Communist infiltration of Hollywood motion-picture industry : hearing before the Committee on Un-American activities, House of Representatives, Eighty-second Congress, first session (1951)

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COMMUNISM IX MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 89 and I feel that I—have done nothing wrong ever. I mean along: this line. I am sure none of us is perfect. Again, the question of judgment certainly is there, and even that is debatable. But these are peo- ple Mr. Wood. Just a moment. At that point, do you entertain the feeling that these other parties that you were associated with are like- wise guiltless of any wrong? Mr. Parks. The people at that time as I knew them—this is my opinion of them. This is my honest opinion: That these are people who did nothing wrong, people like myself. Mr. Wood. Mr. Parks, in what way do you feel it would be in- jurious, then, to them to divulge their identities, when you expressed the opinion that at no time did they do wrong? Mr. Parks. This brings up many questions on a personal basis, Mr. Congressman, as an actor. If you think it's easy for a man who has—I think I have worked hard in my profession, climbed up the ladder a bit. If you think it's easy for me to appear before this com- mittee and testif} 7 , you're mistaken, because it's not easy. This is a very difficult and arduous job for me for many reasons. One of the reasons is that as an actor my activity is dependent a great deal on the public. To be called before this committee at your request has a certain inference, a certain innuendo that you are not loyal to this country. This is not true. I am speaking for myself. This is not true. But the inference and the innuendo is there as far as the public is concerned. Also as a representative of a great industry—not as an official rep- resentative; I don't mean it that way—but as an actor of the motion- picture industry that is fairly well known, in that respect I am a representative of the industry. This is a great industry. At this particular time it is being investigated for Communist influence. Mr. Wood. Don't you think the public is entitled to know about it? Mr. Parks. Hmm? Mr. Wood. Don't you feel the public is entitled to know about it? Mr. Parks. I certainly do, and I am opening myself wide open to you to any question that you can ask me. I will answer as honestly as I know how. And at this particular time, as I say, the industry is—it's like taking a pot shot at a wounded animal, because the in- dustry is not in as good a shape today as it has been, economically I'm speaking. It has been pretty tough on it. And, as I say, this is a great industry, and I don't say this only because it has been kind to me. It has a very important job to do to entertain people, in certain respects to call attention to certain evils, but mainly to entertain, and in this I feel that they have done a great job. Always when our country has needed certain help, the industry has been in the forefront of that help. Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Chairman, may I make an observation? Mr. Wood. Yes. Mr. Tavenner. You are placing your reluctance to testify upon the great job that the moving-picture industry is doing or can do ? Mr. Parks. Excuse me.^Mr. Counsel. I really hadn't finished, and that was just part of it. If you'd let me finish, then—Is that all right? Mr. Tavenner. Very well.