Locarno Film Festival Unveils Timely Retrospective on Hollywood Left and Blacklist, Reflecting Political Turbulence of Today
The Locarno Film Festival is set to present a significant retrospective titled Red & Black – Hollywood Left and the Blacklist, which highlights a tumultuous era in American cinema. This year’s festival, running from August 5 to 15, aims to explore the “Red Scare” and the notorious Hollywood blacklist during the McCarthy era, a period marked by political repression and artistic resistance.
A Complex Portrait of an Era
From 1947 to the early 1960s, Hollywood faced a crackdown on professionals suspected of communist affiliations. The retrospective promises to provide a nuanced view of a time when creatives confronted unprecedented abuses of power. The festival emphasizes that this examination is particularly relevant today, as it mirrors ongoing political attacks on free speech and artistic freedom.
Produced in collaboration with the Cinémathèque Suisse and supported by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, the retrospective is curated by Ehsan Khoshbakht. The program includes over 50 films, documentaries, shorts, and newsreels featuring notable figures such as John Garfield, Joseph Losey, Dalton Trumbo, Dorothy Parker, Richard Wright, and Charlie Chaplin.
Films Highlighting Polarized Politics
The retrospective will showcase a range of films that illuminate the political climate of the time, including The North Star (1943), None But the Lonely Heart (1944), Crossfire (1947), and High Noon (1952). These works reflect the allegations of communist infiltration in Hollywood during the Cold War and the impact of the blacklist on artists’ careers, often forcing them to adopt pseudonyms or seek exile.
Khoshbakht notes that the retrospective is particularly timely, as the terminology from the McCarthy era has resurfaced in contemporary political discourse. He points out that phrases like “the radical Left” echo the language used during the Red Scare, illustrating how both sides of the political spectrum have appropriated this historical rhetoric.
Researching the Blacklist
Khoshbakht’s research for the retrospective involved extensive examination of literature and declassified FBI files, providing a rich context for understanding the blacklist’s impact on Hollywood. He emphasizes the importance of oral histories from the victims of the blacklist, particularly the Hollywood Ten, who documented their experiences in the late 1970s.
The title Red & Black was chosen to reflect the dual focus on the Hollywood Left and the blacklist itself. Khoshbakht explains that the program examines the journey of the Hollywood Left from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, making it clear that the retrospective encompasses multiple narratives.
Diverse Voices and Perspectives
The retrospective includes a variety of voices affected by the blacklist, not just traditional Hollywood figures. It features works by Dorothy Parker, Richard Wright, and jazz musician Artie Shaw, who also faced repercussions during this period. Khoshbakht highlights that the program aims to present a broader and more accurate picture of the left and the blacklist in Hollywood.
The inclusion of various genres and media types, such as newsreels, aims to enrich the audience’s understanding of the era. Khoshbakht has partnered with the UCLA Film & Television Archive to showcase original newsreels produced by Hearst Media, which played a significant role in the anti-communist witch hunt.
Documentaries Premiering at the Festival
The retrospective will feature world premieres of two new documentaries. One, titled Dangerous Citizen: The Life and Times of Abraham Polonsky, focuses on the writer who created significant works for blacklisted artists but directed only one film before facing the blacklist. The second documentary, La Liste Noire d’Hollywood: Par ceux qui l’ont vécue, presents previously unseen footage of surviving members of the blacklist from a gathering in the early 1980s.
Khoshbakht notes that the retrospective serves as an opportunity to re-examine films and their allegorical connections to McCarthyism. He encourages audiences to engage with the material critically, considering how these narratives resonate with contemporary issues.
The Legacy of the Blacklist
The retrospective also addresses the complexities surrounding figures like Charlie Chaplin, who was under FBI surveillance due to his progressive views. Khoshbakht explains that Chaplin’s case exemplifies the intricate relationship between politics and art during this era.
The program will also explore the Hollywood Ten and other figures affected by the blacklist, emphasizing that the retrospective is not solely about martyrdom but rather a comprehensive examination of the left’s evolution during this tumultuous period.
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.
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Published on 2026-07-31 09:30:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk