Blacklist Still Casts Long, Dark Shadow in Hollywood

The problem with Patrick Goldstein’s article “When Writers Really Were Nobodies,” (March 13), like so many others about this period, is that it fails to place the so-called Hollywood blacklist in historical perspective.

From 1917, when communists came to power in Russia, until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, communism represented the greatest collective evil the human race has ever known. These evils continue unabated today in brutally repressive regimes like China, Vietnam, North Korea and Cuba. Reliable estimates place the total number of deaths at the hands of communist regimes, despite their brief history, in the 100 million range.

What can be said, then, of those--including leftist Hollywood writers--who lent their sympathies, if not their active support, to communist regimes responsible for so many deaths, so much human misery and suffering? Our sympathies today rightfully belong with any who were falsely accused of promoting world communism. However, those who actually supported, whether directly or indirectly, the most brutal and murderous regimes in human history deserve nothing short of our pity and unending contempt.

CHARLES HAIGH

Redondo Beach

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As one of the handful of remaining blacklisted Hollywood writers, I want to express my appreciation for the fine Patrick Goldstein article about my old friend, Dalton Trumbo. Goldstein is fair to all, has done his research and manages a touch of wry humor that certainly would have pleased Trumbo.

It is especially appropriate that at this Oscar season, we recall the deplorable role of the academy, which chose not to stand by the film artists it is presumed to represent but joined the meanest elements in Hollywood and in the country in denying the right and obligation of artists to be dissidents, a right that is so essential to a free, meaningful and useful expression.

BERNARD GORDON

Los Angeles