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I Was A Communist For The FBI

Submitted by Roanman on Fri, 06/08/2018 - 07:42

 

On this day in history, 1949 ... ok, ok, yesterday actually, The FBI decided that Frederic March, John Garfield, Paul Muni, Paul Robson and Edward G. Robinson ... among others, were all members of the American Communist Party. 

To quote Edward G. Robinson on the matter.

The FBI report relied largely on accusations made by “confidential informants".

Both Walt Disney and Ronald Reagan testified before the infamous House Un-American Activities Committee and identified colleagues within the entertainment industry as "communists'.

Congress would later cite 10 Hollywood writers and directors for contempt for refusing to divulge their political sympathies or name others who might be communists. The “Hollywood Ten,” as they came to be known, were later convicted and sent to prison for varying terms. 

Eventually, more than 300 artists were blacklisted by the studios including Charlie Chaplain, who had openly supported the Soviet Union during WWII.

Chaplain chose to return to England to work and subsequently had his re-entry permit revoked by US Attonrney General, James McGranary.

He never returned to this country.

Dalton Trumbo, proud member of the Hollywood Ten, admitted member of the Communist Party and passionate anti-war activist was later quoted as follows,

In an effort to give you a feel for the tone of the times, click the image below for one of my all time favorite movies,

I Was A Communist For The FBI.

Starring the extraordinarily hardboiled Frank Lovejoy as Pittsburgh steel worker, Matt Cvetic in this billed as true story.

Or click on the image below for the subsequant radio program with the same title starring Dana Andrews that ran during the early 50's at the height of McCarthyism, and the second "Red Scare".

The more things change ...

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