Yeah, really. They love to call it the “red scare,” as though there was nothing to it, while in the next breath saying “Action!” for a Che or Mao love letter biopic. The only one they will vilify is Stalin. They seem to think they can put the evils of communism off on him. “Soviet communism would have been great if Stalin hadn’t messed it up!” Which is not to say that the Hollywood communists of the era didn’t love the guy, but they were smart enough to pile on when it became convenient to do so.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
And then only to use him as the antithesis of Lenin. A ying/yang kind of thing: "If only Lenin had lived...", "Lenin never wanted Stalin to succeed him...", etc. etc. etc.
IOW one could do no good and the other no evil, when in fact this cult of Lenin came about in 1954, by Kurchev (sp?), shortly after Stalin's death. Up till then no one particular carried about Lenin or his death, or looked back on his regime with a wistful sign. (Remember Stalin made use of the tools that Lenin had created.)
Anyway, after Stalin's death Communism had such an appalling reputation (and track record) that in order to salvage what they deified Lenin, i.e. "Stalin seized hijacked the Revolution", "Lenin was used by Stalin", "If only Lenin had lived..." All with Lenin's kindly, parental face everywhere and anywhere...The whole thing was/is about as Madison Ave. PR as you can get.
Ed Asner, flaming Leftist commie and virulent anti-gunner (though he admitted to carrying one because he needs one), has stated that he would love to perform the starring role on a film about Stalin.