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)

18 COMMUNISM IN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY I would call it the sort of an organization where we handle mutual affairs as to business in general, civic matters, and things of that nature that happen in Los Angeles and in the industry in general. Mr. Vail. Does the association comprise all the important producers ? Mr. Warner. It comprises all types of producers. Mr. Vail. Is it all-inclusive? Does it include all the producers? Mr. Warner. No; it does not. There is another association that is headed by Donald Nelson, the Society of Independent American Motion Picture Producers; I think that is the title, which has many more members. Mr. Vail. Wouldn't such an association provide a splendid piece of machinery for distribution of information between producers as to the type of individuals that are employed by the industry and who are concerned with subversive activities? Mr. Warner. Of course, that has never been brought up in the association in any manner, shape, or form, by word or written form, to my knowledge. I am rather active in the association. Of course, I don't believe it would be legal in my opinion — speaking only personally— to have the association or any men band together to obstruct the employment of any other man. I don't believe the association would have anything whatsoever to do with that type of operation. I would not be a party to it and neither would any of the other men, from my knowledge of them. Mr. Vail. Since we recognize the fact that motion pictures represent a forceful vehicle for the distribution of subversive information it would seem to me that would be a very important bit of business for your association. In other words, the association has a very grave responsibility, it seems to me : To disseminate knowledge and information to the American people that will not distort the viewpoint of the people who see your pictures. So wouldn't that follow? Mr. Warner. That sounds rather logical, but it doesn't hold water. It doesn't happen, and I can't seehow it ever will happen unless there are the proper laws created by you gentlemen in order to make a thing like that legal, possible, active, and effectual. I wouldn't be a party with anyone in an association, especially where you would be liable for having a fellow's livelihood impaired: I wouldn't want to do that. Mr. Vail. Mr. Warner, would you be deeply concerned with the assurance of a livelihood to the individual who is endeavoring to destroy this form of government by force of arms, or violence? Mr. Warner. Would I personally? Mr. Vail. Or your association. Mr. Warner. I couldn't hear you ^ery well. Would you repeat that? Mr. Vail. Would you be deeply interested in providing a livelihood for the individual who was attempting by subversive methods to destroy this form of government? Mr. Warner. I cannot, at any time, during this hearing, speak for anyone but myself in my business capacity and as an American citizen. Therefore, as for myself, definitely I am against any type of man creating, not only in motion pictures, but in any other enterprise, anything that would endeavor in any form, shape, or manner to overthrow the democracv of the United States of America.