Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

The Industry Must Answer Its Abusers Boldly WHEELER'S CLIQUE VS. A PATRIOTIC INDUSTRY! The realm of national politics is not the province of this publication. But, when politicians set in motion a witch hunt directed against the motion picture industry, that is definitely our business. The isolationist clique in the United States Senate, led by Senators Burt Wheeler and Gerald Nye, who speak words that must afford great comfort to Adolph Hitler, have lately been directing some of their choice barbs against the film producers. The charge they make is, in effect, that the Hollywood studios are producing motion pictures designed to offend Hitler and to inspire a more militant spirit in the American people. "Warmongering" is the favorite term employed by Wheeler and Nye to describe the activities of those who speak out against the enormous evils of Naziism and who advocate all-out national defense against the threat of the world's No. I Aggressor. So the motion picture industry has been labeled "warmonger," because it has dared depict on film some tales of the horrors perpetrated against mankind by the fuehrer of the "new order" — the order that openly and violently condemns to obliteration the American system of Democracy which Wheeler and Nye have sworn to serve. Are these anti-Nazi films mere figments of imagination engendered in the minds of the Hollywood "warmongers" — or, are they fundamentally factual stories about Hitlerism as it is practised? If the senators read their daily newspapers, they know damn well that reliable and respected reporters have brought out of Germany and the occupied countries actual stories that make the anti-Nazi pictures seem like pleasant fairy tales. Placed beside the news stories we've read, it is easy to see that the movies have been exceedingly kind to Naziism. No injustice by the American film studios has been done der fuehrer's rape of a continent. Is it in the field of propaganda for national defense, then, that the film producers stand condemned of warmongering. That seems hardly the case. The men who are charged with the conduct of the armed forces of our nation, from the Commanderin-Chief down, have apparently cooperated extensively with the movie studios in the production of films to that end. Hollywood has assumed willingly a heavy share of the burden of building the morale of the military and of the populace. It Is only normal that the far-reaching and effective medium of motion pictures should be enlisted for that purpose. Any isolationist who is not playing politics with our national defense knows that and should appreciate it. A Senate committee packed with isolationists is going to put the film industry "on trial" starting September 3rd. Four Wheelerites have been named on the committee of five to air the charge that Hollywood disseminates warmongering propaganda. From all appearances, the boys plan to have a field day against the film producers. Perhaps there will be sly hints that the movie men have personal motives, that they seek only to restore the European market for their pictures. Clever propagandists like the Wheeler clique know all the tricks and they have made their isolationism so much a personal cause as to go the limit for its furtherance. We hope someone will ask the committee how they would treat film subjects dealing with the international situation. Would they maintain the position that there is no difference between what Germany and England are fighting for? Would they recommend that a pro-Nazi picture be made for every anti-Nazi one? Shall the movies depict Adolph Hitler as the liberator of Europe? Shall they advocate a sit-down on national defense because Hitler is really a man of peace? We hope, too, that the first film executive to be questioned asks the right to read this quotation from President Roosevelt's message to Congress on the declaration of principles he recently arrived at with Churchill: "It is so clear cut that it is difficult to oppose in any major particular without automatically admitting a willingness to accept compromise with Naziism." Stand up to them, film men! Yours is the righteous cause this time. It's the cause of our elected Government. The cause of bishops and writers and philosophers and scientists and business men. It's the cause of the overwhelming majority of the American people. You are rendering patriotic service to your country, faithfully and quite fully. In these recent trying years you have done far more to build faith in Democracy and American institutions than all the ostrich isolationists can tear down in twice as many years. Let there be no flinching before the packed committee. Answer their questions straight and honestly and fervently — and WE PREDICT THAT WHEELER'S PROPAGANDA BOMBSHELL WILL BURST IN HIS OWN COMMITTEE'S FACE! MO WAX AUGUST 23, 1941 9