In Secrecy's Shadow: The OSS and CIA in Hollywood Cinema 1941-1979During the Second World War hundreds of Hollywood filmmakers under the command of the legendary director John Ford enlisted in the OSS to produce training, reconnaissance and propaganda films. This wartime bond continued into the post-war period, when a number of studios produced films advocating the creation of a permanent peacetime successor to the OSS: what became the Central Intelligence Agency. By the 1960s however, Hollywood's increasingly irreverent attitude towards the CIA reflected a growing public anxiety about excessive US government secrecy. In Secrecy's Shadow provides the first comprehensive history of the birth and development of Hollywood's relationship with American intelligence. It takes an interdisciplinary approach, synthesizing literatures and methodologies from diplomatic history, film studies and cultural theory, and it presents new perspectives on a number of major filmmakers including Darryl F. Zanuck, Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford. Based on research conducted in over 20 archival repositories across the United States and UK, In Secrecy's Shadow explores the revolution in the relationship between Hollywood and the secret state, from unwavering trust and cooperation to extreme scepticism and paranoia, and demonstrates the debilitating effects of secrecy upon public trust in government and the stability of national memory. |
Contents
Hollywoods History of the OSS | |
The CIA and Hollywood in the Early Cold | |
The Death of the Big Lie and the Emergence of Postmodern | |
Secrecy Conspiracy Cinema and the CIA in the 1970s | |
Conclusion | |
Select Filmography | |
Other editions - View all
In Secrecy's Shadow: The OSS and CIA in Hollywood Cinema 1941-1979 Simon Willmetts Limited preview - 2016 |
In Secrecy's Shadow: The OSS and CIA in Hollywood Cinema 1941-1979 Simon Willmetts No preview available - 2016 |
In Secrecy's Shadow: The OSS and CIA in Hollywood Cinema 1941-1979 Simon Willmetts No preview available - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
action activities Agency agent Alfred American appeared asked authenticity authority Bond British camp central CIA’s cinema Cloak and Dagger Cold Cold War Collections conspiracy continued Cooper Correspondence covert critical culture Days decade director documentary Donovan Dulles effect espionage establishment example fictional Figure File film film’s filmmakers final Folder Ford’s foreign former helped Hitchcock Hollywood idea intelligence intelligence agency Italy James John Ford Joseph later least Library London Louis de Rochemont major Mankiewicz March military motion picture narrative Nazi North by Northwest Notes novel offered official Oliver Stone opening operations perhaps played political presented President production question record relations representation Richard Robert scene screen Second secrecy secret semi-documentary Senator Source story studio suggested television thing Three thriller United University Press Vietnam View World York Zanuck