Before Senator Joseph McCarthy was leading the charge in the United States' Red Scare, the Cold War fear of Communism manifested itself in the House of Representatives' Committee on Un-American Activities, or HUAC, created to investigate potential threats. In Blacklisted, Larry Dane Brimner (Twelve Days in May) explores HUAC's 1947 campaign to reveal the political views of 19 writers and directors in the film industry, and the bold fight by the accused to preserve their First Amendment rights.
Quoting from the official transcripts of HUAC's investigative hearings about the "alleged subversive influence in America's motion-picture industry," Brimner's nonfiction work delves into the testimonies of the first 10 of the 19 subpoenaed men ("the Hollywood Ten"). During the hearings, witnesses testified against the Hollywood defendants, whose lawyers were not permitted to cross-examine; the committee also denied the movie men the right to read their prepared statements. All 10 refused to respond "yes or no" to the question "are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party of the United States?" Their insistence that the question was a violation of their rights ultimately resulted in each being fined, imprisoned and blacklisted from the U.S. movie industry.
Brimner fittingly relates their story with a suspenseful, cinematic drama that is reflected in the book's design, which features archival photos, related quotes from famous people and even a film leader countdown in the opening pages. His explanatory, captivating text draws readers into the defendants' plights and makes connecting the circumstances of 70 years ago to current events a natural deduction. Meticulously researched with additional references for further study, Blacklisted will entertain and educate readers of all ages. --Jen Forbus, freelancer