Blacklist Writers Press Conference Protest Elia Kazan

Presented are scenes with Abraham Polonsky and Bob Reed who discuss the McCarthy era blacklist and why they are unhappy with Elia Kazan receiving a lifetime achievement award. Until his death, Polonsky was a virulent critic of director Elia Kazan, who had testified before HUAC and provided names to the Committee. In 1999, he was enraged when Kazan was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for lifetime achievement, stating that he hoped Kazan would be shot onstage: "It would no doubt be a thrill in an otherwise dull evening". Polonsky also said that his latest project was designing a movable headstone: "That way if they bury that man in the same cemetery, they can move me."

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[cappyo4]

The communist of the 30s. 40, and 50s wanted us all the live like they did in the USSR. Foolish, childish and just out and out dumb will never excuse the damage they could have caused this country and the world. To act all insolent and put out now only reinforces their complete child like stupidity. None of them clean their own toilets, yet they proclaim allegiance to the workers.

[Philflash]

@cappyo4 You are so right! When I travelled to the USSR in 1991 and experienced the coup attempt. No one could not tell the difference just by looking at the society that it was communist or capitalist. Some people were more equal than others. People had jobs to perform. Everyone had a boss like we do here!

[shutterbug1319]

Kazan's lack of any remorse for what he did is what truly disgusts me. Thanks for sharing this video.

[lmollot]

@Philflash its just so terrible that the communists actually gave free birth control to all women who wanted- & they had midwives for all mothers- & 75% of docs were women-with training in use of herbology-china paid mothers 2 years full maternity pay - rent was 10% of salary not 90-120% of salary in many capitalist countries- all these policies would wreck the stockmarket profits & the elites war weapons profits- but what about the mothers& childrens needs?

[acinemajunkie]

And one more thing: for Polonsky to say that he'd like Kazan to be shot is a real outrage. So this guy put his career above a man's life? Villified him when Kazan was torn between two sides, that of Communists and McCarthyists, who were both in the wrong for different reasons? Simply dishonorable.

[acinemajunkie]

Wow...you people hating on Kazan sure are lucky to be living in a country where you can idly espouse your petty judgements on his character from the cheap seats, and aren't subject to the restriction of free speech that Communism would have brought to America. Protecting the American way is more important than a few dozen Hollywood careers, period.

[MajellaRS]

Elia Kazan is a disgrace

[DonCorleone87]

putting others before yourself is what a TRUE hero is..... Elia Kazan put himself and his reputation before others. If that isn't despicable in itself, I don't know what is. 

[poncarful]

Liberals who defended Hollywood Ten were saying, that only talent counts and not one's political view. The same kind of liberals protested Kazan's Honorary Oscar, even if his talent could not be doubted. Let's not forget, that these screenwriters were unrepentant stalinists. Yes, unrepentant. I never heard of a single one of them who said "What a fool I was." And they couldn't find a job? Of course they could, but not as screenwriters making 2000 dollars a week, when qualified worker made 30.

[lmollot]

@cappyo4 -oh yes-lets protect capitalists religious profits via child factory labor ,child sex traffic rings , drugs slavery ,14 hr days 7 days, -wars to get the slaves to keep capitalists stockmarket "healthy"-capitalists refuse to consider mothers equal work//pay-thereby creating "marital prostitution"- the south countries & even in n america human rights were never/do not exist for the workers/small farmers-business farms crush any communal farms started by citizens-free speech?gunned down

[svcselso]

Kasan denonced comunists and they lost their jobs.

If he didn't milions of people could lost not only the jobs , but also their propertys, houses , companies, crops, food, freedom and also LIVES !!! as comunists do at Rusia, Camboja, China, .....

Kasan is word' HERO !!

At my country comunists are trying, step by step, to destroy our recent democracy!

Open your eyes !!

[svcselso]

Kasan denonced comunists and they lost their jobs.

If he didn't milions of people could lost not only the jobs , but also their propertys, houses , companies, crops, food, freedom and also LIVES !!! as comunists do at Rusia, Camboja, China, .....

Kasan is word' HERO !!

At my country comunists are trying, step by step, to destroy our recent democracy!

Open your eyes !!