes.
Then there is the story that Hawks did not want his name associated with directing such a low class motion picture genre, such as science fiction. As nobody knew he had helped write the screenplay. The only place his name would be seen was as the producer and that made sense for Hawks backing Christian Nyby's directorial debut. So, Howard Hawks gave Nyby's the director's credit, but had performed the work himself.
The third idea is that it was actually a joint directing, but again Howard Hawks wanted his friend Christian Nyby to receive all the credit.
This writing team used the first 31 pages of John W. Campbell, Jr's novella for the basis of their screenplay. The five major changes to "Who Goes There?" start with the location. We are now at the North Pole and not Antarctica. Next, is a change to the discovery of the spacecraft, from one that already crashed on the Earth millions of years ago. To one that only crashed a few hours prior and had been photographed by the scientific base's camera system and thought to be a meteor. The space craft's sudden changes in direction had changed the scientist's thinking to something possibly piloted.
The way the alien looked was impacted by the low budget of the production. A stop motion animated alien was considered, but that changed from what Campbell described to one resembling a human. Which was a lot cheaper with an actor in make-up. Lastly the tight screenplay placed all of the research personnel in one building rather than the multiple locations in the novella. Campbell had used that design to create more terror and mystery as the story progressed, but really doesn't come into play until after page 32 in the novella.
The number of people at the now North Pole research center are reduced from 32 to 16, including the arrivals on Captain Patrick Henry's plane. Two of these characters become women, Mrs. Chapman, portrayed by Sally Creighton, below, and Nikki Nicholson, portrayed by Margaret Sheridan, 2nd picture.
Playing Captain Henry was Kenneth Tobey, above left of Sally Creighton, in his first of three classic 1950 science fiction motion pictures. The other two were both from Stop Motion Animator Ray Harrhausen. They are 1953's "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" and 1955's "It Came from Beneath the Sea".
For those who might be interested, Kenneth Tobey was my next door neighbor in 1954, and I wrote an article about his career at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/10/a-memory-of-my-neighbors-barbara-luddy.html
Also in the above photo is frustrated reporter Scotty, left, portrayed by Douglas Spencer and shaken his hand is strangely uncredited John Dierkes portraying Dr. Chapman.
In "The Thing from Another World" the audience learns that there is a past between Captain Henry and Nikki Nicholson. The relationship is created through the use of many innuendo's in the script starting with the Poker Game and is a trademark of Howard Hawks. As are the director's strong female characters in what was essentially a 1950's man's world. Look at newcomer Angie Dickinson in his western classic "Rio Bravo" as another of his examples.
Another off camera reason for Margaret Sheridan, as Nikki, getting top billing in the picture, was that she was Howard Hawks' girl friend at the time. However, in her scenes opposite Tobey, there is a chemistry that sends sparks flying. Throughout the motion picture Sheridan gives one of the strongest performances.
In Howard Hawks version of the Campbell novel. The alien played by actor James Arness turns out to be a plant, or as surprised Reporter Ned "Scotty" Scott, portrayed by Douglas Spencer, remarks "An Intelligent Carrot".
Doing away with the duplication of members of the Research Group. The idea of "The Thing" being a plant leads to it containing seed pods to repropagate it's species and conqueror the Earth. An idea picked up and reworked by Jack Finney for his 1955 novel "The Body Snatchers".
The Research Team is headed by Dr. Carrington, portrayed by a very understated Robert Cornthwaite. My reader must remember that 1951 was only six years after the first Atomic Bomb tests and the dropping of two atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Many American's and members of Congress, at the time, remained leery of the real motivations of scientists and the screenplay plays upon that concern.
Dr. Carrington is portrayed very much like those Los Alamos Scientists who created the Atomic Bomb. He sees science and its discoveries as the ultimate goal, and overlooks the associated dangers the might be caused by his research. This comes into play in his interaction with Captain Henry. Henry is a military man looking at the cold facts of reality in relationship to the now alive alien.
An example of Dr. Carrington's scientific curiosity overtaking the consequences of his actions, comes in the above photograph of the seed pods. Carrington does not see the danger in growing more "Things". Which in turn becomes more invaders capable of reproduction and the conquest of the human race.
Once more the comparison specifically to J. Robert Oppenheimer is clearly made by the screenplay. At the time of this film, Oppenheimer had received his second nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize. An unusual award for the creator of the Atomic Bomb, as seen by some today, but as the Atomic Bomb was the means to end World War 2 and in the long run saved lives. The bomb's creation became a logical motivation for the prize.,
However, J. Robert Oppenheimer had recently testified in front of "The House Committee on Un-American Activities" for being an admitted "Communist". A "Red Flag" to many American's at the start of "The Cold War". So, the similarities and concerns over the real Dr. Oppenheimer and the character of Dr. Carrington were not lost on American audiences in 1951. An undertone in the screenplay that is mostly overlooked by today's viewing audience.
Another example of science curiosity blinded by consequences, comes after the discovery that "The Thing" had entered the Greenhouse and a sled dog was drained of blood. Instead of informing on site "The Military", Captain Henry, Dr. Carrington convinces other scientists to stay in the Greenhouse so that communication with the alien of "Greater Intelligence" can be made and the secrets of the Universe revealed. The result is the slaughter of three men,
The battle to destroy the alien invader climaxes with an electrical net being set up to destroy it. This idea is taken from the last of those 31 pages of "Who Goes There?". The alien is lured between the electrical net in the motion picture and burnt to a cinder. In the novella those at the Research Facility believe they have killed the alien at this point.
Tell the world. Tell this to everybody, wherever they are. Watch the skies everywhere. Keep looking. Keep watching the skies.
Two-years before Richard Carson portrayed Herbert Philbrick, on the television series based upon Philbrick's autobiography, "I Led 3 Lives", was:
I WAS A COMMUNIST FOR THE F.B.I. premiering in New York City on May 2, 1951
The motion picture was based upon a series of articles for "The Saturday Evening Post", written by Matt Cvetic. They were about his undercover work the "Federal Bureau of Investigation" during the 1940's, by infiltrating the "Communist Party USA", in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
On July 15, 1950, Cvetic appeared on the television series "We the People", a talk show interviewing "up close and personal", celebrities, and other people of note. Back on August 17, 1948, Soviet Spy Elizabeth Bentley had appeared. Who famously stated:
It isn't enough to just quit being a Communist as I know hundreds have. Come forward now and tell what you know while there's still time to undo the damage we have so foolishly done.
Matt Cvetic's first "Saturday Evening Post" article, of four, was also on July 15th. The article series was co-authored by Pete Martin, and was entitled "I Posed as a Communist for the FBI".
"Warner Brothers" purchased the rights to the "Saturday Evening Post" articles and had Crane Wilbur, who started with silent films in 1915, write the screenplay.
The director was Gordon Douglas, who had just directed the Gregory Peck western, 1951's, "Only the Valiant".
Frank Lovely portrayed "Matt Cvetic", the only real character in this anti-communist screenplay. Lovejoy had just co-starred with Richard Carlson, in the 1950 film-noir, "The Sound of Fury".
The trade paper, "Variety", January 1, 1951, had the following to say about the production:
[S]cripter Crane Wilbur has fashioned an exciting film. Direction of Gordon Douglas plays up suspense and pace strongly, and the cast, headed by Frank Lovejoy in the title role, punches over the expose of the Communist menace.
Remembering that the screenplay was fiction, strangely, or with ulterior motives, the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science" nominated "I Was a Communist for the F. B. I." as the Best Documentary Feature".
The picture had a budget of $684,000 and took in $1.3 million at the American Box Office and another $440,000 elsewhere on the picture's initial run. I point out that the price for an Adult Movie Ticket in 1951, averaged between 47 and 53 cents. Reflecting on the concern about the "CPUSA" at the time of the picture's release.
The following year, Dana Andrews became Matt Cvetic, in a 78-episode radio program, "I Was a Communist for the F. B. I."
1952: THEM VS US
The year was very interesting as in many ways the movie studios started to fight back against what had become simply known as "MCCARTHYISM"!
HOWEVER, the year is considered the high point in Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy's crusade against Communism. This was also the year he lied into being awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross".
To the Senator's dislike, broadcast journalist Edward Roscoe Murrow, narrated a 1952 television broadcast, "Alliance for Peace". Edward R. Murrow concentrated on "The Marshall Plan", and clearly countered McCarthy's attack on George Marshall.
This section looks at just 4-motion pictures, one pro "HUAC", one a debatable attack on "McCarthyism", and two Science Fiction entries that addressed America's fear of the Soviet Union.
RED PLANET MARS released on May 15, 1952
John Lloyd Balderston, the main screenplay author for both 1931's, "Dracula" and "Frankenstein". In 1932, having viewed the opening of "King Tut's" tomb, he wrote "The Mummy", and a play entitled "Red Planet". For this motion picture, Balderston turned that play into a 1950's Cold War piece of Science Fiction. My article is "John L. Balderston: Writing Classic Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction Screenplays" to explore at:
This was the first motion picture as a director, for production designer Harry Horner. He had left Austria-Hungry with the raise of Adolph Hitler as part of Max Reinhardt's theater troupe in 1936.
American scientists, "Chris Cronyn", played by Peter Graves, and his wife, "Linda Cronyn", played by Andrea King, have built a hydrogen powered radio transmitter and are picking up messages from the planet Mars. Their construction was based upon the work of a Nazi scientist named "Franz Calder", played by Herbert Berghof.
Above is Walter Sande as "Admiral Bill Carey", Andrea King, and Peter Graves.
The couple's received messages, claim Mars is a Utopia without the potential threat of a nuclear war, that the United States and the rest of the Earth's country's fear. Other messages lead to political and economic chaos. The film touches upon religious beliefs, as it appears the messages may not actually come from Mars, but from God, or his intermediary.
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/02/morris-ankrum-face-of-classic-1950s.html
Despite its title, Red Planet Mars takes place on terra firma, sans space ships, cosmic rays or space cadets. It is a fantastic concoction delving into the realms of science, politics, religion, world affairs and Communism [...] Despite the hokum dished out, the actors concerned turn in creditable performances.In a February 21, 2011 review, Bruce Eder wrote on the website Allmovie:
Red Planet Mars is an eerily fascinating artifact of the era of the Red Scare, and also the first postwar science fiction boom, combining those elements into an eerie story that is all the more surreal because it is played with such earnestness
When "Red Planet Mars" came out. It became a minor hit with a lot of Americans. Especially in what was then called "The Bible Belt".
As of this writing the following link will take my reader to the movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OXYLCVUaCc
McCarthyism and the "HUAC" came to the "Wild West" in a still politically controversial Western.
HIGH NOON premiered in London, England, on May 1, 1952. The picture had its New York Premier on July 24, 1952
There's many ways to look at this influential Western. The different award nominations are remarkable, for directing, acting, and several technical fields across several award programs including the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences", "The Golden Globes", "The Directors Guild of America", and the "Writers Guild of America".
The "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences" gave the theme song an "Oscar". The title was actually "Do Not Forsake Me", but is known as either "The Ballad of High Noon", or just"High Noon". It was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin with lyrics by Ned Washington and is still haunting. It's sung over the opening credits by Tex Ritter, and sets the mood that follows. As behind Ritter's singing, "Frank Miller's" gang comes together, and when formed, heads for the railway station, to await his return from prison at "HIGH NOON"!
Producer Stanley Kramer was nominated for the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Best Picture, Oscar".
Director, Fred Zinnemann was nominated for the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Best Director, Oscar".
Gary Cooper portrayed "Marshal Will Kane". He won the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Best Actor Oscar", and the "Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama".
The motion picture has two distinct groups. I've mentioned"Frank Miller's" gang, which is first seen as the opening credits role. This group includes:
Sheb Wooley portraying "Frank's" young brother, "Ben". My article about the actor is "High Noon', 'The Purple People Eater', and 'Rawhide': A Short But Fond Memory of Sheb Wooley" pushing cattle at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/03/high-noon-purple-people-eater-and.html
Lee Van Cleef portrayed "Jack Colby". Van Cleef started out as an alien on 1952 television's, "Space Patrol". My article is "LEE VAN CLEEF: A Mixture of 'B' and Spaghetti Westerns with a Side of Science Fiction and Just a Taste of Drama" to be read at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2021/09/lee-van-cleef-mixture-of-b-and.html
Robert J. Wilke portrayed "Jack Colby". Bad Guy character actor Wilke had been seen on-screen as an uncredited survivor in the Clark Gable, Jeanette McDonald, and Spencer Tracy, in 1936's, "San Francisco". In 1954, the now major character actor, portrayed the "First Mate on the Nautilus", in Walt Disney's, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".
Above left to right, Lee Van Cleef, Robert J. Wilke, and Sheb Wooley.
Ian MacDonald portrayed "Frank Miller". This Reverend's son was known for playing the bad guy in "B" westerns and crime dramas. After this movie, the majority of MacDonald's roles were on television westerns. He had just been seen, with 6th-billing, in the Sterling Hayden and Forrest Tucker western, 1952's, "Flaming Feather".
The Second group are the townspeople of Hadleyville, in the New Mexico Territory. Who all like, even love, their Marshall, "Will Kane". I'm going to look at the main characters in this group.
Thomas Mitchell portrayed "Mayor Jonas Henderson". Mitchell's name was the first one in the credits after Gary Cooper's. More for name recognition to the potential audience, than his screen time, which was a total of 7-minutes.
Lloyd Bridges portrayed "Deputy Marshall Harvey Pell". Two-years earlier, Bridges was in the cult Science Fiction classic warning about nuclear war, 1950's, "Rocketship X-M". My detailed look at that movie and its relationship to the period is in my article "ROCKETSHIP X-M, EXPEDITION MOON (1950): Anatomy of a Cult Science Fiction Classic" blasting off at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2022/07/rocketship-x-m-expedition-moon-1950.html
Katy Jurado portrayed "Helen Ramirez", the lady with a past with "Will Kane". Maria Cristina Estela Marcela Jurado García was a Mexican actress who started in motion pictures in 1943. This was only her second American feature and she took home the "Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture" award.
Grace Kelly portrayed "Amy Fowler Kane", the "Bride" in those haunting lyrics. This was 5th-billed Kelly's 2nd movie, out of her first 12-roles.
Otto Kruger portrayed "Judge Percy Mettrick". Kruger started on-screen in 1915, he was "Dr. Livesey" in the 1934, "Treasure Island", "Jeffrey Garth" in 1935's, "Dracula's Daughter", and "Charles Tobin", in director Alfred Hitchcock's, 1942, "Saboteur".
Above front row left to right, Otto Kruger, Grace Kelly, and Gary Cooper.
Lon Chaney portrayed "Martin Howe, the former Marshall". My article is "LON CHANEY, JR: OF MICE AND WEREWOLVES", to be read by the full Autumn moon at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/05/lon-chaney-jr-of-mice-and-werewolves.html
Harry Morgan billed as Henry Morgan, portrayed "Sam Fuller". Harry Bratsburg would be remembered by television audiences for three- roles, "Pete Porter", on "December Bride, 1954-1959", "Officer Bill Gannon", on "Dragnet, 1967-1970", and of course, "Colonel Sherman T. Potter" on "M.A.S.H.", 1974 - 1983".
Front row left to right, Lon Chaney, Thomas Mitchell, and Henry Morgan.
My reader must have noticed that I haven't mentioned who wrote the screenplay. That writer was Carl Foreman:
He was nominated by "The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences" for "Best Screenplay".
He was also nominated for the "Best Screenplay - Motion Picture", by the "Golden Globes".
He won the "Best Written American Drama", from the "Writers Guild of America".
The accepted source story, has Carl Foreman getting the idea for 1952's, "High Noon", from a short story by Western writer John W. Cunningham. Which had appeared in a 1947 issue of "Collier's Magazine". Cunningham's original story can be found at:
http://erginguney.com/web/coursematerial/The_Tin_star.pdf
On its surface, Carl Foreman's screenplay is the usual "B" western of the period. The Marshall of Hadleyville is retiring and the towns people, that he has known for years, were invited to attend his wedding. Which just happens to fall on the day of that retirement, one day before his replacement is to arrive.
Newly married "Amy Fowler Kane" and he husband, "Marshall Will Kane" are about to leave and receive well wishes from the townspeople he protected for years. The two are heading for a different town and a store they own and will run. As the well wishes continue, at the railroad depot three horsemen approach.
After a short time, "Will Kane" stops his wagon, and to his wife's surprise. He turns around to return and face "Frank Miller", his brother, "Ben", "Jack Colby", and "Jim Pierce on the streets of Hadleyville.
Was the screenplay for "HIGH NOON", a veiled (?) attack on "MCCARTHYISM"?
In the screenplay, the townspeople are very supportive of "Will Kane", UNTILL they hear of "Frank Miller" and the others. NOW FEAR kicks in and it can be argued that the four-killers are a metaphor for the average American's Fear of "Communism" destroying their lives.
However, when "Kane" returns and asks the citizens he has defended for years for help, fear overshadows friendship, and he becomes a man alone. Religion vs Communism is reflected in the beliefs of "Amy Kane", blinded by her religious faith of what the four-killers signify.
I do not have the exact date, production of the motion picture started on September 5, 1951. Sometime between that date and October 6, 1951, when filming ended. Carl Foreman was called before the "House Committee on Un-American Activities" in Los Angeles.
The following paragraph comes from the outstanding, March 12, 2017 article, "How 'Commie' writer turned 'High Noon' into a subversive Hollywood hit", by Larry Getien, on the "New York Post" website at:
https://nypost.com/2017/03/12/commie-writer-turned-high-noon-into-subversive-hollywood-hit/
Wearing “a dark blue suit and what he called ‘a very sincere tie,’ ” Foreman faced the five-member committee. After answering basic questions about his life, his past and his profession, as well as throwing in a plug for “High Noon,” describing the film as “the story of a town that died because it lacked the moral fiber to withstand aggression” in “a backward swipe at the committee,” Foreman refused to answer whether he was a member of the Communist Party, invoking both the First and Fifth amendments. Foreman’s hour-long testimony walked a fine line.
Carl Foreman refused to "name names" for 'HUAC', of those he knew were members of "CPUSA". Foreman went on to emphasized that he hadn't been a member of "CPUSA" for over ten-years. Which put the end of his membership just after the United States entered the Second World War.
In fact, Foreman, had been assigned to the United States Army Signal Corps, under the command of "Multiple Oscar" winning, Major Frank Capra. The writer was making training films, from 1942 through 1945, and his honorable discharge. During this period, Carl Foreman also provided the story for the John Wayne and Vera Hruba Ralston, the wife of Herbert J. Yates, the owner of "Republic Pictures", Western, 1945's, "Dakota".
After it was revealed that Foreman was labeled an "uncooperative witness" for refusing to name names of "CPUSA" members in the motion picture industry. Producer and business partner, Stanley Kramer, was frightened he'd be called before the "HUAC", due to "guilt by association", and demanded that their partnership be dissolved. Their partnership included 1949's, the "Champion", starring Kirk Douglas, which Carl Foreman had been nominated for a "Best Adapted Screenplay, Oscar", and the still powerful, "Home of the Brave". For which he had to change antisemitism in the army to racism, and 1950's, "The Men", starring Marlon Brando.
John Wayne, as president of the "MPA (Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals)", attacked Carl Foreman's loyalty. Wayne was joined by powerful motion picture gossip Columnist Hedda Hopper.
Carl Foreman was "Blacklisted" by the major studios and his career in the United States was over. He left for the United Kingdom and among his films were 1957's, "The Bridge on the River Kwai", without his name on the picture as the actual screenplay writer. The novel's author's name was substituted, but Foreman won the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Screenplay Award", or should I say, at the "Academy Awards", the novel's author. Among Carl Foreman's motion picture work while in the United Kingdom, also included both writing and producing, 1961's, "The Guns of Navarone", 1963's, "The Victors", 1969's, "Mackenna's Gold", and 1972's, "Young Winston".
In August, 1953, the United States was three months away from electing ex-Army General Dwight David Eisenhower as "President of the United States", and the "Republican Party" taking control of Congress.
"HUAC" needed to be defended by those "Republican's" and anti-Communist members of the American motion picture industry. To their rescue came "Wayne-Fellows Productions" and:
The Communist Cell story line was dropped for European release. The film was renamed "Marijuana", because of European views on American politics and communism. Dialogue was rewritten and some scenes were reshot, removing any mention of the two leads being connected to "HUAC". Now, Wayne and Arness were after a group of Marijuana smugglers.
INVASION U. S. A. released in December 10, 1952
Hedda Hopper may have attacked Carl Foreman, but she also knew a good way for a little free publicity.
Scare the Pants Off You
The story brought to the big screen the "Second Red Scare of Nuclear War and Soviet Invasion" of the United States.
The movie starts out at a New York City bar with six strangers enjoying their drinks. Tom Kennedy portrayed "Tim the Bar Tender". Kennedy had been acting since 1915, was a familiar character actor in many films, and had been the comic relief in the "Torchy Blane", 1930's, film series.
They six are:
"Television newscaster, Vince Potter" was portrayed by Gerald Mohr, before he found himself on 1959's, "The Angry Red Planet". My article is "GERALD MOHR: Radio, "B" Movie and Television Character Actor" to be read at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/08/gerald-mohr-radio-b-movie-and.html
"New York Society woman, Carla Sanford" was portrayed by Peggie Castle. Castle is best remembered for Bert I. Gordon's, 1957, "Beginning of the End". My article "Peggie Castle, Allison Hayes, Gloria Talbott and 1950's Sci-Fi Movies" may be read at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/04/peggie-castle-allison-hayes-and-gloria.html
The brooding "Mr. Ohman", was portrayed by Dan O'Herlihy. O'Herlihy would be seen in the excellent 1954, "Robinson Crusoe", 1960's ,"The Night Fighters" with Robert Mitchum, and the actor portrayed "Marshall Michel Ney", in 1970's, outstanding "Waterloo", starring Rod Steiger as "Napoleon" and Christoper Plummer as the "Duke of Wellington". O'Herlihy is known to science fiction fans as "Grig" in 1984's, "The Last Starfighter", and appeared in the first two "RoboCop" movies as the head of the company.
Wade Croisby portrayed "Illinois Congressman Arthur V. Harroway". The character actor was mostly seen on television and appeared, without on screen credit, in 1973's, "Westworld", 1974's, "Airport 1975" and 1975's, "The Hindenberg"
Robert Bice portrayed "Industrialist George Sylvester". Bice became a familiar face, without on screen credit, in many a television Western and Detective series.
Eric Blythe portrayed Arizona Rancher "Ed Mulfory". This was his only film.
Above, Robert Bice on the left, sharing a cab with Eric Blythe on the right.
Meanwhile, this representative American group, starts discussing the general situation in the United States. When suddenly there is a television news report.
Below, everyone but Dan O'Herlihy are seen looking at the television screen. When the word of approaching enemy planes crossing the dew line is reported..
Next, the group hears that enemy paratroopers have taken the military base at Seal Point, Alaska. Then comes word that Nome has been taken over and there are unconfirmed reports of Atomic Bombs being dropped on Air Force Bases. As the conquest of the United States starts and the group, in some panic, disbands and leaves the bar.
Newscaster "Potter" goes to his television station to start broadcasting and socialite "Sanford" starts organizing her friends into a major blood drive.
Rancher "Mulfory" and Industrialist "Sylvester" share a cab after flying from New York to San Francisco. The enemy starts dropping conventional bombs on the city. As the cab pulls up to the curb at "Sylvester's" business headquarters. The two men and the cab driver run inside and watch the bombing. "Sylvester" says he will remain in San Francisco and dies there. "Mulfory" hires the cab to actually drive him to his ranch in Arizona.
Strategic cities are now seen as targets for the unnamed enemy's Atomic Bombs. San Francisco becomes one of those targets.
"Ed Mulfory" and the Cab Driver make it to his Arizona Ranch and pick up "Muilfory's wife" portrayed by Phyllis Coates, the future television "Lois Lane", and their son.
"Invasion U.S.A." contained an earlier television, "Adventures of Superman", reference, with a "New York Airport Ticket Taker", portrayed by the original "Lois Lane", Noel Neil.
The cab and its occupants appear to be getting away safely. When, in Nevada, the cab is buried under tons of water as a nuclear missile hits Boulder Dam.
Soldiers dressed like American troops attack Washington, D.C. killing "Senator Harroway" and others. As one by one those in the bar have been killed.
Below, enemy soldiers dressed as Americans have taken "Vince Potter" and "Carla Sanford" prisoner in her hotel room,
"Vince" is taken to his television station and told what propaganda he is now expected to report. While broadcasting he starts to tell the truth and is stopped, taken out, and executed. Meanwhile, "Carla" alone with the soldiers starts to feel uneasy. As one starts toward her, she manages to elude him, makes for the balcony, and jumps off.
As "Carla" falls to her apparent death. The picture starts to swirl and her body appears in a brandy glass being held by "Mr. Ohman". Everyone is back in "Tim's" bar and alive. Each remembers hypnotist "Ohman" starting to swirl his brandy glass just before the first enemy attack was reported. "Mr. Ohman" tells them he was listening to their fears and wanted each to experience how lucky they are to be living in the United States and not the enemies country.
"Potter" and "Sanford" rekindle their romance and the others leave.
Say would you will about 1952's, "Invasion U. S. A.", BUT remember, the 1952, "Civil Defense" drills. The blaring of their sirens at noon each day, as a test throughout the United States to warn American's of a Soviet Union attack. Remember those "Drop and Cover" drills, millions of school children went through each day, and those Government warnings on both radio and television that your next door neighbor might be one of them. The motion picture was a perfect reflection of the moment in time.
The following link takes my reader to this motion picture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS2KYD7YurA
His name was Elmer Bernstein and he would compose the musical score for producer and director Cecil B. DeMille's, 1956, "The Ten Commandments". He would compose, among other feature film's, the musical score for 1960's, "The Magnificent Seven", the score for 1963's, "The Great Escape", and the same year's, "Kings of the Sun". He would receive the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Musical Score Award", for 1967's, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie".
HOWEVER, this was 1953 and Elmer Bernstein was brought before the "HUAC". He had written some music reviews that appeared in the Communist newspaper, "The Daily Worker", but that had only been in the late 1940's. The music reviewer also had refused to name names of Communist's he knew.
The members of the committee knew that like his parents, Elmer Bernstein was a "Zionist" and that brought out a hint of antisemitism from some of the "HUAC" committee members. However, even that didn't prove anything about Berstein's connection to Communism. The "HUAC Committee" wouldn't just pass him, so he was GRAYLISTED (Suspected, but not proven that he was a "Commie).
For a couple of years, the major studios would not hire Elmer Bernstein to score their films. So, his next two motion pictures in 1953, might seem a trivia question.
Answer: Bernstein composed the scores for "Robot Monster", and "Cat-Women of the Moon".
Part Four: The ARMY-MCCARTHY HEARINGS
SALT OF THE EARTH premiered in New York City on March 14, 1954
The American motion picture executives wouldn't touch the idea of a screenplay attacking a real politically charged incident and making the main character a "Feminist". As a results this was one of the first truly Independent movies made outside of the American Motion Picture Industry. WHY?
Let me introduce the three men behind the feature.
Paul Jarrico produced the "Salt of the Earth". For the Ginger Rodgers comedy, 1941's, "Tom, Dick and Harry", screenplay writer, Jarrico, was nominated by the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences", for the "Best Original Screenplay Oscar".
On April 13, 1951, Jarrico went before the "HUAC". The day before, his close friend and screenplay writing partner, Richard Collins, 1944's, "Song of Russia", starring Robert Taylor, had named Jarrico as a communist.
I bring my reader's attention to the fact that both men co-wrote the screenplay for 1944's, "Song of Russia". Which, according to the website, "IMDb" at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036378/?ref_=ttfc_ov_i was a:
Propaganda film from WW2, designed to raise the awareness of the American public regarding the USSR's flight against Nazi Germany.
I would also add, that the original story for the screenplay was written by Guy Endore, see my link earlier in this article.
The outcome for "BOTH" the "Name Naming" Richard Collins, and "Named" fellow screenplay writer, Paul Jarrico, seen below, was Blacklisting. Their appearance in front of the "HUAC", resulted in their loss of work with the major American studios. Another reason that no one who thought things through, was naming names.
Michael Wilson wrote the "Salt of the Earth". In February 1951, Michael Wilson was nominated for "The Grand Prix du Festival International du Film" at the "Cannes Film Festival", for his "Place in the Sun" screenplay. In April 1951, he was called before the "HUAC". Wilson wrote a letter to "20th Century Fox" explaining what was happening and clearly stating he would not be cooperating with the committee. Michael Wilson was immediately fired by head of production, Darryl Zanuck.
Although Blacklisted, Wilson was permitted to get his "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, Best Screenplay Oscar" for 1951's, "A Place in the Sun".
Like Carl Foreman, Wilson headed for the United Kingdom, and like Carl Foreman, co-wrote without his name showing, the screenplay for 1957's, "The Bridge on the River Kwai", and like Carl Foreman, won an "Academy Award" he could not accept. Additionally, with Robert Bolt, Michael Wilson wrote the screenplay for 1962's, "Lawrence of Arabia".
No longer Blacklisted, in 1968, Wilson rewrote Rod Sterling's entire original screenplay for the Planet of the Apes". That had been deemed too reflective of the "Second Red Scare" and "McCarthyism", and as thus, deemed unacceptable by the studio's executives. Michael Willson left in Rod Sterling's shock ending, which gave the other on-screen credit for the screenplay. Neither screenplay writer was nominated by the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences" for that classic screenplay.
Herbert Joseph Biberman directed the motion picture. He was one of the "Hollywood Ten", and voiced strong concerns against the United States using the "Lend Lease Act", of March 11, 1941, to give any aid to the United Kingdom. It was this stance by Biberman that had J. Edgar Hoover convinced that he was a German Spy, but Herbert Joseph Biberman was Jewish, and a Zionist.
Before the start of the Second World War, British politicians were helping move Jewish children safely out of Europe with the rise of the Nazi's. After the start of the Second World War, these same British politicians limited Jewish immigration, cutting off the rescue of Jewish Children. Even though British Intelligence had decoded German messages about mass killings of Jews within German-occupied Soviet territories. It was this change in position, that motion picture director Herbert Biberman viewed as a reason not to help the United Kingdom under the "Lend Lease Act".
The "HUAC" committee got an admission from the director that he had been a member of the "CPUSA" since 1944. When he refused to answer their further questions, sighting the United States Constitution's First Amendment. Herbert Joseph Biberman was sentenced to six-months-in-prison for "Contempt of Congress".
The Actual Incident Behind the Motion Picture:
The "Empire Zinc Strike", aka: "The Salt of the Earth Strike", took place on October 17, 1950, in Grant County, New Mexico. The actual Zinc Mine was located near Hanover, New Mexico, and after negotiations since July18th had failed, "Local 890" of the "International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers" went on strike.
Of the 128-employes at the mine, 92, 12-Anglos, 80-Hispanics, were Union Members. Adding to the tension caused by the strike was the fact that "Empire Zinc", openly discriminated against the hispanics. Who worked all the underground mining under the direction of Anglo miners. In town were four-tiers of housing, which reflected the discrimination against hispanic workers. The best houses went to the mine managers, the next tier to the office and technical workers, and the third tier to the Angelo miners. The fourth tier was for the hispanic workers, who had to build their own houses on land most rented from "Empire Zinc
The main obstacle to a settlement, was that the pay scale being used for the underground mining workers. Had been set by the "Second World War Labor Board", but the Second World War had ended. "Empire Zinc", was able to get the new government labor board's approval to keep the lower "Second World War" pay scale" in place for the "Hispanic Workers". While the other, "White Workers", had their pay adjusted to a pre-Second World War scale. "Empire Zinc" looked for an out!
Record high Zinc prices become common place during the "Korean War", but operations in Hanover was completely shut down, everyone laid off, and "Empire Zinc" was apparently losing money. On June 17, 1951, a full page add was run in the "Silver City Daily Press".
The company was reopening the mine, but without the Union Workers. "Empire Zinc" made "arrangements" with both the County District Attorney, Thomas Foy, and Sheriff Leslie Goforth, giving the sheriff funds for 24-new Deputies. On their behalf, the two agreed to keep the road leading to the Zinc mine cleared of unauthorized persons aka: "Union Members".
Arrests of Union Protestor's who blocked the road and stoped the new hirers from reaching the mine, took place as planned by"Empire Zinc". As the men were arrested, their wives with their babies and daughters, replaced each arrested union worker on the picket line. This story reached beyond what was actually told on the front page of the "Silver City Daily Press" to the whole country, and that story became the three blacklisted partner's screenplay that the major studios were afraid of touching.
The Three Leading Character's:
"Salt of the Earth" concentrates on one family:
Rosaura Revueltas portrayed "Esperanza Quintero.
Juan Chacón portrayed her husband, "Ramon Quintero".
Will Geer portrayed "The Sheriff".
The Basic Overview of the Screenplay:
"Ramon Quintero" is one of the Zinc mine workers, the mine in located in Zinc Town, New Mexico, and is owned by "Delaware Zinc Incorporated". His wife, "Esperanza", is 35-years-old and expecting their 3rd child.
The strike takes place, months pass, "Esperanza" gives birth, and "Delaware Zinc" refuses to negotiate. The sheriff and his deputies beat up "Ramon" and he is jailed on false assault charges.
The arrest was the result of "Ramon" confronting a Union Worker who betrayed his fellow strikers to the company. "Ramon" is released from jail, his wife tells him that he's no good to her, or the children if he's in jail. His counter is that if the strike succeeds, they, and the other Hispanic families will have better living conditions and more food. The Anglos have no problems, but the hispanics need the chance of a better living.
"Delaware Zinc" presents the Union Workers with a "Taft-Hartley Act" injunction, translating to, if you strike, you will be arrested. Sight change to the events, there's a loophole with the injunction, and the wives now picket for their husbands.
Under company orders, the Sheriff arrests the leaders of the women's movement including "Esperanza Quintero".
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However, the women are loud and unruly, and drive the Sheriff crazy, so he lets them out. At their home, "Ramon" says the strike is hopeless, because "Delaware Zinc" will out last the miners. "Esperanza's" response is that the Union Is Stronger Than Ever! Then she asks her husband why won't be treat her as an equal? Both are angry and they sleep in separate beds.
The next day "Delaware Zinc" evicts the "Quintero Family" from their home, but the Union Workers and their families come together to protest the eviction. The company admits defeat and comes to the table to truly negotiate. In the end, "Esperanza" believes the community has won something no company can take away from people and can be inherited by their children.
After the movie was released:
"HUAC" denounced the motion picture for its Communist sympathies.
The "FBI" was ordered to search for the source of funding. He believed they could prosecute every one involved with the production under the "Foreign Agents Registration Act".
The trade paper "Variety', December 13, 1953, called the motion picture:
a propaganda picture which belongs in union halls rather than theatres
Seeing the motion picture through a true "Film Critic's Eyes", Bosley Crowther, in the "New York Times", March 15, 1954 wrote:
Salt of the Earth is, in substance, simply a strong pro-labor film with a particularly sympathetic interest in the Mexican-Americans with whom it deals....But the real dramatic crux of the picture is the stern and bitter conflict within the membership of the union. It is the issue of whether the women shall have equality of expression and of strike participation with the men. And it is along this line of contention that Michael Wilson's tautly muscled script develops considerable personal drama, raw emotion and power.
Bob Wake's, 2001, review of author James J. Lorence's 1999 book, "The Suppression of Salt of the Earth: How Hollywood, Big Labor, and Politicians Blacklisted a Movie in the American Cold War" at:
https://web.archive.org/web/20121118072013/http://culturevulture.net/Books/Suppression.htm
Begins with this description of the "Red Scare":
The 1954 motion picture Salt of the Earth, based on the true story of a New Mexico zinc miners’ strike, can easily be rented or purchased today on video. However, if you were among the two thousand moviegoers on May 28, 1954 who bought a ticket to see the film at Chicago’s Cinema Annex theater, you would have been out of luck because the projectionist never showed up. After turning away frustrated ticket-holders for three days, the theater finally cancelled the booking. In fact, there wasn’t a theater or projectionist anywhere in Chicago -- or Detroit or dozens of other American cities -- that would touch Salt of the Earth.
As I wrote above, "Salt of the Earth" premiered on March 14, 1954, two-days later, on March 16, 1954, Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy met the power of what he had created. As the gavel in the hands of Senator Karl Mundt, of South Dakota resounded in the chamber to which came the response:
There are no degrees of loyalty in the United States; a man is either loyal or he's disloyal. - - - Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy
As of this writing, and during his first term in office as President of the United States, Donald John Trump, always mentioned how he wanted a "Roy Cohn".
As the chairman of the "Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations", Jospeh Raymond McCarthy appointed 23-years-old Roy Cohn as its "Chief Counsel", and Robert F. Kennedy as Cohn's "Assistant Counsel".
Roy Marcus Cohn had been the prosecutor in the Ethel and Julius Rosenberg spy case, accusing them of working for the Soviet Union, and stealing government secrets. Their trial was from March 6, 1951 through March 29, 1951. Husband and wife were found guilty and executed in 1953.
Adding to his resume, Roy Cohn became the "Special Assistant to the United States Attorney General", from September 3, 1952 through January 20, 1953.
Now, Roy Cohn was the "Defense Attorney" for one, Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy.
Above left was Senator McCarthy, above right was Defense Attorney Roy Cohn
Back in October 1953, Senator McCarthy laid the first stones of his downfall. When his "Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations":
- - - - attacked the Army’s Signal Corps laboratories at Fort Monmouth. Infamous sovient spy, Julius Rosenberg, worked for the Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth during World War II. McCarthy claimed that he had created a spy ring at the post that was still in operation. He further claimed that the communist party organized a special unit specifically to infiltrate Fort Monmouth. As a result of his allegations, 42 Federal employees were suspended by the Army in 1953 and labeled ”security risks.
The above quote comes from fortmonmouth.org at:
https://www.fortmonmouth.org/mccarthyism-at-fort-monmouth/
HOWEVER, the "United States Department of the Army" retaliated.
The Army's claim was that Senator McCarthy was "Requesting" that "Drafted", Private Gerald David Schine, seen below, a "Chief Consultant" to the "Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations", a personal friend of Roy Cohn, and the heir to a major hotel chain, being given a "Direct Commission" as a "First Lieutenant" in the Army.
The "Department of the Army", refused "The Request"!
McCarthy countered the accusation and claimed there had never been such a request by either Cohn, McCarthy's staff, or the Senator himself. Further, aggravating the situation, Joseph McCarthy stated the Army was acting in "bad faith" with their false attack on a sitting United States Senator.
The Senate decided that these two conflicting claims needed to be investigated. Which put that problem into another problem. As the committee within the Senate that would need to investigate the situation was the "Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations", chaired by Joseph Raymond McCarthy.
The solution, is alleged not to be to the liking of the Senator who took over chairing the investigation, Senator Karl Mundt, of South Dakota.
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Serving as the "Counsel for the Army", was John Gibbons Adams. Who at the time was the chief legal adviser to the "Secretary of the Army, Robert T. Stevens".
The "Acting Special Counsel", was Joseph Welsh, of the Boston law firm "Hale and Dorr( now "WilmerHale").
On April 22, 1954, the "Senate Hearing's" took on a new phase never seen before, as they became public viewing on both the "DuMont Television Network", and the "American Broadcasting Company (ABC)".
The following paragraph comes from my article, "TV News B. C. (B4 Cable)" found at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/11/tv-news-bc-b4-cable.html
A Clash of Titans
The "Titans" in this case were Edward R. Murrow and Walter Winchell and the "Clash" came during the "Army-McCarthy Hearings" on April 22, 1954. When the full power of television news coverage first impacted the entire United States. As American's sat transfixed in their living rooms watching the hearings on our 13 to 20 inch black and white TV screens.
Both journalists, with different viewpoints, worked in all three mediums, television, radio, and newspaper coverage. Reporting on what was to become the "Downfall of United States Senator, Joseph Raymond McCarthy".
I quote from my same article:
Edward Roscoe "R" Murrow
Edward R. Murrow was just another radio news reporter working for CBS until he went to Europe to interview famous people for the network. He hired a group of other reporters who formed what became known as "Murrow's Boys" One of these was future writer William L. Shirer, "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich", and in 1938 Shirer told Murrow of a story he was attempting to get out, but was being stopped by Austrian authorities. Murrow sent Shirer to London to broadcast an uncensored eye witness account of the take over of Austria by the Nazi's.
Murrow next chartered a plane so he could take over for William L. Shirer in Vienna. Which became the start of Edward R. Murrow's World War 2 broadcasting career. During the war Murrow became a household name in the United States. As he started his London, England, broadcasts with:
This Is London!
After the war Murrow continued with "CBS Radio" and in the 1950's started to appear, at the end with a short news piece, on television's the "CBS Evening News". Initially that news program started broadcasting, July 1, 1941, as the "CBS Television News" and was the 7:30 PM news program with Richard Hubbell, on "WCBS-TV", I mentioned.
On November 18, 1951 Edward R. Murrow's "CBS Radio" program "Hear It Now" moved to "CBS Television" as "See It Now" still hosted by Murrow. His program covered major news stories of the day and would win four Emmy's. On October 2, 1953 Murrow began the "CBS" program "Person to Person" with him sitting in a chair and interviewing famous people. This program opened with Murrow telling the television audience:
Good evening, I'm Ed Murrow. And the name of the program is 'Person to Person'. It's all live – there's no film
Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell started out as a Vaudeville performer and this led to jobs as a Broadway show reviewer. Which morphed into Winchell as a Broadway and Hollywood gossip columnist for the tabloids, or the "National Enquirer's" of his day. He earned a name for himself and moved to radio and became competition for "Gossip Columnist's" Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper.
During World War 2 Winchell attacked those American's who supported the Nazi's real or not. He was powerful enough to damage the reputation of "The Lone Eagle" Charles Lindbergh and African American singer, actress, and pioneer Josephine Baker. Who had left the United States for Europe, became a major star and was attacked by Walter Winchell upon her return. My article about this remarkable women may be read at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2018/02/josephine-baker-strong-women-of-color.html
Remove all the "Hype", the "Red Scare-Fear of Communism", and the "Cross Accusations". What remains, turned what should have been a serious "United States Senate Investigation" of the actions of a member of the "Senate". Into what might be seen as an episode of the long forgotten, "Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)" television soap opera, "The Brighter Day". A 1954 program about the "Dennis Family", and ironically set in "New Hope, WISCONSIN".
Basically, the resolution of the "Army McCarthy Hearings", hung on a picture, and a memo:
The Photograph:
Both Roy Cohn and Gerald David Schine wanted a photograph of Schine with Robert T. Stevens, the "Secretary of the Army", entered into evidence as proof of Schine's close relationship with Stevens.
However, Joseph Welsh claimed the photograph was doctored, but the other two denied such a thing. They insisted that the "Secretary of the Army" had insisted personally requested having this photo taken, "Alone", with his good friend, Army Private David Schine.
At this point, "Acting Special Counsel Joseph Welsh", produced the same photograph, but a wider version. Schine and Stevens are seen exactly as in the first photograph, BUT now revealed, in the actual photo taken at McGuire, Air Force Base, in Burlington County, New Jersey, was "Wing Commander, Colonel Jack Bradley, standing to David Schine's RIGHT! Additionally, there was a sleeve of a 4th-man to Bradley's right seen on the complete photograph. To make the matter worse for the McCarthy Team, was that the sleeve belonged to Senator Joseph McCarthy's AIDE, Frank Carr.
The photograph was "Discredited"!
The J. Edgar Hoover Memorandum:
Senator McCarthy now produced a "COPY" of a "Confidential Letter", that he claimed referenced a January 26, 1951, memorandum from the director of the "Federal Bureau of Investigation", J. Edgar Hoover, addressed to the "Head of Army Intelligence", Lieutenant General Alexander Russell Bolling. According to McCarthy, the memo warned of "Communist Subversives" in the "United States Army Signal Corps". Think back to the "Fort Monmouth" claim by McCarthy.
Above left to right, Gerald David Schine, Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy and the "Copy of the Confidential Letter", and Roy Cohn. As seen by American's and others around the world during the "Army-McCarthy" hearing broadcast.
The Senator added to this claim that the current "Secretary of the Army", Robert T. Stevens knew about the memo being in the files of the "Department of the Army". Almost from the day he first took office, but deliberately ignored it.
Just plain wrong doing!
Every other Senator knew who he had attacked. The following morning, Lester Hunt went into his Senate office and with a .22-calibre rifle, committed suicide. After his suicide, Senator Karl Mundt, heading the "Army-McCarthy Hearings", told the press it was his belief that McCarthy hadn't been referring to Lester Hunt.
On December 2, 1954, with a 67 to 22-vote, Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy was "Censured" by the "United States Senate"
No one familiar with the history of this country can deny that congressional committees are useful. It is necessary to investigate before legislating, but the line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one, and the junior Senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly. His primary achievement has been in confusing the public mind, as between the internal and the external threats of Communism. We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men—not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes that were, for the moment, unpopular.
This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthy's methods to keep silent, or for those who approve. We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. There is no way for a citizen of a republic to abdicate his responsibilities. As a nation we have come into our full inheritance at a tender age. We proclaim ourselves, as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom, wherever it continues to exist in the world, but we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.
The actions of the junior Senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad, and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn't create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it—and rather successfully. Cassius was right: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves."
The above "Casius" reference came from William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar".
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS released on February 5, 1956
Above the American poster and below the United Kingdom poster._001.jpg)
"The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was adapted from the 1955 novel "The Body Snatchers" by Jack Finney. The three major differences between the novel and the screenplay are with "The Body Snatchers". In the novel, they only live for five Earth years, cannot reproduce and would leave a dead Earth as they have done on other planets. In the end they leave Earth for their own safety, because the humans are fighting back and it becomes too much of a problem for the invaders.
The motion picture was directed by Don Siegel. At that time, Siegel, whose directing would become synonymous with Clint Eastwood, 1968's "Coogan's Bluff", 1970's "Two Mules for Sister Sarah", 1971's "The Beguiled" and that years "Dirty Harry". Along with 1979's "Escape from Alcatraz" was still basically a television director.
The screenplay was written by Daniel Mainwaring. Mainwaring was "B" writer, but among his screenplays is the Robert Mitchum, Jane Deer and Kirk Douglas classic 1947 Film-Noir "Out of the Past". The overlooked and forgotten Western, 1949's "Roughshod", starring Robert Sterling, Gloria Grahame and John Ireland and the interesting, but also forgotten, 1946 "Swamp Fire". That starred two ex-Tarzan's, Johnny Weissmueller and Buster Crabbe.
The motion picture that 1956 audiences saw in the theaters. Was not the movie as shot and edited originally by director Don Siegel, or as written by Daniel Mainwaring.
The Four Mean Leads:
Kevin McCarthy portrayed "Dr. Miles J. Bennell". Over his on-screen career, including his final film released after his death. Kevin McCarthy appeared in 206 roles starting with a non-on-screen credited role in 1944's "Winged Victory". He followed that feature by switching mediums and appearing on a live 1949 broadcast on "The Ford Television Hour". Over the years McCarthy would alternate between both the television and motion picture mediums.
Dana Wynter portrayed "Becky Driscoll". Born Dagmar Winter in 1931 Berlin, Germany. Wynter's film career started in 1951 and for her first two years she was billed as Dagmar Wynter. Later. she would co-star with Robert Taylor and Richard Todd in 1956's "D-Day the Sixth of June", co-star with Rock Hudson in 1957's "Something of Value" with 13th billed Sidney Poitier. Then co-star with Kenneth More in 1960's "Sink the Bismark!" and was part of the all-star cast of John Huston's 1963 "The List of Adrian Messenger".
King Donovan portrayed "Jack Belicec". Donovan was a character actor, but appeared in some interesting motion pictures. He was a "Reporter" in the classic 1949 fictional life of Louisiana's Governor Huey Long "All the King's Men" starring Oscar winner Broderick Crawford. In 1953 Donovan was "Dr. Dan Forbes" opposite Richard Carlson in Ivan Tors' "The Magnetic Monster" and "Dr. Ingersoll" in Ray Harryhausen's "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms".
Carolyn Jones portrayed "Theodora 'Teddy' Belicec". Jones was Vincent Price's victim in 1954's 3-D "The House of Wax", Mickey Rooney's wife in 1957's "Baby Face Nelson" and of course "Morticia", from 1964 through 1966, on television's "The Addams Family". My article "THE ADDAMS FAMILY and THE MUNSTERS" may be read at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/09/the-addams-family-and-munsters.html
Above in the foreground is King Donavan, behind him is Carolyn Jones
Looking at the Screenplay:
I've mentioned that the released film was not the original one shot and edited by Don Siegel, or originally written by Daniel Mainwaring. The following is that original story line.
The film opens in the small rural farming community of Santa Mira, California, and all the citizens are close to each other.
Many film and political historians consider "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" an allegory of "Joseph McCarthy" and the "Red Scare" period.
"Dr. Miles Bennell" has been seeing several of his regular patients and, strangely, all seem to be suffering from "Capgas delusion". Which is a delusion in which a family member believes another family member, close friend, or even a pet, has been replaced by an identical looking impostor.
Later, "Miles" meets his ex-girlfriend "Becky Driscoll". Who had returned to Santa Mira after a divorce. The two meet a police officer who mentions his wife doesn't seem like herself. 
After hearing this conversation, "Becky" mentions her cousin, "Wilma Lentz", played by Virginia Christine. Who is concerned about her "Uncle Ira", played by Tom Fadden, that she lives with. "Wilma" meets with "Dr. Brennell" and tells him how emotionless "Uncle Ira' is acting, but, then later, tells him there's no problem anymore. However, to "Milles", "Wilma", now appears emotionless.
"Miles" meets with "Dr. Dan Kauffman", played by Larry Gates, a psychiatrist, who assures him this seems like nothing more than a case of mass hysteria.
In the evening "Dr. Bennell's" friend "Jack Belicec" calls him and wants "Miles" to come over immediately. "Jack" takes the other man to his basement and shows him a body with his own features on it, but not quite a complete copy. Neither man knows what it is, or where it came from. Later, "Becky" calls "Miles" in panic, as she has a duplicate of herself in her basement. "Miles" calls "Dan Kauffman" to come over to "Becky's". When they go to the basement the body's gone. The three now go to the "Belicec's" and make the same discovery. "Dr. Kauffman" tells "Dr. Bennell" that he is suffering from the same "Mass Hysteria" affecting Santa Mira.
The following night "Miles", "Becky", "Jack", and his wife "Teddy", find duplicate bodies coming out of seed pods in "Dr. Bennell's" greenhouse.
The group concludes that the people of San Mira are being replaced by duplicates as they sleep. "Miles" attempts to make a long distance call to get help from the military, but the operator, in an emotionless voice, tells him all the lines are both dead and busy at the same time. "Jack" and "Teddy" drive off to seek help in the next town.
The following morning "Miles" and "Becky" watching through a window of his office. View farm trucks arriving not with produce, but giant seed pods.
"Dr. Dan Kauffman", "Jack Belicec" and "Chief of Police Nick Grivett", played by Ralph Dumke, arrive at "Dr. Bennell's" office. They are duplicates and reveal that the seed pods are an extraterrestrial life form. That can duplicate any form of life and have traveled through space and come to the Earth at Santa Mira.
It's from 1956's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" that the term "Pod People" originally came. At the time, the term referred to people within the Soviet Union's sphere of influence. Who obey, without apparent question, their Communist leadership and appeared to 1950's Americans, through United States government propaganda, as emotionless shells.
The argument made by the "Pod" version of "Dr. Kauffman" is that humanity will lose all sense of emotions and individuality and create a simplistic, stress-less world.
According to the "Encyclopedia Britannica":
Some of what Joseph Stalin wanted was a Soviet revolution "devoid of ideological sentiment", "a monolithic party", "a classless society", with a centralized government in control of the people.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stalinism
A scuffle between "Miles" and the three "Pod People" takes place and "Miles" is able to knock the others out. Accompanied by "Becky", the two escape into the streets of Santa Mira. Outside the two pose as "Pod People" until "Becky' sees a dog almost hit by a car and screams. An alarm is sounded and the two are now pursued by a mob made up of other Santa Mira residents.
The two get to "Miles'" car and drive into the countryside. They stop at a gas station and later discover two seed pods in the truck.
"Miles" and "Becky" make it to an abandoned mine and very exhausted go inside to hide from the "Pod People".
"Miles" hears music and leaves "Becky" to see where it's coming from. He observes a large farm growing the seed pods and trucks leaving. Returning to "Becky", he kisses her, and realizes she isn't "Becky" anymore.
"Pod People Becky" now sounds the alarm and near-by other "Pod People" start to converge, but "Miles" is able to escape to the highway. There he attempts to wave a car down and sees a truck filled with seed pods. "Miles" frantically runs away screaming at the on-coming vehicles:
They're here already! You're next! You're next!
At least that was the way Don Siegel and Daniel Mainwaring wanted the picture to be.
After the screening of the film for producer Walter Wanger. Whose films included the Marx Brothers 1929 "The Coconuts", John Ford's 1939 "Stagecoach", Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 "Foreign Correspondent" and Ingrid Bergman's 1948 "Joan of Arc".
Wanger told Don Siegel that felt the movie was too pessimistic as edited. To protect the picture from extensive cuts by "Allied Artists" executives who had seen the picture with him. Wanger paid for new actors to appear in both a prologue and epilogue.
Enter non-on-screen credited Whit Bissell as "Dr. Hill". Bissell had been "Bob Ford" in 1951's "The Great Missouri Raid", "Stanley Briggs" in 1951's "The Lost Continent" and "Dr. Edwin Thompson" in 1954's "The Creature from the Black Lagoon".
Non-on-screen credited Richard Deacon was "Dr. Bassett". Deacon was also a non-on-screen credited "MP" in 1953's "Invaders from Mars", a "Bald Reporter" in 1954's "THEM!" and a "Pilot" in 1955's "This Island Earth".
Above Richard Deacon, Kevin McCarthy and Whit Bissell in the prologue.
The prologue has "Dr. Hill" called to the emergency room of a California hospital that has a screaming man in it. He agrees to listen to the man's story and emergency room "Dr. Bassett" is also present. A flashback now starts, of "Dr. Bennell" in the peaceful community of Santa Mira.
The epilogue begins at the end of the flashback of 'Mile's" screaming in the road. "Dr. Hill" believes the man is psychotic and leaves the hospital room as an injured man is being wheeled into the emergency room. This is a truck driver that was involved in an accident and the orderly mentions that they had to dig him out from under a pile of giant seed pods. "Dr. Hill" now calls the FBI as the movie fades out.
Don Siegel always claimed that "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was not an allegory on "McCarthyism". It should be noted that 1952's, director of "High Noon", Fred Zinnemann, made the same claim about that motion picture. Film critics and historians believe otherwise.
In 1953, author Ray Bradbury published "Fahrenheit 451", centering on a future where books are outlawed. As of this writing, certain Republican controlled States are attempting to banning books to reshape American history.
In 1956 there was Bette Davis - - -
STORM CENTER premiered in London, England, on May 24, 1956, and was released in the United States on July 31, 1956
Taradash's co-writer was Elick Moll. Among his screenplays is director Robert Wise's forgotten film-noir thriller, 1951's, "The House on Telegraph Hill", and the 1952 Linda Darnell, film-nor, "Night Without Sleep".
Bette Davis portrayed "Alica Hall". În 1955, Davis had portrayed "Queen Elizabeth the First", in "The Virgin Queen". Although her character's name in this screenplay is factious. Daniel Taradash based Davis's character upon Oklahoma Librarian Ruth Winifred Brown.
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the purpose and courage of the men who made this film not only are to be commended, but also deserve concrete rewards. They have opened a subject that is touchy and urgent in contemporary life...[They] put a stern thought in this film, which is that the fears and suspicions of our age are most likely to corrupt and scar the young...
The year 2000 marked the 50th anniversary of librarian Ruth Brown's courageous efforts to integrate public library service in the town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. In honor of her life and achievements, the Oklahoma Library Association's Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Intellectual Freedom Roundtable (EDII) proudly commemorates Ruth Brown as one of Oklahoma's pioneer library spirits.
Brown became increasingly active and, in February 1950, she and two teachers from the segregated school - Mary Ellen Street and Clara Cooke - sat down at the lunch counter in Hull's Drug Store and asked to be served. Refused, they left. Days later, a Citizens' Committee charged Brown with circulating subversive materials - The Nation and The New Republic - from the library. A bitter battle over censorship of the library ensued, masking the real reason for the attack on Brown - her "accelerated" attitude toward integration.
In 1954, French playwright Marcel Aymé turned American playwright Arthur Miller's, "The Crucible" into a French adaption. "Les Sorcieres de Salem (The Witches of Salem)".
The original play premiered on January 22, 1953, in New York City, at the Broadway, "Martin Beck Theatre (now the Art Hirshfeld Theatre)".
Miller's play uses the "Salem Witch Trials" as an allegorical "McCarthyism". The play opens with a group of young women violating one of the taboos of "Salem", dancing. In their case, the young women are led by "Abigail Williams", and they are caught by "Puritan Reverend Samuel Parris". One of the group is the Reverend's daughter, "Betty Parris", and the quick witted "Abigail" uses "Betty's" father shock to get him to believe that they were under a spell put on them by "Witches". This will lead to the "Salem Witch Hunts", can you say "HUAC"? As the two leading characters, "Elizabeth Proctor" and her husband "John" get mixed into the religious panic "Abigail" has caused.
The French play was staged at the "Sarah Bernhardt Theatre" in Paris. The production starred actress Simone Signoret, the classic 1955 French psychological horror thriller motion picture, "Les Diaboliques".
In 1957 there was a motion picture version of Aynme's play. This was a French and East German co-production. Which raises questions of motivation behind having Communist East Germany bring money to co-fund the motion picture.
LES SORCIERES DE SALEM aka: DIE HEXEN VON SALEM premiered in France on April 26, 1957 and East Germany on October 4, 1957
The screenplay was written by French political activist, playwright, novelist, philosopher, and screenplay writer, Jean-Paul Sartre. He made several changes to the Arthur Miller play and the Marcel Aymé adaptation and explained his 300-page screenplay that:
the play showed John Proctor persecuted, but no one knows why... His death seems like a purely ethical act, rather than one of freedom, that is undertaken in order to resist the situation effectively. In Miller's play... Each of us can see what he wants, each public will find in it confirmation of its own attitude... Because the real political and social implications of the witch-hunt don't appear clearly.
According to Susan Hayward, not the actress, but currently holding "The Chair of Cinema Studies and Director of Film Studies", at the "University of Exeter", England, and a noted authority of French Cinema.
The motion picture was released shortly after the 1956, "Hungarian Uprising", a failed attempt by the Hungarian people to over throw their government. Which was aligned with the Soviet Union and Communism. Hayward states that the critics of Sarte's screenplay, believed he had turned the play into a pro-Communist work. As this was the period of Jean-Paul Sartre's rapprochement with the Soviet Union.
According to Dr. Susan C. W. Abbotson, "Associate Professor of Contemporary and Modern Literature", at "Rhode Island College", in Providence:
Sartre changed the play's theme... His version becomes despiritualized... As it desires to present us the heroic representatives of Communism.
Simone Signoret recreated her stage role of "Elizabeth Proctor". She followed this motion picture by co-starring with British actor, Lawrence Harvey, in 1958's, adult romance, "Room at the Top". That had the United States warning of "Adults Only, Children Under 16 Not Admitted".
Yves Montand portrayed "John Proctor". The French International actor would co-star with Marilyn Monroe in 1960's, "Let Make Love", and later star in Greek director Costa-Gavras's political thriller, 1969's, "Z".
Mylene Demongeot portrayed "Abigail Williams".
One of the major differences created by Jean-Paul Sartre to Arthur Miller's original play is the truly violent ending caused by the townspeople revolting against those in charge of the witch trials. In the original play, the hanging of "John Proctor" is never shown, but the audience knows what is about to happen as the curtain comes down.
While in the movie, the hanging is shown leading to the townspeople's revolt. In a rage against those conducting the trials, the people of "Salem" now toss the hangman and others off the gallows platform to the ground and then take each one back up to be hung.
the heroic representatives of Communism.The anti-thesis of "McCarthyism" and, perhaps, a little of Arthur Miller.
In 1957, a world renown film maker and star directly took on the "HUAC". Charlie Chaplin was born in London, England, on April 16, 1889, and to lovers of classic comedy, he was "The Tramp".
On April 11, 1947, in New York City, was the premiere of Chaplin's "Dark Comedy", "Monsieur Verdoux".
While, two-months-later, in June 1947, Democratic Representative John Elliott Rankin, of Mississippi, and one of the founders of the "HUAC" took aim at "The Tramp".
According to David Robinson's, 2014, "Chaplin: His Life and Art", Rankin told the "United States House of Representatives":
[Chaplin's] very life in Hollywood is detrimental to the moral fabric of America. [If he is deported] ... his loathsome pictures can be kept from before the eyes of the American youth. He should be deported and gotten rid of at once.
One point about Mississippi Representative Rankin was his open "Racism". Which he attempted to cover by placing his words under the fight against "Communism". Four-years-earlier, as reported by Philip Slomovitz, on July 16, 1943, in "The Jewish News, Volume Three, Number Seventeen, Page Four":
Representative Rankin had the following recorded into the record of the "House of Representatives":
J. Edgar Hoover and the "FBI" had investigated Charlie Chaplin's "Communist" ties and he was branded as one. The facts were, that during the Second World War, Chaplin had pushed for a "Second Front" to help "Our Ally", the "Soviet Union". He also financially supported several Soviet-American Friendship Groups, during the war. At this time he was also friends with "Suspected Communists" and attended some functions given by Soviet Diplomats in Los Angeles.
More importantly, Charles Spencer Chaplin, was a "Leftest Activist", by both the definitions of the, basically "Right", "HUAC" and the "FBI". A definition that they used for other motion picture actors, directors, producers, and crew. Who had either formed, or were members of the "Leftest" "Committee for the First Amendment". A membership that included among others, Humphrey Bogart and his wife, Lauren Bacall, Burt Lancaster, John Huston, William Wyler, Billy Wilder, Myrna Loy, Lena Horne, Henry Fonda, Judy Garland, and Ira Gershwin.
Chaplin received a subpoena to appear before the "HUAC", but he was never called. Questions rose about why he never had asked for American citizenship? The pressure kept increasing on the actor from right-wing newspapers like "Counterattack", and from questions by Walter Winchell on his radio program. With his family, on September 18, 1952, Chaplin left the United States and returned to England on the "RMS Queen Elizabeth". On September 19th, "United States Attorney General James P, McGranery, revoked his re-entry permit.
In 1964, Charles Spencer Chaplin, published, "My Autobiography", that contains:
Whether I re-entered that unhappy country or not was of little consequence to me. I would like to have told them that the sooner I was rid of that hate-beleaguered atmosphere the better, that I was fed up of America's insults and moral pomposity
A KING IN NEW YORK premiered in London, England, on September 12, 1957
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The closest Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin got to New York City was the projection room deciding on what "Establishing Shots" he would use.
The motion picture was produced by, written by, directed by, and starring Charles Chaplin.
This was Charlie Chaplin's satire of "McCarthyism" and the "HUAC". When the motion picture premiered in London, it ran just over 120-minutes. When the feature finally arrived in the United States, to be first shown in Valley Springs, Ohio, on March 8, 1972, it only ran 105-minutes.
The basic storyline:
Chaplin portrayed "King Igor Shahdov", who has been overthrown from rule of Estrovia, by a revolution. He arrives in New York City almost broke, his securities stolen by "Prime Minister Voudel", portrayed by British comedian Jerry Desmonde. "Shahdov" attempts to contact the "United States Atomic Energy Commission" with his idea of using atomic energy to build a Utopia.
Next, he attends a televised dinner party and reveals he has some experience in the Estrovian Theatre.
Above left to right, Joan Ingram portraying "Mona Cromwell, the dinners hostess", Charlie Chaplin, and Dawn Adams portraying "Ann Kay, a television specialist".
The ex-King's theatrical experience leads him to do some commercials, which he hates, but needs the money to live on.
This all leads to being invited to view and speak at a progressive school and Charles Chaplin zeroing in on "McCarthyism". At the school the "King" meets a young progressive student, "Rupert Macabee", portrayed by Chaplin's 11-years-old-son, Michale John Chaplin, born in Santa Monica, California, and considered an American actor.
"Rupert" is a ten-years-old historian and editor of the school's newspaper. However, the boy will not reveal his political affinity, because of a fear of "McCarthyism". The reason behind his fear is revealed in the strong "Marxist" lecture the boy gives the deposed "King of Estrovia". Although "Rupert Macabee" distrusts all forms of government. "Shahdov" finds out that the boy's parents are "Communists" and have been jailed for refusing, at a hearing conducted by the government committee, of not naming names of others in the party,
Because "Rupert Macabee" has spent time with "Igor Shahdov", the ex-King, is now suspected of being a "Communist". He is brought before the "Government Committee" for a hearing, but accidentally directs a stream of water from a hose at the committee and they scatter in panic. However, "Shahdov" is cleared of all possible charges, and he goes to Paris to reunite with his estranged "Queen Irene", portrayed by Maxine Audley, and the two reconcile.
The United States government forces "Rupert" to name names in exchange for his parent's freedom. The boy is now presented to "King Shahdov" as a "True Patriot", and the "King" assures him that the "Anti-Communist, Red Scare" will soon pass. The "King" invites "Rupert" and his parent's to tour Europe with him.
My last motion picture is a big budget, all-star cast, look at what American's and the World feared the "Second Red Scare" would bring. The following was from my article:
"Let's Play Thermal Nuclear War: The 2nd Red Scare as Seen in 1950's Motion Pictures" at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2022/10/lets-play-thermal-nuclear-war-2nd-red.html
ON THE BEACH released on December 17, 1959
This was a major motion picture from producer and director Stanley Kramer, his latest feature film was 1958's, "The Defiant Ones", starring Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier, just prior to that movie was 1957's, "The Pride and the Passion", starring Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren. Immediately after this motion picture would be 1960's, "Inherit the Wind", starring Spencer Tracy and Fredric March, followed by, 1961's, "Judgement at Nuremberg", starring Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, and Richard Widmark.
The screenplay was based upon the best-selling novel "On the Beach", by British writer Nevil Shute.
The screenplay was written by John Paxton, 1944's, "Murder My Sweet", based upon author Raymond Chandler's, "Farewell My Lovely", and 1953's, "The Wild One".
The screenplay takes place only five-years after the year of this motion picture's release, 1964. Which appears at the top of a calendar and with the tension between the Soviet Union and the United States in 1959, just seeing the year 1964, had the desired shock effect director Stanley Kramer wanted from the audience.
The Third World War has taken place in Earth's Northern Hemisphere and most of the cities of the world lay in waste from nuclear devastation. The resulting fallout cloud has been slowly working its way south leaving cities as they were built, but with every living thing dead within them. Apparently, the only living humans are in Australia, but the cloud is coming.
The story is about the final days of a group of people living in Australia, living as if nothing ever happened, but knowing what will eventually arrive. Arriving in Sydney Harbor is the American nuclear submarine, the "Sawfish", that survived by staying underwater and surfacing only before the cloud had reached their position.
"United States Navy Commander Dwight Lionel Towers" has his submarine placed under the command of the Australian Navy. While awaiting orders, "Towers" meets Australian socialite "Moria Davidson", and the two start an affair.
"Towers" also comes in contact with Australian scientist, "Julian Osborn", who is rebuilding a race car to enter in the "Australian Grand Prix", another sign that life in Australia continues as if nothing happened.
Assigned to "Commander Towers" is "Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant Commander Peter Holmes" as his liaison. "Holmes" has a wife, "Mary", and a baby.
An incomprehensible signal is coming from the West Coast of the United States in morse code, but it could be a sign of survivors. A scientific theory is that radiation levels are lower in the Arctic Ocean and could indicate that the radiation may be gone by the time the cloud was to have reached Australia. The "Sawfish" is ordered north to find the source of the signal and confirmed the lower radiation levels. "Julian" will accompany the crew as will "Lt. Commander Holmes".
The "Sawfish" reaches Point Barrow, Alaska, and runs tests on the radiation levels, but finds that they are inexplicably intensifying instead of lowering. The radiation cloud may even be stronger by the time it reaches Australia.
Next, the "Sawfish" arrives in San Francisco Bay and through the periscope, the crew sees a deserted city. Crewman, "Ralph Swain", deserts the submarine and goes to find his family and the next morning, through the periscope, "Towers" sees "Swain calmly fishing. "Commander Towers" is warned by "Julian" not to take "Swain" on-board, as he is now a danger to the entire crews, because of his exposure to radiation.
The "Sawfish" leaves San Francisco and heads for San Diego and the morse code signal. "Communication Officer Lieutenant Sunderstrom" is given protective gear and is sent ashore to find the signal and who's sending it.
What "Sunderstrom" finds is an empty Coke bottle hanging by a string from a window shade over the telegraph key. He cuts it off and returns to the "Sawfish".
Now back in Australia, "Dwight Towers", and "Moria Davidson", join "Julian Osborn" at the race track and watch him win the race.
As the cloud comes closer, religious fever starts to take hold.
At the climax, "Julian" seals his garage, gets into his race car, and turns the engine on. "Lieutenant Holmes" gives his wife and baby a pill that will let them die in peace and not face radiation poisoning and takes one himself. The crew of the "Sawfish" wants to go back the the United States to die and "Moria" watches it sail out to sea.
Next, producer Stanley Kramer shows the audience a deserted Sydney, Australia.....
.... and the movie fades to black.
It was time for the "House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)" to also "Fade to Black". Ending the "Blacklisting" and the "Salem With Hunt's and Trials" of the "American Motion Picture Industry".
The event was two-fold, as a result of two major powers, or men, within the "Motion Picture Industry" taking action.
On January 27, 1959, filming began on a major "Hollywood Production". The "Executive Producer" was also the "Movie's Star", Kirk Douglas. Ignoring the "Hollywood Black Lists", and wanting the best screenplay writer for his epic motion entitled, "Spartacus". Douglas hired "Member of the Hollywood Ten, Dalton Trumbo" and GAVE HIM FULL ON-SCREEN WRITING CREDIT.
Douglas's action was immediately followed by "Producer" and "Director", Stanley Kramer. Who hired, with FULL ON-SCREEN CREDIT, Douglas Trumbo, for Kramer's motion picture version of the World Wide Bestselling novel, "EXODUS", by Leon Uris.
From "The Harvard Crimson", February 24, 1969, "By Any Other Name", by Thomas Geoghegan, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1969/2/24/by-any-other-name-pthe-house/
Opens with:
THE HOUSE Un-American Activities Committee has lost its good name. A bill to rechristen it "House Committee on Internal Security" passed the House last week 305 to 79, but only after a motion to abolish the old name weathered a 262 to 123 vote. Richard Ichord (D-Mo.), the new chairman of HUAC (or HISC), had little reason to expect such heavy opposition from the liberals. The "un-American" in HUAC's old name had been a fighting word to them, - - - -
