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COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 373 gated and wanted to hear. I wanted to see what these people had to say, and about 1946 I did one play for the Actors' Lab, and after that particular play I left the Actors' Lab and had nothing to do with any activity of the lab or any activity in the Communist Party. Mr. Tavenner. What was the title of the play ? Mr. Lawrence. The title of the play was "Volpone." Following that I never came near the Actors' Lab or the organization of the Com- munist Party. Mr. Tavenner. You say that was in 1946 ? Mr. Lawrence. About 1946,1 believe. Mr. Tavenner. Have you had any affiliation or connection of any kind with the Communist Party since that time ? Mr. Lawrence. No, sir; I never have. Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Lawrence, it is rather unusual to find a person who was connected with the Communist Party and who at the same time was not affiliated with what is known as the Communist-front organization. Were you ever requested to unite with a Communist-front organi- zation ? Mr. Lawrence. Yes; I was, but I refused to cooperate in this way. 1 felt that what I was interested in was in seeking and trying to find out, but I never tried to participate as a man who had to lend his name. I always refused to lend my name to such organizations. Mr. Tavenner. You indicate that your primary interest in uniting with the Communist Party was to investigate and find out what it was doing. What do you mean by that ? Mr. Lawrence. Well, I am a curious kind of "schmoe". I am the kind of a guy that listens to speeches. The guy comes over to me and says, "Listen. That sounds pretty good. Why don't you defend this idea?" And I got involved that way. I didn't defend the idea. I listened to the idea. I investigated the idea. I am not interested in the idea. I found that this is a very destructive thing. It has been to me. And I refused to participate in any way to destroy any of my present feelings about it. Mr. Tavenner. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Wood. Mr. Moulder ? Mr. Moulder. No questions. Mr. Lawrence. I would like to make a contribution here. I feel that having been a member of the Communist Party has been a great error in my life, a hideous error. I have never in my life voted the Com- munist ticket. I have been a registered Democrat, and I have always voted Democratic Party. My feeling about the Communist Party is that it is a very destructive one. I will not in any way as a patriot defend any of its interests. I feel that strongly about it. I do wish further to say that I will defend this country in case of war with Russia. I will defend it with my life. Mr. Tavenner. I have no further questions. Mr. Wood. Mr. Moulder? Mr. Moulder. No questions. Mr. Wood. Mr. Frazier ? Mr. Frazier. No questions. Mr. Wood. Mr, Velde?