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COMMUNISM IN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY 81
I won't go on with Mr. Taylor's testimony at this point, Mr. Chairman, because he is to appear and testify himself, but I want to point out that INIr. Taylor, who j)laye(l the leading role in this picture, considered the picture to be Communist propaganda. I saw it myself. 1 personally tliink it was Communist ])ropaganda.
I would like to present a qualified reviewer and get their opinion of it, but before doing so I would like to refer to a letter which Mr. Lowell JNIellett wrote as Chief of the Motion Picture Division, Office ■of War Information. This letter appeared in the Washington Star of Sunday, October 19, addressed to Capt. Leland P. Lovette, Director of Public Relations, Navy Department.
My De.\r Captain Lovette: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have asked for a delay in the induction of Robert Taylor as a naval aviation cadet to permit the completion of a picture now under production, with Taylor as the star. Much of the picture already has been shot, but there remains several weeks' further shooting. This picture lias Russia for its scene and the Office of War Information believes that, based <m the script which we have read, it will serve a useful purpose in the war effort. It has no political implications, being designed primarily to acquaint the American people with the people of one of our Allied Nations. Yours sincerely,
LOWPXL MELI^rrT.
Now, Mr. Mayer, you stated that you recently viewed the picture.
Mr. Mayp:r. Yes, sir.
Mr. Striplixc}. Is it your opinion that there were no political implications in it whatsoever?
Mr. Mayer. I am convinced of that. I am under oath, and if I met my God I would still repeat the same thing.
I have here i-eviews of the picture from the New York Times, the NeAv York Post, the London Daily Sketch, the Washington Post, and the New York Herald Tribune. There is only two lines or so in each one. The New York Times said :
It is really a honey of a topical musical tilni, full of rare good humor, rich vitality, and a proper respect for the Russians' tigiit in the war.
The New York Post says :
* * * a pretty little romance with a made-iri-America back-drop of Russia * * * cozy, clean, luxuriousl.v musical film * *.
The London Daily Sketch says:
* * * turned out to be strictly an American anthem.
The Washington Post said :
It is one film about Russia which will probably be little assailed as propaganda * * *
The New York Herald Tribiuie said :
Russia it.self has all too little to do with Song of Russia.
Here is that.
Mr. Stripling. Mr. Mayer, I would like for you to stand aside for a moment. I would like to call as the next witness Miss Ayn Rand.
The Chairman. And, Mr. Mayer, thank you verj^ much. We will probably call you back, though, a little later, or tomorrow morning.
Mr. Mayer. Shall I stay over?
The Chairman. You better stay for a little while. We will let vou know.