Imagine being fired and sent to prison for something you DIDN'T say. . .

[Journeyman]

The Hollywood Ten (1947)



The Ten chose to remain silent before the House Unamerican Activities Committee, citing their First Amendment right to remain silent and not answer questions about potential Communist Party affiliations.

"If freedom of speech means anything," Dalton Trumbo stated, "it must encompass the right to remain silent, and to keep to himself those ideas and associations which a person does not wish to share with their neighbor."

The Committee found them guilty of contempt of congress and sentenced them all to one year in prison. Pressure from various "patriotic" groups nationwide brought about an unofficial -- but quite absolute -- blacklist of the Ten as well as hundreds of others within the film industry (writers, actors, directors & producers). The tragedy lasted some 13 years, until the decision by Kirk Douglas to give writers credit to Dalton Trumbo for Spartacus (1960). President John F. Kennedy crossed picket lines to see the film, helping to end the blacklist.


There have been real tragedies in this nation, and some are happening even in this day. None at present involve anyone who makes his living pretending he seduces ducks. There, it's just a swamp variety bigot . . . nothing to get agitated over.

[GReedDiamond]

1. KnR...nt

[Archaic]

2. Tangentially related

Every single time I watch "The Producers" with my dad, he tells me about how Zero Mostel was blacklisted.

That movie is over 40 years old, the black listing was before that. But it obviously deeply affected my dad. And me, since I heard it the first time.

Good post.

[MrScorpio]

3. I treasure my DVD of Spartacus.

The liner notes detail the importance of Dalton Trumbo's contribution.

[2banon]

4. I was born in 50, a kid throughout these times..

didn't know the backstory on Spartacus, and I didn't know Douglas was righteous.. I thought he was sort of like, more or less in Reagan's camp. Thanks for posting this, and I really appreciate the commentary in reference to the duck thingy.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Recommended. (nt)