Evening star., 1947-10-19

be taken up with the Los Angeles
ONCE and that Mr.. Ratoff or
M-G-M would be advised. In the
meantime I was asked to send the
Navy a note explaining Mems
request. This I did.
Copy Of Note Cited.
1.-THE Navy has furnished me
with a copy of my note. Dated
May II, 1943. it reads:
"'Capt. Leland P. Lovette,
Director Of Public Relations,
Navy Department.
"'My Dear Capt. Lovette:
Metro Goldwyn Mayer have
asked for delay in the induction
OF Robert Taylor as q naval avia-
ton cadet to permit the completion
Of picture now under production
with Taylor as star. Much OF
the picture already has been shot,
but there remains several weeks
further shooting.
This picture has Russia for its
scene and the Office of War In
formation believes that, based on
the script, which we have read, 1t
will serve useful purpose in the
war effort. 1t has no political i'm
plic@ tions, being designed primarily
10 acquaint the American people
with the people of one of our Allied
nations.
"'Yours sincerely,
isl Lowell Mellett,
Chief, Bureau of Motion Pictures
Mr.. Ratoff appeared overcome
with gratitude. He bowed almost
to the floor, seized my hand as If
to kiss it, and departed. That was
the last I saw of him or anybody
else in connection with Song of
Russia
"As for the picture itself, if it
contained communistic propaganda
it must have been of very pale
variety. I have told you Mr.. Rat
offs sentiments on the subject of
Communism. Mr.. Taylor has re-
Gently told the world his. Mr.. Mayer,
the producer, was at that time the
highest-salaried individual in Amer
lea; he prides himself on his Re-
publican conservatism and he was
Senator Tafts host on the latter's
recent visit to Los Angeles. The
picture could not have been very
Red.
Services Showed Film.
Further indication of how the
picture was regarded at the time is
furnished by the fact that the
United States Army Motion Picture
Service-with which, incidentally, I
had no connection-obtained 142
prints of the picture for showing in
Army camps throughout the United
States, Alaska and the Canal Zone;
the Navy obtained 20 prints for
showing aboard naval vessels.
That, in brief, is my recollection
of the incident involving Mr.. Taylor
and Song of Russia
Nov, with the committees per-
mission, would like to offer a
suggestion.
IF I understand correctly, the
committee is seeking to ascertain
what, if any, subversive influences
have entered into and are affecting
the pictures shown in American
theaters. I believe this objective
can be achieved by taking the fol-
lowing fairly simple steps:
Il. Decide which pictures contain
anything that, Intentionally or un-
Intentionally, might possibly serve
to undermine our American Gov
ernment or our democratic way of
life.
"2. Trace the history of each such
picture from its inception through
all the stages of its production.
Learn who first broached the idea,
who prepared the first rough draft,
who wrote the original script, who
rewrote it, who edited it, who, par
ticipated in the conferences con-
corning it, who directed the Shoot
ing. and
"3. Who accepted the final respon-
sibility for the picture and put the
company's time, talent and money
into its production.
THE committees work, however,
could be greatly expedited if, hay
ing found that. a given picture
contains qualities it considers sub
versive, it should proceed directly
to the third step. This would fix
the responsibility where it belongs.
For the very clear fact is that no
picture can be produced without
the approval of the head of the
producing company"