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)

COMMUNISM IN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY 505 Mr. Stku'Lixg. Mr. Chairiiiaii, there has ah'eady been phiced in the record Mr. Russell's participation in the present matter under inquiry by the connnittec, namely, the Communist infiltratior. into the motionpicture industry. Mr. Russell, during your investigation of the Hollywood movie industry did you conduct any research work which woidd reflect the interest of the Soviet Union in the Hollywood motion-picture intlustry ^ Mr. Russell. Yes. In the publication called "International Theater," which was publislied in Moscow, Russia, as the official publication of the International Union of the Revolutionary Theater, there is contained a great deal of information concerning the interests of the Communists not only in Moscow but of the Communist International in the motion pictures as a means of furthering the class struggle. Mr. Stripling. Mr. Chaii-man, in order to conserve time I ask that Mr. Russell refer to the numbers of these issues and the date rather than to read the entire article into the record. The CiLViRMAN. Without objection so ordered. Mr. Stripling. At this point, Mr. Chairman, I also ask unanimous consent of the committee to put into the record a speech which was delivered by V. J. Jerome in the summer of 1938 to the National Convention of the Communist Party on the Cultural Commission within the United States. The Chairman. Without objection so ordered. (The matter referred to is as follows:) liiyoKT ON THK NATIONAL ( 'ONVKNTION IN ReLVTION TO CULTUKAI, MOVEMENT (V. J. .Jerome) (Delivf^red personally, summer 1938) INTRODUCTORY REMARKS First reix)rt in the National Convention on Culture, an achievement. Hope that writers in the field will make demands on the editors of the Communist. SURVEY OF ACTIVITIES (From manuscript : ) Necessary to supplement leaflets and papers with cultural media which should be used by us. There is also the subjective factor — the winning: over of professionals to our party increases forces and modes of expression for our agitation and education through the medium of culture. Result: Beginnings of people's •culture fusing with the life of our movement in the form of films, plays, recitations, chalk talks, and the like. Our party should remember the use of these things in the campaign of 1937 — the use of schools, settlement houses, organized t-amera clubs, presenting actual scenes of the living conditions of the ])eople in the communities. The East Side Players of New York wrote and produced a play on housing, presented the play to indoor and outdoor audiences, helping to build the Tenant's League. These experiences should be assembled. The section •could regularly carry on such work. In the trae-unions this work is important. Plays such as Plant in the Sun, representing through the medium of drama the idea of solidarity, Negro rights, •etc. Dramatic iireseiitati(ms facilitate political campaigns in the ti'aile luiions by emotional appeal, making it easier for us to come with our programatic •campaigns. Detroit Automobile Tlieater has presented a play on Spain to 50,000 auto workers. In Chicago a play was presented on industrial unionism to A. F. of L. audience using the theme of sit-down strike.