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94 COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Tavexxer. My answer to that, Mr. Walter, is that although there is information relating to some of these individuals as to whom I had expected to interrogate this witness, some of them have evaded service of process, so that we cannot bring them here. That is one point. Another is that this committee ought to be entitled to receive proof of information which it has in its files as a result of its previous inves- tigations relating to a matter of this kind. There would be no way to really investigate Communist infiltration into labor without asking who are Communists in labor. And the same thing is true here in Hollywood. Those are the reasons I think it is material. Mr. Walter. But isn't it far more important to learn the extent of the activity and what the purpose of the organization actually was than to get a long list of names of bleeding hearts and fools, suckers, hard-boiled Communist politicians? I don't know as it makes too much difference. As long as we have a witness willing and anxious to cooperate in carrying out what I conceive to be our purpose, I think the rest is all immaterial. Mr. Tavexxer. As to the other information Mr. Velde. Will the gentleman yield? Mr. Tavexxer. May I make one statement? Mr. Velde. Yes. Mr. Tavexxer. As to the other information, as to the purposes and objects of the various organizations, that was the subject of the testi- mony of about 20 witnesses or more here. I have referred to those organizations, as organizations as to which there has been consider- able evidence before your committee. Mr. Walter. May I ask this witness a question, Mr. Chairman, at this point ? Mr. Wood. Yes. Mr. Walter. Mr. Walter. Were you instructed to attempt to influence the think- ing of the American people through various exhibitions on the stage or on the screen ? Was that the purpose of your organization ? Mr. Parks. I was never instructed at any time to do this, and I think that if you are a follower of the motion-picture industry—that is, if you go to the movies is what I mean—if you are familiar with it, I think that it is almost evident that this was not done in pictures. Mr. Walter. Well, was it talked about? Was it the purpose of the Communist organization to attempt to set up a hard core in Hollywood that would slant pictures and performances so as to influence the thinking of the American people ? Mr. Parks. Not to my knowledge, Mr. Congressman, at all. As I say, I was with a small group of actors. But as a person who is close to the industry, I think that this is almost an impossibility. If you are familiar—you probably aren't—with the making of pictures, first of all it's impossible I feel, as an actor, to do this as an actor. I was never asked to do it. It was never discussed. And I think it is im- possible. A script that is written is the important thing about making a pic- ture. You can only make a stinker if you have a poor script. Mr. Wood. On that point, wouldn't it be true that the writer of that script is in a position to very decidedly slant