Hard-boiled Cinema: Exploring Communism in American films of the 1950s

In the Spring of 2004, I enrolled in Facets Film School's 6-week appreciation series that dealt with the subject of blacklisted and/or propagandized American films from the 1950s, during the Cold War era.

Our instructor was Robert Keser. I learned alot from this course about communism and the impact the cold war had on the society and in films. We discussed the blacklisting of filmmakers/actors and how communism, socialism, activist movements, and public/government attitudes were was portrayed on the screen during this time.

Each week we watched a feature film from the 1950s during the McCarthy years. After each film, we discussed and analyzed the messages in the films. My notes are summarized below.

Week 1 (5/6/2004)
Christ in Concrete / Give Us This Day
Starring actor Sam Wanamaker. British audiences did not like the fact that the film had "Christ" in the title, so the title was changed in the UK to "Give Us This Day". In some other parts of the world it was called "Salt of the Devil".

Week 2 (5/14/2004)
I Can Get It For You Wholesale (951)

In 1947, there was the Taft Hartley act, which forced people to renounce communist ties if they are in unions. There was the Hollywood 19, who were all subpoenaed. In 1951 we had the Hollywood 10. Almost all were writers. One of these who were called in was actor Larry Parks.

We also discussed the following films:

• The Iron Curtain, the first movie to discuss the communist scare.
• Red Scare (1949), one of the most famous movies about communism, from New Republic Films.
• Joan of Ozark (1942) starring Judy Canova, made by Republic Films. Not about communism but about Nazi spys.

Week 3 (5/21/2004)
My Son John (1952)
A very interesting movie on so many levels. Stars Ms. Helen Hayes, Oscar-winning actress and stage veteran. Directed by 3-time Oscar winning director, Leo McCarey.  Before the film started, our instructor warned the class by calling the film "A Very bad film".

As the movie began, I was eager to see what was so bad about it. I was surprised; the film was not really as bad as our teacher made it seem, at least in my opinion. In fact, I found the film to be very memorable, especially the final scene which I can't give away just yet.

Week 4 (5/29/2004)
Pickup on South Street (1953) Starring Richard Widmark, Thelma Ritter, Jean Peters. Directed by Samuel Fuller

Week 5

Salt of the Earth (1954 - Dir: Herbert Biberman).

Reveille with Beverly (1943) starring Ann Miller

Some really good performers are in this film including Duke Ellington (who performs "Take the A-Train") and Frank Sinatra (singing "Night and Day"). Ann Miller stars as a switchboard operator who dreams of being a DJ. She works for a radio station, but it doesn't play the swing music she loves. She hilariously slips into a 5-AM time slot usually reserved for classical music, and instead starts playing records by Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, who all make special appearances! Soldiers at a local army base love the show, and set out to meet her. She slowly makes a name for herself when her music becomes a hit with more soldiers, and she names her show "Reveille with Beverly". Supporting actors include Irene Ryan, Bob Crosby, Adele Mara and Larry Parks. The finale is "Thumbs up for V for Victory", and is a tap routine with Ann dressed in a miniskirt and accompanied by a chorus of servicemen.

Character actor Franklin Pangborn has a small role as well. When he prances off in response to a draft notice, his cleaning woman Maude Eburne sighs, "God bless America!". Trivia: Pangborn has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine Street.

In October 2009, the blog Classic Film and TV Cafe, wrote more about Franklin Pangborn: Check out the post.