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Hollywood Reporter: People who were blacklisted fled the country, worked under pseudonyms, or didn't work at all until Kirk Douglas took a stand and helped break the Blacklist with "Spartacus."
I must say the only name I was familiar with here was Kirk Douglas, but even then it was very interesting to read about how most of these people, despite their conditions, continued to work and write. They were so passionate about what they were doing that they refused to let something as ominous as the HUAC was in the 1950's stop them from doing their work. I had known about blacklisted Hollywood stars before, but was unaware that the threats against them were so grave they fled to to other countries. I also find it touching that stars who were in the same boat in a different time, so far from today, are able to find each now and find comfort in the fact they they both made it through. I t makes you wonder if people of the entertainment industry will ever face problems of this caliber again.
Kirk Douglas has always been a huge supporter of breaking down the limits of censorship and government in the arts. There are so many wonderful stories about artists who were blacklisted or brought into and tried by the House on Un-American Activities. Artists are naturally inclined to work on pieces when will create change. Anything during WWII and the red scare that followed that pressed boundaries could have ben cause for blacklisting. Many of the FBI files on these people are available (I have read Lillian Hellman's) but they are difficult to read since they are all so censored before being released that it is often not worth finding people who were blacklisted and why. I applaud Douglas for seeking these people and bringing them back to work. Along with his newest book release ("I Am Spartacus! Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist!”), he was referred to as the 50 million dollar man and he continues his support. While he is 95, it looks like he will be around for a while t become the 100 million dollar man.
2 comments:
I must say the only name I was familiar with here was Kirk Douglas, but even then it was very interesting to read about how most of these people, despite their conditions, continued to work and write. They were so passionate about what they were doing that they refused to let something as ominous as the HUAC was in the 1950's stop them from doing their work. I had known about blacklisted Hollywood stars before, but was unaware that the threats against them were so grave they fled to to other countries. I also find it touching that stars who were in the same boat in a different time, so far from today, are able to find each now and find comfort in the fact they they both made it through. I t makes you wonder if people of the entertainment industry will ever face problems of this caliber again.
Kirk Douglas has always been a huge supporter of breaking down the limits of censorship and government in the arts. There are so many wonderful stories about artists who were blacklisted or brought into and tried by the House on Un-American Activities. Artists are naturally inclined to work on pieces when will create change. Anything during WWII and the red scare that followed that pressed boundaries could have ben cause for blacklisting. Many of the FBI files on these people are available (I have read Lillian Hellman's) but they are difficult to read since they are all so censored before being released that it is often not worth finding people who were blacklisted and why. I applaud Douglas for seeking these people and bringing them back to work. Along with his newest book release ("I Am Spartacus! Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist!”), he was referred to as the 50 million dollar man and he continues his support. While he is 95, it looks like he will be around for a while t become the 100 million dollar man.
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