In the wake of World War II, the looming threat of a nuclear conflict with the Soviet Union instilled a deep sense of apprehension across the United States. This fear led various institutions to reinforce their commitment to what they considered critical American values.
In Hollywood, this movement gained traction in 1944 with the emergence of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals (MPA). This organization ensured that any entertainer involved in screenwriting, directing, or acting faced immediate ostracization from the industry if they were suspected of communist ties.
The MPA’s actions, driven by the perceived necessity to preserve American cinema amid an ideological struggle with the Soviet Union, were very powerful at the time. Many writers, directors, filmmakers, and actors were blacklisted from working in Hollywood, often waiting years, if ever, to work again. Here are ten shocking and lesser-known stories from that unfortunate era of American cinema.
10. Depression-Era Wage Wars Set the Stage
Amid the Great Depression, the American Federation of Actors was established in 1933. It was later expanded to include technicians in the film industry through the Screen Guild, becoming the Screen Actors Guild we know today. Some of these organizations were founded by members affiliated with the American Communist Party, who primarily sought fair wages and improved working conditions.
Screenwriters and directors demonstrated solidarity with other industry professionals while picketing for their own labor rights in the late 1930s. Unfortunately, their association with communist ideology led many to be targeted and blacklisted.
Present-day labor movements in Hollywood owe much of their success to these early efforts. However, this pioneering fight for fair pay set the stage for a difficult era, as studios fought back with blacklists, leaving screenwriters and filmmakers relatively powerless.
9. The Tale of the Hollywood Ten
The Hollywood Ten were screenwriters accused of sympathizing with the Communist Party. In November 1947, they were summoned before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and faced tough questions.
The writers were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Denying communist ties led to more probing questions, while admitting association meant relentless pressure to reveal other party members. The HUAC insisted that all suspected communists admit their involvement and betray their friends.
The Hollywood Ten, including famed writer Dalton Trumbo, chose not to respond, invoking their Fifth Amendment rights. Despite not committing any crimes and having the freedom of expression under the First Amendment, they were imprisoned for contempt of court and barred from working in Hollywood.
Years later, many, including Trumbo, secretly continued writing under fake names or ghostwriting for friends.
8. Beware of Hedda Hopper
Hedda Hopper, a former actress turned gossip columnist for the Los Angeles Times, wielded significant influence in Hollywood. With strong conservative views, she targeted actors and filmmakers suspected of being communists, instilling fear through her print, radio, and TV platforms.
Hopper claimed her crusade against the “Red Menace” was driven by loyalty to America, but she ruined countless reputations by labeling individuals as “Communist,” gay, or simply “immoral.” Her targets suffered relentless humiliation, with some tragically taking their own lives.
When confronted about her cruelty, Hopper responded, “Bitchery, dear. Sheer bitchery.” Her persona has been depicted in films like RKO 291 and Trumbo, and she inspired characters in Hail Caesar! and the series Feud: Bette and Joan.
7. Don’t Diss the Company… Ever!
In the 1936 film The President’s Mystery, a wealthy factory owner closes his factory to save money, leading to layoffs. The film, written by Lester Cole (later one of the Hollywood Ten), depicted business owners negatively, raising concerns among business moguls and American leaders.
During the 1940s and 1950s, depicting corporations as “the bad guys” or showing unhappy workers was deemed un-American and punishable by blacklisting. Loyalty to one’s employer was expected.
This mindset shaped the concept of “The American Dream,” where finding a job, being loyal, and working until retirement were the ideal paths to success. Over time, exposing corporate corruption became more acceptable, with films like The Big Short shedding light on financial system realities. But back then, old films could only show happy workers—or risk being banned!
6. The Fight against Feminism
In the Soviet Union, mid-century films often showcased courageous women, such as Tatyana Samoylova in The Cranes Are Flying. While the 1940s saw some feminist movies in Hollywood, they faded after World War II, as politicians wanted women back as full-time housewives.
The idea of women working conflicted with the traditional American way of life, further fueled by Soviet films that depicted women balancing work and raising children, which was treated as communist propaganda.
In 1951, the film I Can Get It for You Wholesale, about a woman pursuing a career as a fashion designer, was banned for being “un-American,” despite its pro-capitalism messages. The writer and director, Abraham Polonsky, was blacklisted, leading writers to avoid feminist themes for fear of being labeled as communist sympathizers. Throughout the 1950s, the stay-at-home mom dominated cinematic depictions of women.
5. Disney Backed the MPA… Sort Of
During World War II, Walt Disney created films for the U.S. Government opposing Nazi fascism and became Vice President of the Motion Picture Alliance (MPA). The MPA aimed to uncover fascists and communists in the movie industry, believing the battle against Nazism was not yet won.
As the biggest provider of wholesome American entertainment, Disney wanted to assist in identifying negative content in Hollywood. However, he did not publicly participate in the persecution of communists and frequently clashed with MPA President Sam Wood. Disney believed some communist ideas influenced the younger generation but did not target specific individuals, mostly staying on the sidelines as the blacklist era ramped up.
4. John Wayne Took a Hardline Stance
John Wayne disagreed with the 1952 film High Noon, finding its depiction of a corrupt sheriff disrespected by townspeople un-American and pro-communist. Wayne never changed, going all the way to his death in 1979 believing that. Throughout his life, he criticized what he perceived as un-American filmmaking and railed against communism and “radical liberals.”
Screenwriter Carl Foreman created the film as an allegory to shed light on the McCarthy-era witch hunts. Although Foreman won an Oscar for his exceptional work, his past involvement in the Communist Party led to long-term troubles. He refused to reveal the names of other communists when questioned by the HUAC, resulting in his blacklisting and forcing him to work as a ghostwriter for years.
3. Ronald Reagan Turns Tail
Before becoming President, Ronald Reagan played an important role in the Screen Actors Guild. In 1946, he believed communists were undermining the American way of life after witnessing a public commotion by a union seeking enhanced worker protections.
In 1947, Reagan reportedly became an FBI informant, providing names of communists in the film industry. His dedication to fighting against communism led to the end of his first marriage to Jane Wyman.
Reagan even removed Nancy Davis’s name from the list, beginning a relationship that would eventually lead to marriage and her becoming Nancy Reagan. These experiences ignited Reagan’s interest in politics, leading him to become the Governor of California and later the President of the United States.
2. Furious Filmmakers Fight Back
Years after the Hollywood Ten faced persecution, stars like Lucille Ball, Lauren Bacall, Judy Garland, and Humphrey Bogart formed the Committee for the First Amendment to stand up for their rights. While not communists themselves, they witnessed the corruption and disregard for constitutional rights.
However, those who advocated for Hollywood communists soon became targets. In 1948, Humphrey Bogart penned an article titled “I’m No Communist” to clarify his involvement, but he still faced accusations, menacing letters, and public harassment.
The relentless pressure led many actors to yield, but the Committee for the First Amendment persisted. More Hollywood stars became incensed at Bogart’s treatment and began to support free speech. The end of Hollywood’s most shameful eras was certainly in the air.
1. Blacklist Fever Finally Breaks
Ghostwriting became a lifeline for blacklisted screenwriters, including Dalton Trumbo, who secretly wrote the hugely popular film Roman Holiday but remained uncredited. King Brothers Productions offered Trumbo lower-paying work on B-movies, where he triumphed with The Brave One in 1957 under the pseudonym “Robert Rich.”
In 1960, Kirk Douglas insisted that Trumbo receive proper credit for the screenplay of Spartacus, finally gracing the screen with Trumbo’s real name. The film Trumbo, released in 2015, showcased his remarkable life journey to a new generation.
Despite the symbolic victory of Spartacus, the official end of the Blacklist era wasn’t quite here yet. The House Un-American Activities Committee continued its existence for more than a decade. Then, in 1975, it was disbanded, finally bringing down the curtain on the era’s dark shame.
Leave your comment below and share your thoughts on these untold stories!
