American witchhunt: how the McCarthy blacklist annihilated the Hollywood left
A retrospective at the Locarno film festival looks back at the era of Huac’s domination of US culture, uncovering some sobering lessons for now
TL;DR
- Recent events involving late-night host Jimmy Kimmel echo historical pressures on Hollywood figures facing conservative backlash.
- A retrospective at the Locarno film festival focuses on the Hollywood blacklist of the 1940s and 1950s, during which hundreds of film workers were persecuted.
- The festival includes works by blacklisted stars, writers, and directors, many of whom produced their films under pseudonyms or in exile.
- Notable blacklisted figures include actor John Garfield, screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, and director Joseph Losey.
- Films shown explore themes of persecution, entrapment, and political ideology, reflecting the climate of fear and the annihilation of the Hollywood left.
- Exiled artists found refuge in countries like Britain, Spain, Italy, and Argentina, though many struggled to find work.
- Films like 'The Intimate Stranger' and Charlie Chaplin's 'A King in New York' reflect the personal turmoil and resilience of those targeted.
- The retrospective offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of political extremism and its impact on creative expression.