Hollywood on Trial

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The documentary analyzes a dark period in Hollywood's history due to the Red Scare of the 1940's and 1950's, when actors, writers and directors were persecuted and investigated by the House ... Read allThe documentary analyzes a dark period in Hollywood's history due to the Red Scare of the 1940's and 1950's, when actors, writers and directors were persecuted and investigated by the House of Un-American Activities Committee after being considered suspects of committing Anti-Ame... Read allThe documentary analyzes a dark period in Hollywood's history due to the Red Scare of the 1940's and 1950's, when actors, writers and directors were persecuted and investigated by the House of Un-American Activities Committee after being considered suspects of committing Anti-American acts by preaching the Communism in their films and television shows.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

259

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total

Photos5

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was abolished in 1975. This documentary was made and first released in 1976, as was The Front (1976), a dramatic picture made about the McCarthy-era black-listing.

Connections
Featured in Trumbo (2007)

Soundtracks
Shanghai Lil
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played during the opening credits

User reviews6

Review

Featured review

6/10

Hollywood Ten Heroes? More like zeros

I saw this on TCM and it was introduced by Ben Mankiewicz who called this the "darkest period" in American history. The House Un-American Activities Committee investigated Hollywood for communist influences and the result was the infamous "Hollywood Ten". The Hollywood Ten were communist sympathizers--some were former sympathizers, others still believed in the cause. They were correctly blacklisted for years. These were not innocent men who were being crucified for mere political beliefs. Communism is antithetical to the American way of life. So these Hollywood Ten slimeballs believed in an idea to subvert the American way of life, then tried to hide behind the Constitution. That sounds pretty hypocritical to me. They were not and never will be heroes, despite how Hollywood tries to make them out to be saintly victims.