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HUAC / HOLLYWOOD 10. Wyatt Cree. HUAC – The Basics. House Un-American Activities Committee Established in 1938 Investigate potential threats to US politics, society, gov’t Communists. HUAC Tactics. Criticized for abusing powers
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HUAC / HOLLYWOOD 10 Wyatt Cree
HUAC – The Basics • House Un-American Activities Committee • Established in 1938 • Investigate potential threats to US politics, society, gov’t • Communists
HUAC Tactics • Criticized for abusing powers • Went against the “New Deal” established during Roosevelt’s administration • Subpoena power – bring suspicious individuals before Congress • Usually suspected of being a part of Communist Party • Try to force information and learn other people to convict
HUAC Tactics cont. • Those who withheld info (“plead the fifth”) were identified as “red” witnesses • They were then blacklisted from their jobs • Citizens felt attacked for their beliefs and restriction of freedom of speech
HUAC Investigate Motion Picture Industry - 1947 • Reasoning • Prevent spread of communism to movie-goers • Prevent negative opinion of US internationally • “Mission to Moscow” -1943 • Pro-Russian film • Support Stalin’s purges • Attack US isolationism
Investigation cont • 41 people in industry interviewed • 19 suspected Communist Party members • Larry Parks • Admitted his membership • “I would prefer, if you would allow me, not to mention other people’s names. Don’t present me the choice of either being in contempt of this committee and going to jail or force me to really crawl through the mud to be and informer.” • 10 suspects refused to testify
Hollywood 10 • Alvah Bessie • Herbert Biberman • Lester Cole • Edward Dmytrk • Ring Lardner Jr. • John Howard Lawson • Albert Maltz • Sam Ornitz • Robert Adrian Schott • Dalton Trumbo All blacklisted from the Hollywood film industry.
Hollywood 10 cont. • “Red Channels” • Pamphlet by former FBI agents that blacklisted another 151 workers • The workers eventually persuade HUAC to revoke the charges
Hollywood 10 – Edward Dmytrk • April 1951 • Financial struggles • Confront HUAC • Listed 26 left wing group members • Named 3 other Hollywood 10 members as the true reason why Communist ideas were placed in his movies
Hollywood 10 – Dalton Trumbo • 1960 • Recognized for screenplay of “Spartacus” • First time a blacklisted screenwriter didn’t have to use a pen name • Film mirrored Hollywood 10’s struggle with HUAC • Loyalty to each other
In Conclusion • HUAC – fulfilled duties, but ultimately stretched their powers • Hollywood 10 – promoted freedom of speech and fifth amendment in protest of HUAC • suspected to be members of Communist Party Clip showing the Hollywood 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3MlaFIzCw8