Lillian Hellman

Lillian Florence Hellman (June 20, 1905 – June 30, 1984) was a Jewish-American playwright and Marxist, romantically involved for thirty years with pulp writer Dashiell Hammett. She was also a long-time friend of poet Dorothy Parker.

Blacklist

Lillian Hellman appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1952. Asked to name names of acquaintances with communist affiliations, Hellman instead read a prepared statement containing the following quote:

Related Topics:
House Un-American Activities Committee - 1952 - Communist

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:"To hurt innocent people whom I knew many years ago in order to save myself is, to me, inhuman and indecent and dishonorable. I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions, even though I long ago came to the conclusion that I was not a political person and could have no comfortable place in any political group."

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As a result, Hellman was blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studio bosses for many years.

Related Topics:
Blacklisted - Hollywood - Movie studio

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