Evening star., 1947-10-24
Disney Testifies
SorreNCIaiI1led
Hold '0verNLRb
Film Union Leader
Quoted at Hearing
On Hollywood Reds
BULLETIN

Walt Disney told the House
Committee on Un-American
Activities today a Hollywood
union leader once said he
could use the National Labor
Relations Board "as it suited
his purpose" He said that
statement was made to him
by Herbert K. Sorrell, head of
the studio Unions, during a
labor controversy at Mr.. Dis
ney's studios.
Mrs. Leila Rogers, mother of
Actress Ginger Rogers, told the
House Committee on Un-Amer-
lean Activities today that the
picture None But the Lonely
Heart" is a splendid example"
of Communist propaganda in
the movie industry.
Mrs. Rogers said the film was
handled in "the Russian manner"
and that she had recommended
against its production because it was
filled with despair and hopeless
ness" She explained she had read
the Richard Llewellyn novel to de-
termine if it would be a suitable
starring vehicle for Cary Grant, then
under contract to RKO, for whom
Mrs. Rogers was working.
Nevertheless, she said, RKO
bought the story and Playwright
Clifford Odets was called in to do
the scenario and direct the movie.
For years l had heard that Mr.
Odets was a Communist Mrs. Rog-
ers added.
Will Take Up Odet's Record.
Chairman Thomas was about to
interrupt Mrs. Rogers references to
the playwright when Committee
Counsel Robert E. Stripping inter-
posed:
THE committee has a voluminous
record OF Mr.. Odets and his activities.
He is one of 70 you (Mr. Thomas)
mentioned, and his record will be
taken up next week" The chairman
has promised to make public the
names of 10 Hollywood personalities
on whom he has assembled files con-
cerning Communist activity.
Mrs. Rogers, trim, graying blond
woman attired in a Navy blue suit,
was the first witness as the commit
tee hearing on communist influence
in Hollywood resumed.
She, testified she protested when
she learned Mr.. Odets was to come
to Hollywood to do the script of the
Llewellyn novel because 'for years
I had heard that Mr.. Odets was a
Communist"
Mr.. Stripping asked on what Mrs.
Rogers based her statement.
81 have here a column of Q. Q.
Mcintyre Qate newspaper columnist)
dated January 8, 1885," she replied,
"in it is the statement, Mr.. Clifford
Odet, playwright, is a member of
the Communist Party r never saw
that denied"
Prodded by Representative Nc
Dowell, Republican, of Pennsylvania
to be more specific on exactly what
kind of propaganda was being in
jected into movies, Mrs. Rogers said
Communists were very devious and
a single line would be very hard
to detect, but she gave as an ex-
ample this scene from None but
the Lonely Heart:
"A mother runs secondhand
store. Her son says to her, You're
not going to get me to work here
and squeeze pennies out OF little
people poorer than I am
Mrs. Rogers said she considered
that an attack on the free enter
prise system.
Oliver Carlson Testifies.
Oliver Carlson, author, teacher
and one time Communist, told the
committee Hollywood leftists appar-
emily had been able to practice
some measure of thought control"
by keeping from the screen films
presenting Soviet Russia unfavor-
ably.
Mr.. Carlson also supplied the COM
mittee with a fresh list of names
and told a story of a Communist
leader whose job was to soften up"
the elite of the film colony to make
them susceptible to front organ
izations.
The names, some of which have
cropped up repeatedly during the
committees hearings, include those
who directed or taught at the Peo-
pies Educational Center in Los An
geles which Mr.. Carlson termed the
Communist school in Hollywood
Names mentioned by earlier wit
nesses which appeared on Mr.. Carl