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 IN HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 3469 Mr. T avenner. Where was it that you met this individual ? Mr. Odets. That I don't remember, either. Mr. Tavknner. Well, as chairman of this committee, did you make a report to anyone on your return to the United States? Mr. Odets. Whoever this person was, the extent of my report I have told you. I was quite indignant about how routinely, how cut and dried the matter seemed. I was told that they knew in advance that it was going to be dangerous, and I made some statement about the very disgraceful conduct of one of the members of the delegation. I told you about that the last time. Mr. Kearney. Were you indignant about the actions of the Cuban police or the actions of the Communist Party for leading you into such a situation ? Mr. Odets. It was a 50-50 matter. I was indignant with the thing myself and indignant that a really, let my say, idealistic fight was not being made about this matter. I couldn't see it as a cut and dried matter, you do something and then you turn your back on it. Mr. Kearney. Your resentment was not directed against the Com- munist Party for, let us say, leading you into such a trap, but it was directed equally against the Cuban police and the Communist Party? Mr. Odets. Yes, sir. Mr. Wood. Did I understand you to say, Mr. Odets, that when you returned from that junket that you made a report to somebody that you don't now remember? Mr. Odets. There was someone I spoke to, and I would not say it was a formal report, because that would have been Mr. Wood. Mr. Odets, who procured you to go? Mr. Odets. I don't remember that. Mr. Wood. Who paid your expenses? Mr. Odets. I paid my own expenses. Mr. Wood. Did you get it back ? Mr. Odets. No, on this idealistic swing I wouldn't think of taking any expenses, I would pay my own. I am certain I paid my own expenses. Mr. Wood. You don't recall now who procured you to go? Mr. Odets. No. I know I was approached by someone and asked about it. I was anxious to get out of the country, I was anxious to take a trip. It was a beautiful trip on the water. My mother had just died 3 or 4 weeks before and I went. Mr. Wood. It seems so strange to me that you would make a trip of that significance at the behest of some individual, and come back from the trip after having that experience and make a report to that individual, and now you can't recall who it was. Mr. Odets. I would be glad to say so, if I did remember, but I don't. Mr. Frazier. Who were you supposed to contact when you reached Cuba? Mr. Odets. We had some letters to various college professors and students. There was a packet of letters, and when the police boarded the ship these letters were scuttled, they were torn up and thrown overboard. Mr. Frazier. Who were these letters from ? Mr. Odets. They would be from people in the United States, I don't know.