Evening star., 1947-10-21
Screen Guilds
Lawyer 0usted
From Hearing
Actor Menjou Coils
Hollywood Major
Communist Center
BULLETIN

Charles J. Katz, attorney
for the Screen Story Analyst
Guild, was elected from the
old House Office Building by
Capitol police after he ap-
preached the witness stand at
the afternoon hearing of the
House Committee on I'm
American Activities to de-
mand the right to cross-ex-
anime a witness, John Charles
Mofhtt. At that point Mr..
Moffltt was naming alleged
Communists in the Story An
alyst Guild.
Hollywood "is one of the main
centers of Communist activities
in America" and it is "the desire
of the masters in Moscow" to use
motion pictures as a propaganda
medium to "overthrow the
American Government" Adolphe
Menjou declared in testimony
made public today as he ap-
peared before the House Com
mittee on Un-American Activi-
ties.
The suave screen actor gave that
testimony at secret hearings by an
Un-American Activities Subcom-
mittee in Los Angeles last May is.
1t was made public as Mr.. Menjou,
considered by committee members
as an expert on subversive inf1u-
ences because of his long campaign
against them in Hollywood, told the
committee that Mission to Mos
cow" the film, is a thoroughly dis
honest picture" He called it an
example of the sort of screen pro-
ductions he thought should not be
made because of n-American i'm
plications.
North Star" Called In-Advised.
The actor was the first witness as
the committee began the second day
of it's hearing on Communist activ-
ity in Hollywood.
Mr.. Menjou also named North
Star" as an ill-advised picture and
added:
Fortunately both of these pic
lures were unsuccessful"
He told the committee he had
seen no overt Communistic propa-
ganda, "if you mean vote for Stain
ism," but said he had noticed
touches which might be considered
more subtle subversion
Asked by Committee Counsel Rob-
ert E. STRIPPING whether he knew
any actors or other members of the
industry who were Communists, Mr..
Menjou replied he had not seen
their cards." but added:
Il know great many people who
act an awful lot like Communists"
Spectators Gather Early.
In anticipation of the appearance
of the actor, spectators lined up
outside the committee hearing room
more than an hour ahead of OPEN
ing time.
Most of them were women,
anxious for glimpse of the actor
with the famous little mustache.
The transcript of the hearing last
May disclosed that Mr.. Menjou,
along with his views on communism,
gave the subcommittee some opin-
ions On Hollywood figures. He said:
OF Eric Johnston, head of the
Motion Picture Producers Associa-
toni think he is running for the
presidency. He will never get it,
OF Charles Chaplin, the actor
THE only gun Mr.. Chaplin ever
heard go off was popgun in his
studio, yet he is military expert
and a financial expert"
Guild Orders to Actors.
AS for individuals with un-Amer-
ican leanings, Mr.. Menjou's word
to the subcommittee was this: I'VE
have many, many dangerous direc-
tors and actors.
They made a picture called
North Star on orders from WASH
ington, I am told, I have no proof.
1t was dreadful picture that
drew picture of Russian life as
idyllic y"
The orders by Screen Writer
John Howard Lawson to the Screen
Actors Guild were, In every picture
put in key principles of propa-
ganda, particularly in the expen-
sive set, so that it cannot be re-
taken That was their orders"
In his testimony today, Mr.. Menjou
said he has heard" that Mr.. Law
(See UN-AMERICAN, Page A-6D