Hearings regarding the communist infiltration of the motion picture industry. Hearings before the Committee on Un-American Activities, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first session. Public law 601 (section 121, subsection Q (1947)

Record Details:

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HEARINGS REGARDINrT THE COMMUNIST INFILTEATION OF THE MOTION-PICTUEE-INDUSTHY ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1947 House of Representati\'es, Committee on Un-American Activities, Washington^ D. C. The committee met at 10 : 30 ca. m., Hon. J. Parnell Thomas (chairman) presiding. The Chairman. The meeting will come to order. The record will show that the following members are present: Mr. McDowell, Mr. Vail, Mr. Nixon, Mr. Thomas. A subcommittee is sitting. Staff members present : Mr. Robert E. Stripling, chief investigator; Messrs. Louis J. Russell, Robert B. Gaston, H. A. Smith, and A. B. Leckie, investigators; and Mr. Benjamin Mandel, director of research. Before this hearing get under way, I would like to call attention to some of the basic principles by which the Committee on Un-American Activities is being guided in its investigation into alleged subversive influence in America's motion-picture industry. The committee is well aware of the magnitude of the subject which it is investigating. The motion-picture business represents an investment of billions of dollars. It represents employment for thousands of workers, ranging from unskilled laborers to high-salaried actors and executives. And even more important, the motion-picture industry represents wdiat is probably the largest single vehicle of entertainment for the American public — over 85,000,000 persons attend the movies each week. However, it is the very magnitude of the scope of the motion-picture industry which makes this investigation so necessary. We all recognize, certainl}'-, the tremendous effect which moving pictures have on their mass audiences, far removed from the Hollywood sets. We all recognize that what the citizen sees and hears in his neighborhood movie house carries a pow^erful impact on his thoughts and behavior. With such vast influence over the lives of American citizens as the motion-picture industry exerts, it is not unnatural — in fact, it is very logical — that subversive and undemocratic forces should attempt to use this medium for un-American purposes. I want to emphasize at the outset of these hearings that the fact that the Committee on Un-American Activities is investigating alleged Communist influence and infiltration in the motion-picture industry must not be considered or interpreted as an attack on the majority of persons associated with this great industry. I have every confidence that the vast majority of movie workers are patriotic and loyal Americans. 1