Hollywood Left and Right: How Movie Stars Shaped American PoliticsIn Hollywood Left and Right, Steven J. Ross tells a story that has escaped public attention: the emergence of Hollywood as a vital center of political life and the important role that movie stars have played in shaping the course of American politics. Ever since the film industry relocated to Hollywood early in the twentieth century, it has had an outsized influence on American politics. Through compelling larger-than-life figures in American cinema--Charlie Chaplin, Louis B. Mayer, Edward G. Robinson, George Murphy, Ronald Reagan, Harry Belafonte, Jane Fonda, Charlton Heston, Warren Beatty, and Arnold Schwarzenegger--Hollywood Left and Right reveals how the film industry's engagement in politics has been longer, deeper, and more varied than most people would imagine. As shown in alternating chapters, the Left and the Right each gained ascendancy in Tinseltown at different times. From Chaplin, whose movies almost always displayed his leftist convictions, to Schwarzenegger's nearly seamless transition from action blockbusters to the California governor's mansion, Steven J. Ross traces the intersection of Hollywood and political activism from the early twentieth century to the present. Hollywood Left and Right challenges the commonly held belief that Hollywood has always been a bastion of liberalism. The real story, as Ross shows in this passionate and entertaining work, is far more complicated. First, Hollywood has a longer history of conservatism than liberalism. Second, and most surprising, while the Hollywood Left was usually more vocal and visible, the Right had a greater impact on American political life, capturing a senate seat (Murphy), a governorship (Schwarzenegger), and the ultimate achievement, the Presidency (Reagan). |
Contents
3 | |
11 | |
LOUIS B MAYER | 51 |
EDWARD G ROBINSON | 89 |
GEORGE MURPHY AND RONALD REAGAN | 131 |
HARRY BELAFONTE | 185 |
JANE FONDA | 227 |
Other editions - View all
Hollywood Left and Right: How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics Steven J. Ross Limited preview - 2011 |
Hollywood Left and Right: How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics Steven J. Ross Limited preview - 2011 |
Hollywood Left and Right: How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics Steven J. Ross No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
activism activists actor actress American Angeles antiwar April Arnold Schwarzenegger audiences August Author interview Beatty’s Belafonte’s box-office Bulworth California campaign candidate career celebrity Charlie Chaplin Charlton Heston Chicago cinematic citizens civil rights Committee Communist conservative December DeMille Democratic Edward G EGR Coll election explained February film folder George Murphy governor groups Harry Belafonte Hart Hayden Hedda Hopper Hollywood Hollywood left Hollywood Reporter Hoover Hopper HUAC Jane Fonda January John July June King Koverman later leaders liberal Little Caesar Louis March Mayer McGovern million Moses movement movie industry movie stars Murphy’s Nixon November October organization Party People’s percent played political politicians poll popular president presidential producer proved quoted radical rallies reporter Republican Robinson role Ronald Reagan Schwarzenegger’s screen Senator September speech studio television tion told Vietnam vote voters wanted Warner Warren Beatty York