Richard Collins dies at 98; onetime blacklisted screenwriter

Los Angeles Times ^ | February 15, 2013 | Elaine Woo

[EveningStar]

Richard Collins, a screenwriter during the McCarthy era who was blacklisted for several years before he cooperated with the Communist-hunting House Un-American Activities Committee, died Thursday in Ventura.

The onetime Communist Party member was 98 and the last of the group of left-leaning writers and directors known as the Hollywood 19, 10 of whom went to prison for refusing to name names before the committee.

[re_nortex]

McCarthy never investigated Hollywood.

That's correct. My comment was a jumping off point to reference to the entire era when commies were being ferreted out from all of their spider holes, the military, government and Hollyweird. Because of Senator McCarthy's fearless attack on America's enemies, that timespan of the 1950s bears his name. The term McCarthyism, of course, has become a pejorative when used by leftists but is high praise indeed for those of us who love our country.

I'll add that one f the last "good" Democrats was Martin Dies, Jr. of Texas whose "Dies Committee" ultimately became the HUAC. He also opposed the New Deal of the evil Franklin Diablo [sic] Roosevelt. Dies' district, the Texas 2nd, is now represented by a good Christian Conservative and a fine gentlemen (in every sense of that word), Ted Poe, shown appropriately to the RIGHT of Dies, below:

[ChessExpert]

Over the decades, Hollywood has made hardly any anticommunist movies. A count of anti-Nazi movies would probably be in the hundreds. I think Hollywood has made more movies opposed to “McCarthyism” than movies opposed to communism.

So I consider it noteworthy that there is a new series on TV about communist spies in the US. It is on the FX channel, a channel that I'd never heard of before. The series is called “The Americans,” and is shown on Wednesday nights. I saw the pilot and the next episode and it is really good.

Two communist agents are assigned to come to America, marry, start a family, and spy. It is interesting that their children are truly American. The son sees an American astronaut as a hero. The parents gently try to discourage this.

These two agents are treated somewhat sympathetically. However, their bad actions are on complete display. They kill, kidnap, have sex to get gain trust, etc. The wife is played by Keri Russell. She formerly starred in the popular series “Felicity.”

[EveningStar]

My wife and I have been watching “The Americans” and we like it.

[Revolting cat!]

“onetime balcklisted”, in other words, onetime worshipper of murderer of millions Stalin, is such a badge of honor!

[Gay State Conservative]

I can't speak with much credibility about Joe McCarthy but if his basic message was “everyone in the government is a Commie” then I'd have to say he was wrong.If his message was “there are more than a few Commies hidden in the government bureaucracy,and elsewhere” I'd say he was spot on.Ted Hall and Henry Wallace are two that come quickly to mind.

[boop]

"McCarthy never investigated Hollywood."

And someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Congress didn't "blacklist" anyone in Hollywood, either. They didn't have that kind of power.

The "blacklist" was Hollywood's doing.

Studio heads didn't want open Commies making/writing movies, so THEY "blacklisted" writers and actors that would make the studios look like sympathizers.

[cherry]

over the years, this bunch got sanctified and made into some kind of heros...like they didn't support communism and the take down of our country....

about 20yrs ago, some of the original black listed people were on a talk radio show....and they described how horribly they were treated....but they did actually admit that they were communists and wanted to destroy our country and our democracy....

a turd is a turd...

[ChessExpert]

The first message was put into this mouth by liberals/communists to discredit him.

At this point, a liberal would make a comment line “Oh. So you think every liberal is a commie.” No, I do not.

However, their are more than a few points of intersection. I've taken a few samples from CPUSA.org. When Kerry ran against Bush, they gave 10 reasons to vote against Bush. When Obama ran against McCain, they were ecstatic that their man might become President. (He did).

I knew a Chicago Democrat from an earlier generation. I witnessed him smile with his lips and and eyes as he mentioned “Uncle Joe” (Stalin). It was a transcendent moment for him, as though he were extremely devout and was contemplating Jesus Christ. No commie, just a Democrat.

I could go on, and on, and on with examples.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Prayers for a misguided soul.