ABSTRACT
Hollywood, ever the bellwether of popular opinion, quickly wiped its hands and presented them for inspection to the Un-American Activities Committee. For the American film industry the Korean War was embarrassingly convenient. Wars were always good for business and the latest one was no exception. The belief that the United States was facing not only Russia as the naked enemy but a vast conspiracy of hostile anti-American Communist-inspired forces lent added grist to Hollywood's anti-Communist mill. The blacklisting of certain 'radicals' had deprived Hollywood not only of personnel but of anything resembling courage. The divorce of cinemas from the studios' holdings broke the link in the smooth production-distribution chain. This kind of competition was bad for Hollywood's soul. The result of these cruel blows was the loss of Hollywood's magical elixir that is self confidence.
