Hollywood Speaks Out

Hollywood Speaks Out explores that rare Hollywood feature that dared to tackle red-hot, social issues whilst American society was gripped by the convulsion and controversy they generated.

• Explores why Hollywood has always been risk-adverse, and how most feature flms deal with controversial issues long after the controversy is past
• Organized around such important issues as poverty, racism, sexism, war, anti-Semitism, and homophobia
• Discusses the relevance and the impact of feature films from Modern Times to WALL-E

List of Figures ix

Foreword x

Introduction 1

1 Overview 8
But who will come to see it?

2 War 26
Hell for whom?

3 Anti-Semitism 49
Some of my best friends . . .

4 Prison and Justice Systems 63
Not separate but unequal

5 Labor–Management 82
Whose side are you on?

6 Poverty 102
Anyone can play

7 Racism 124
Recipe for superiority

8 Politics 152
The good and the bad

9 Homophobia 183
Who’s a bigot?

10 Technology 205
Can we beat the machine?

11 Sexism 219
Protecting old boys’ egos

12 Hide or Seek 234
Other genres: Will Hollywood shut up or speak up?

Selected Readings 248

Index 250

Robert L. Hilliard has taught at a number of universities throughout his career as a film and communication studies scholar, Dr. Hilliard was Chief of the Public Broadcasting Branch of the Federal Communications Commission and was Chair of the Federal Interagency Media Committee. He is the author of many books, including Writing for Television, Radio, and New Media (2007), and with co-author Michael Keith, The Broadcast Century and Beyond: A History of U.S. Radio and Television (2005); The Quieted Voice: The Rise and Demise of Localism in American Radio (2004), and Dirty Discourse: Sex and Indecency in Broadcasting (Wiley-Blackwell 2006). In spite of its professed liberalism, Hollywood has always been risk-adverse, and most feature films deal with controversial issues long after the controversy is past. Hollywood Speaks Out explores that rare Hollywood feature that dared to tackle red-hot, social issues while America herself struggled to come to terms . Organized around issues that map the culture wars of the past and the present moment--poverty, racism, sexism, war, anti-Semitism, and homophobia--this engaging text captures American cultural and social history in cinematic real-time--from The Birth of a Nation, Boys Don’t Cry, and American Beauty to Silkwood, Syriana, and Transamerica.