This is what Elia Kazan did. Those named were blacklisted, and they were unable to find work in Hollywood. Now, those who had their lives disrupted by Kazan feel that he should not be entitled to receive any sort of award. I listened to Larry King the other night as the two sides argued their case. It was really interesting to see the feelings that still existed after all these years.
Nobody cares anymore.
But these are men who survived the cruelest decades this century had to offer. They are tough minded and unflinching in their judgments. So I can begrudge them that grudges, as it were. What really struck me was listening to Charlton Heston offer in defense of Kazan the idea that the work a man does should be judged separate and apart from the kind of life he may have led. Whatever Kazan did before HUAC does not diminish the things he accomplished in his other life as a director of movies.