The Battle for Hollywood

 

In 1950, as Hollywood was roiled by the investigations of the House Committee on Un-American Activities and the Hollywood 10 were fresh in memory, a war broke out between legendary director Cecil B. DeMille and relative director newcomer Joseph L. Mankiewicz, whom DeMille had practically appointed as president of the Screen Directors Guild. The object of that war was DeMille's demand that SDG adopt a compulsory loyalty oath. Mankiewicz refused and subsequently DeMille organized a recall campaign that led to one of the most celebrated union hall meetings in history at the Beverly Hills Hotel.  This week, Steve is joined by former Showtime President of Programming Jerry Offsay, screenwriter/author Steve Molton and film historian Avie Hern as they talk about their film project, currently in development, which details this dramatic "Battle for Hollywood."