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Senate Investigation into Motion Picture War Propaganda

August 22, 2023

The Senate Investigation into Motion Picture War Propaganda was a 1941 investigation by a group of isolationist United States Senators which set out to find evidence that the United States movie industry was agitating for the United States to join World War II on the side of the Allies.[1]

Background

During the 1930s, Hollywood produced few films about the Nazi rise to power or the political situation in Europe. That began to change at the end of the decade as American sentiments against Nazism began to harden. Films such as Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939), The Mortal Storm (1940), Foreign Correspondent (1940), The Great Dictator (1940), and A Yank in the RAF (1941) were openly critical of Germany, which alarmed American isolationists.[2] Several of those films would be discussed during the hearings. However, only five percent of Hollywood films in 1940 dealt with Nazism at all.[3]

Investigation

On 1 August 1941, US Senator Gerald Nye gave a speech in Saint Louis, Missouri, to an audience of 2,600 supporters and charged that Hollywood studios had become "the most gigantic engines of propaganda in existence."[4] During the speech, he read a list of names of men who he said controlled the film industry. Critics noted that the list consisted mostly of Jewish names, which gave rise to perceptions of antisemitism.[5]

The investigation was to be authorized by Senate Resolution 152, drafted by John T. Flynn, the chairman of America First Committee's New York branch.[6] Although the resolution did not pass, the subcommittee formed anyway and subpoenaed witnesses from the film industry.[7] The subcommittee consisted of D. Worth Clark, a Democratic Party senator from Idaho who served as chair; the Democrats Homer T. Bone (Washington) and Ernest McFarland (Arizona), and the Republicans Charles W. Tobey (New Hampshire) and C. Wayland Brooks (Illinois). All except McFarland had declared their support for isolationism.[8][9] The industry hired Wendell Willkie, a pro-interventionist Republican and unsuccessful candidate in the 1940 United States presidential election, to represent it.[10]

Hearings commenced on 9 September,[11] when Nye testified about the alleged propaganda in the motion-picture industry. In a break with protocol, Wilkie was not allowed to cross-examine or to summon witnesses for the defense. Instead, McFarland cross-examined Nye, pressing him to define "propaganda" and specify what he wanted the Senate to do to combat it.[12]

The hearings ended on 26 September. By late September, the investigation had run out of funds. Additional funds were never likely to be approved as the Audit and Control Committee was chaired by Scott Lucas, a supporter of US President Franklin Roosevelt.[13]

Reception

The investigation received widespread mostly-critical press coverage while it was ongoing.[14] Critics alleged that the senators wanted to suppress freedom of expression.[15] According to one survey, only nine percent of Americans approved of the investigation: at the same time Sergeant York and The Great Dictator were the highest-grossing films of 1941.[16] The investigation had little impact on the film industry,[17] and was later mostly forgotten because it was overshadowed by the Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December 1941 and the United States' entry into the war. Unlike the 1947 and 1952 investigations by the House Un-American Activities Committee into Hollywood figures, it did not define the targets' careers.[18]

References

  1. ^ Yogerst 2020, synopsis.
  2. ^ Moser 2001, p. 731.
  3. ^ Yogerst 2020, excerpt.
  4. ^ McMillan 1988, p. 277.
  5. ^ Moser 2001, p. 745.
  6. ^ McMillan 1988, pp. 278–279.
  7. ^ Moser 2001, p. 742.
  8. ^ McMillan 1988, p. 279.
  9. ^ Moser 2001, p. 741.
  10. ^ Moser 2001, pp. 741–742.
  11. ^ Moser 2001, p. 743.
  12. ^ McMillan 1988, p. 282.
  13. ^ Moser 2001, pp. 746–747.
  14. ^ Yogerst 2020, p. 175.
  15. ^ Moser 2001, pp. 744–745.
  16. ^ Moser 2001, p. 746.
  17. ^ Moser 2001, p. 733.
  18. ^ Yogerst 2020, pp. 175–176.

Sources

  • Moser, John E. (2001). "'Gigantic Engines of Propaganda': The 1941 Senate Investigation of Hollywood". The Historian. 63 (4): 731–751. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6563.2001.tb01943.x. ISSN 0018-2370. JSTOR 24450496. S2CID 144780011.
  • McMillan, James E. (1988). "McFarland and the Movies: The 1941 Senate Motion Picture Hearings". The Journal of Arizona History. 29 (3): 277–302. ISSN 0021-9053. JSTOR 41859880.
  • Yogerst, Chris (2020). Hollywood Hates Hitler!: Jew-Baiting, Anti-Nazism, and the Senate Investigation into Warmongering in Motion Pictures. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1-4968-2977-1.

External links

  • Propaganda in Motion Pictures: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Interstate Commerce, United States Senate, Seventy-seventh Congress, First Session, on S. Res.152, a Resolution Authorizing an Investigation of War Propaganda Disseminated by the Motion Picture Industry and of Any Monopoly in the Production, Distribution Or Exhibition of Motion Pictures; Sept.9-26, 1941

August 22, 2023
senate, investigation, into, motion, picture, propaganda, 1941, investigation, group, isolationist, united, states, senators, which, find, evidence, that, united, states, movie, industry, agitating, united, states, join, world, side, allies, background, editdu. The Senate Investigation into Motion Picture War Propaganda was a 1941 investigation by a group of isolationist United States Senators which set out to find evidence that the United States movie industry was agitating for the United States to join World War II on the side of the Allies 1 Background EditDuring the 1930s Hollywood produced few films about the Nazi rise to power or the political situation in Europe That began to change at the end of the decade as American sentiments against Nazism began to harden Films such as Confessions of a Nazi Spy 1939 The Mortal Storm 1940 Foreign Correspondent 1940 The Great Dictator 1940 and A Yank in the RAF 1941 were openly critical of Germany which alarmed American isolationists 2 Several of those films would be discussed during the hearings However only five percent of Hollywood films in 1940 dealt with Nazism at all 3 Investigation EditOn 1 August 1941 US Senator Gerald Nye gave a speech in Saint Louis Missouri to an audience of 2 600 supporters and charged that Hollywood studios had become the most gigantic engines of propaganda in existence 4 During the speech he read a list of names of men who he said controlled the film industry Critics noted that the list consisted mostly of Jewish names which gave rise to perceptions of antisemitism 5 The investigation was to be authorized by Senate Resolution 152 drafted by John T Flynn the chairman of America First Committee s New York branch 6 Although the resolution did not pass the subcommittee formed anyway and subpoenaed witnesses from the film industry 7 The subcommittee consisted of D Worth Clark a Democratic Party senator from Idaho who served as chair the Democrats Homer T Bone Washington and Ernest McFarland Arizona and the Republicans Charles W Tobey New Hampshire and C Wayland Brooks Illinois All except McFarland had declared their support for isolationism 8 9 The industry hired Wendell Willkie a pro interventionist Republican and unsuccessful candidate in the 1940 United States presidential election to represent it 10 Hearings commenced on 9 September 11 when Nye testified about the alleged propaganda in the motion picture industry In a break with protocol Wilkie was not allowed to cross examine or to summon witnesses for the defense Instead McFarland cross examined Nye pressing him to define propaganda and specify what he wanted the Senate to do to combat it 12 The hearings ended on 26 September By late September the investigation had run out of funds Additional funds were never likely to be approved as the Audit and Control Committee was chaired by Scott Lucas a supporter of US President Franklin Roosevelt 13 Reception EditThe investigation received widespread mostly critical press coverage while it was ongoing 14 Critics alleged that the senators wanted to suppress freedom of expression 15 According to one survey only nine percent of Americans approved of the investigation at the same time Sergeant York and The Great Dictator were the highest grossing films of 1941 16 The investigation had little impact on the film industry 17 and was later mostly forgotten because it was overshadowed by the Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December 1941 and the United States entry into the war Unlike the 1947 and 1952 investigations by the House Un American Activities Committee into Hollywood figures it did not define the targets careers 18 References Edit Yogerst 2020 synopsis Moser 2001 p 731 Yogerst 2020 excerpt McMillan 1988 p 277 Moser 2001 p 745 McMillan 1988 pp 278 279 Moser 2001 p 742 McMillan 1988 p 279 Moser 2001 p 741 Moser 2001 pp 741 742 Moser 2001 p 743 McMillan 1988 p 282 Moser 2001 pp 746 747 Yogerst 2020 p 175 Moser 2001 pp 744 745 Moser 2001 p 746 Moser 2001 p 733 Yogerst 2020 pp 175 176 Sources EditMoser John E 2001 Gigantic Engines of Propaganda The 1941 Senate Investigation of Hollywood The Historian 63 4 731 751 doi 10 1111 j 1540 6563 2001 tb01943 x ISSN 0018 2370 JSTOR 24450496 S2CID 144780011 McMillan James E 1988 McFarland and the Movies The 1941 Senate Motion Picture Hearings The Journal of Arizona History 29 3 277 302 ISSN 0021 9053 JSTOR 41859880 Yogerst Chris 2020 Hollywood Hates Hitler Jew Baiting Anti Nazism and the Senate Investigation into Warmongering in Motion Pictures University Press of Mississippi ISBN 978 1 4968 2977 1 External links EditPropaganda in Motion Pictures Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Interstate Commerce United States Senate Seventy seventh Congress First Session on S Res 152 a Resolution Authorizing an Investigation of War Propaganda Disseminated by the Motion Picture Industry and of Any Monopoly in the Production Distribution Or Exhibition of Motion Pictures Sept 9 26 1941 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Senate Investigation into Motion Picture War Propaganda amp oldid 1145143189, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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