FBI Memo Shows They Considered "Its a Wonderful Life" to be Communist Propaganda

[JPZenger]

http://www.wisebread.com/fbi-considered-its-a-wonderful-life-communist-propaganda

The end of the link includes the text of the actual FBI memo from 1947. The movie did poorly commercially when it first came out.

Excerpt from the link:

"I love It's a Wonderful Life because it teaches us that family, friendship, and virtue are the true definitions of wealth. In 1947, however, the FBI considered this anti-consumerist message as subversive Communist propaganda (read original FBI memo).

According to Professor John Noakes of Franklin and Marshall College, the FBI thought Life smeared American values such as wealth and free enterprise while glorifying anti-American values such as the triumph of the common man.

The FBI specifically detested the way Mr. Potter was portrayed:

'The casting of Lionel Barrymore as a "scrooge-type" resulted in the loathsome Mr. Potter becoming the most hated person in the film. According to the official FBI report, "this was a common trick used by the communists.' "

[kentauros]

1. I would say that the FBI back then was the equivalent of the DEA today.

Both suffering from mind-numbing tunnel-vision.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. or DHS....

except there's no light at the end of the DHS tunnel.

[kentauros]

4. Maybe with no light at the end of their tunnel means

their eventual demise ;)

[old mark]

2. I'm sure this came from Hoover himself. Anyone left of Eisenhower was suspect,

in fact even Ike was called a leftist at one time.

People also thought fluoride in drinking water was communist inspired, a device leading to mind control by the commies...

We haven't come very far, have we?

mark

[kentauros]

6. "Purity of essence."

:P

[old mark]

7. Absolutely, but they were really up in arms about it - the teabaggers of the early '60's. nt

[jmowreader]

8. "Mandrake, have you never wondered why I only drink rain water?"

And now, in some jurisdictions, rain water is considered city property and you're fined for collecting it. Jack would be screwed.

[kentauros]

10. Wow! I've never heard of rainwater being considered "city property".

Do they do the same thing with the air? :eyes:
I wouldn't think such a thing would withstand a decent legal challenge.

My parents have a rainwater collection system on their house. Then again, they live out west of Austin, in the country, where it's really encouraged to do just that.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. And I'm sure that, like Cal Thomas did this weekend, they thought the Gospels to be communist, too

[Enrique]

9. Hoover had a warped sense of what is American

and unamerican.

It's funny in the memo where agent "redacted" is talking about how he would have made the movie. :rofl: