Ayn Rand and McCarthyism!

 

AYN RAND 

The Russian emigre and author Ayn Rand, (Alisa Rozenbaum 1905- 1982), who wrote the pro-capitalist novels Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, also wrote the Hollywood screen guide for making good capitalist movies in 1947. She also helped the FBI "identity" the film 'It's a Wonderful Life', as a piece of communist propaganda.

Her screen guide was broken down into 13 Commandments: (1) Don't take politics lightly; (2) Don't smear the free enterprise system; (3) Don't smear industrialists; (4) Don't smear wealth; (5) Don't smear the profit motive; (6) Don't smear success; (7) Don't glorify failure; ( Don't glorify depravity; (9) Don't deify the 'common man'; (10) Don't glorify the collective; (11) Don't smear an independent man; (12) Don't use current events carelessly; (13) Don't smear American political institutions.

Although her novel The Fountainhead was adapted for film in 1949, and starred Gary Cooper, I doubt whether many films produced for the cinema have ever passed Rand's pro-capitalist test. But it did spell the end for an Hollywood actor like Charles Chaplin, who after returning to the UK after 21 years, was banned from re-entering the U.S. in 1952, because he was seen to have Communist sympathies which some felt, were reflected in his films, like Modern Times.

Rand did give evidence to the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities in 1947, during the McCarthy era. Chaplin was called before the Committee but refused to co-operate. Chaplin was signaled out for refusing to cross a picket line during a strike in Hollywood during 1945-46. He was criticized for praising the efforts of the Soviet Union during WWII, and he was smeared by the FBI over a sex scandal involving young girls. The Hollywood gossip columnist, Hedda Hopper, was also know to be feeding dirt and scandal on Chaplin to the FBI.

Personally, I regard Charlie Chaplin as one of the greatest comic actors of all time. If there's such a thing as a comic genius it was him. Similarly, Frank Capra's film "It's a wonderful life", starring James Stewart, is one of my favourite films of all time. I've watched the film numerous times and love it.

Although Rand has been politically influential in America, where her book Atlas Shrugged is regarded as the Bible of the American Congress and the emblem of the Tea Party, she never quite lived up to her own ideals. Despite her loathing for government welfare systems, altruism, and the "common man", in later life, as her health failed her, she finished up claiming social security and state health care.

I doubt whether Rand's vision of a dog-eat-dog society based on unfettered capitalism, will ever have any popular appeal but it will appeal to the rich and successful, who she portrays as victims. In the 1959, interview with the American news presenter, and journalist, Mike Wallace, Rand's self made personal philosophy, was criticzsed for its lack of morality and compassion.