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 515 Minton, former owner of New Masses, and at present the husband of Until INIcKenney, the writer, botli of them were recently expelled from the Communist Party of the United States on a charge of revisionism. McKinney and Bransten have both been employed in the movie industry. Louise Bransten's father died in 1929 and left an estate valued at over $2,000,000. Louise was the beneficiary of a $500,000 trust fund which provided that $250,000 be given to her on her twenty-fifth birthday and the other half upon reaching the age of 45. At the age of 25 she made an agreement with the executors of her father's estate to accept shares of stock in a particular company in lieu of $250,000 in cash. Li view of the fact that I have made no investigation regarding the company mentioned I would rather furnish its name in executive session because if the name of the firm is mentioned there might be an unjust reflection on its character. In 1943, after her mother's death, Louise Bransten inherited a large sum of money, some of which is held in trust. Li June 1933 Louise Bransten, accompanied by her husband Richard, made a 6 weeks' tour of the Soviet Union. During the water-front strike in San Francisco Louise and Richard Bransten carried out assignments for the Communist Party, working with Earl Bi'owder and Gerhart Eisler. In 1944 Louise Bransten made a loan of $50,000 to the People's World, which is the west coast organ of the Communist Party. She has also contributed through the Rosenberg Foundation, of which she is a member of the board of directors, $6,000 to the American-Russian Institute, and $10,000 to the California Labor School. She has also contributed to the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee. At present she is living in New York City and is married to Lionel Berman, who is interested in documentary films. Bransten is now employed by the New York Committee To Win the Peace. Mr. Stripling. Now, would you identify Charles A. Page? Mr. Russell. Yes. The last-known address of this person, insofar as I know, is the Jeiferson Apartments, Sixteenth and M Streets NW., Washington, D. C. He was employed by the State Department from about the year 1928 through the year 1933, During the years 1934 through 1941 he was a free-lance writer in Hollywood, Calif. When he discontinued this type of work he returned to the State Department. He has been in contact with Louise Bransten, Haakon Chevalier, Vassili Zublin, a Soviet diplomatic ofhcial, Herbert Biberman, John Howard LaM'son, Gerhart Eisler, Otto Katz, and Hanns Eisler. He at one time attempted to obtain a position for Haakon Chevalier. INIr. Stripling. Do you know where he attempted to obtain such position? ]Mr. Russell. Yes ; with the Office of War Information. Mr. Stripling. Do you know through whom he tried to get the job? Mr. Russell. Through Robert E. Sherwood. The Chairman. Through Robert E. who? Mr. Russell. Sherwood, S-h-e-r-w-o-o-d. Mv. Stripling. Do you know whether or not he obtained a position ? Mr. Russell. No; he did not obtain a position. Mr. Stripling. Can you tell the committee what commission Page held in the State Department? Is he in the State Department at this time, INIr. Russell ? ]Mr. Russell. No ; he is not in the State Department at the present time.