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COMMUNISM IN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY 145
time. There are only 52 weeks in the year. If we lose 1 week out of the 52 we have lost one-fil'ty-secoiid of the revenue and we can never recover it.
Mr. Nixon. As a matter of fact, Mr. McGuiness, if tliose tactics — the stench bomb, the pickets, and tlie usual tactics which ai'e used by the Communists when they don't like what is going on in the theater, or in any kind of a building — were used, Avouldn't that be the finest advertising that a motion picture could get and wouldn't that probably make the picture from the standpoint of public acceptance?
Mr. McGuiNNEss. I personally believe it would. I think it would be embarrassing to the manager of the theater concerned and create a local problem, but I think nationally the American people would rally to the support of a picture that was attacked for the expiession of a viewpoint that I think is the viewpoint of the Nation today.
Mr. Nixon. In other words, a picture telling the truth about totalitarian communism, setting forth the facts — and such a picture, we assume, would be an anti-Connnunist picture. But a picture doing that would be a really good business gamble from the standpoint of the industry, in j-our opinion?
Mr. McGuiNNESs. I think it would be a good business gamble, and I think it is a necessary moral obligation.
The Chairman. Well, has the industry the will to make anti-Communist pictures ?
Mr. McGuiNNEss. I think the industry is acquiring it.
Mr. Chairman, our connnunity, Hollywood, the motion-picture community, offered refuge to many vocal, articulate people who escaped from the lash of Hitler. They were artists, actors, musicians, writers. They were accustomed to expressing themselves, and they brought home very forcibly to Hollywood the dangers of the Fascist and Nazi regime. I could only wish that a small proportion of the same people who have suffered under Stalin could come out from behind the iron curtain and reach Hollywood and spread their message there, too. I think it would be very helpful.
The Chairman. Mr. McGuinness, will these public hearings aid the industry in giving it the will to make these pictures?
Mr. McGuinness. It is my opinion that they will.
The Chairman. Any other member have any questions at this point ?
Mr. Vail. No questions.
The Chairman. Proceed, Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith. Is MGM making any
The Chairman. Just a minute.
Mr. Wood?
Mr. Wood. Is counsel through ?
The Chairman. No.
Mr. S.MiTH. No
Mr. Wood. Well. I will wait until counsel is thi'ough.
Mr. Smith. Is MGM making any anti-Communist pictures at this time, to your knowledge ?
Mr. McGuinness. We are making a picture, the original title of which was The Red Danube. It is a novel by Bruce INIarshall, a Scotchman, and a very excellent writer. I believe that the novel was released by the Book of the Month Club, with the changed title Ves|)ers in Vienna. I do not know at this time what title we will use on the pic