Jurisdictional disputes in the motion-picture Industry : hearings before a special subcommittee of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first-session, pursuant to H. Res. 111 (1948)

MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES 2025 The first is an editorial from the Hollywood Sun of April 3, 1946, entitled "Nailed, Hollywood's Most Vicious Lie of the Year." [Reading:] It is almost impossible to write about communism plus Hollywood without appearing a defender of the faith or being ranged among those damned as its persecutors. In short, you are either a "Commie" or a Red baiter. This, nevertheless, must be written. The most pernicious lie to circulate in studios in recent months is that the 1945 film strike was Communist-inspired. It is the exact opposite of this charge which is true. Communists opposed the starting of this strike. Once it began, they fouglit to end it. If, by taking part in picketing they were active in closing days of the long walk-out, so too, was the general public appalled by the police brutality and a studio's wanton use of tear gas and fire hose on peaceful citizens. So Communists, far from sparking the 1945 walk-out, were actually on the side of unions and studios that opposed the strike. For proof of these statements which will astound some, we want to turn back the pages of the People's World, popularly viewed a's the voice of the party in these parts. This is the publication so generously drawn on by those who spread the lie that this strike was Red-inspired. INIonday morning, JMarch 12, the day of the walk-out, broke with disquieting elfect on Hollywood's assorted liberals, progressives, freethinkers, and those who veer so far to the left they may be said to "follow the line." It broke disturbingly because America was .still at war. Labor had given a no-strike pledge. Hollywood liberals, like the Nation's stuffied reactionaries, desired until above all in pursuit of the war effort. At the same time they recogniz.^d the justice of local llL'l's picket lines, strung after 2 years of imposition by studios. That morning, not a line about the strike appeared in the World. Tuesday, the same. Wednesday there was a news story about the start of the strike. Then it broke. Thursday, in a front page, two-column editorial, the World demanded, "End the movie strike at once." That was the head. It went on : "Strikes in this war period are impermissible under any circumstances. We have said this many times before and we repeat it again." Does that sound inspiring, except to persons subject to influence by the paper? Some undoubtedly were influenced, for there was a prompt demand for a return to work from certain quarters, including a telegram from New York City. Pressure from these elements caused at least two unions to vote nonobservance of picket lines ; others to return to work. Thus, the "Commies" and others did make themselves felt in the strike. But on whose side? The lA's and the studios. And to what end? One end. To "end the movie strike at once." To break the strike, with justice be damned, if only unity could be preserved and the studios kept open. The World editorial, after an analysis of the issues involved, concluded : "The strike is a blow at our wartime morale and unity. "It is being utilized by reactionaries to attack labor and the national administration. "The walk-out should never have taken place. It should be called oft" at once." Who else echoed these demands? That's the "Commies" talking. Strike inspiring? The World editorial, besides refuting a vicious lie, also proves this : Some persons found a way out of their betwixt-and-between funk in its words. Most factually and emphatically, the strike leaders did not. They called the strike fully knowing they would have opposition from various unity-above-all quarters. They continued to prosecute it when had the People's World been their master's voice, they would have listened and acted otherwise. Others did heed the cry "back to work." But the strikers — They didn't listen and they didn't act otherwise. If communism was behind the 1945 film strike it served to stab the strike in the back.