One small error.
“...the rehabilitation of repentant communists...”
Not plural, singular. Edward Dmytryk was the only one who renounced communism. The rest remained bitter communists for the rest of their nasty, anti-American lives.
While it was Hollywood, not the government, that blacklisted them, it was also Hollywood that lifted that blacklist.
It should be always noted that the HUAC hearings were separate and apart from Senator McCarthy’s hearings. And while neither deserve condemnation, the HUAC hearings were far larger and more professional. And nailed a LOT more sworn communists.
It also should be noticed that, by now, the worst of Stalin’s purges, slave labor camps, gulags, etc., had become known in the West. This caused many members to drop out of the American communist party. But those who remained were the hardcore fanatics. As fanatical and determined in their way as the worst of the Islamists today.
Fortunately for America, we had an ace up our sleeve. His name was Morris Childs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Childs
A close friend of mine became a good friend of Dmytryk’s during his final years in Hollywood. He was deeply embarrassed and saddened by his own actions during those years. Another talented individual who fell for the lure of communism - only to renounce it. Budd Schulberg, too.