Hollywood Exile, or How I Learned to Love the Blacklist (Texas Film and Media Studies Series)

In this memoir, the American screenwriter recounts his time spent on the Hollywood blacklist in the mid-twentieth century. The Hollywood blacklist, which began in the late 1940s and ran well into the 1960s, ended or curtailed the careers of hundreds of people accused of having ties to the Communist Party. Bernard Gordon was one of them. In this highly readable memoir, he tells an engrossing insider's story of what it was like to be blacklisted and how he and others continued to work uncredited behind the scenes, writing and producing many box office hits of the era. Gordon describes how the blacklist cut short his screenwriting career in Hollywood and forced him to work in Europe. Ironically, though, his is a success story that includes the films El Cid , 55 Days at Peking , The Thin Red Line , Krakatoa East of Java , Day of the Triffids , Earth vs. the Flying Saucers , Horror Express , and many others. He recounts the making of many movies for which he was the writer and/or producer, with wonderful anecdotes about stars such as Charlton Heston, David Niven, Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, and James Mason; directors Nicholas Ray, Frank Capra, and Anthony Mann; and the producer-studio head team of Philip Yordan and Samuel Bronston. “Gordon’s story is one of triumphing over adversity, as he managed to make a decent living and live a rather exotic life peopled with colourful characters, while maintaining his moral integrity. It’s an inspiring, fascinating read.” — Reel Ink “Gordon never pulls his punches in this anecdotal autobiography, filled with intimate details and vivid novelistic passages. A born storyteller, he writes with warmth and humor, and there's an emotional edge to his razor-sharp recall.” — Publishers Weekly Movingly Describes How The Blacklist Cut Short His Screenwriting Career In Hollywood And Forced Him To Work In France And Spain. Ironically, Though, His Is A Success Story That Includes The Films El Cid, 55 Days At Peking, The Thin Red Line, Krakatoa East Of Java, Day Of The Triffids, Earth Vs. The Flying Saucer, Horror Express, And Many Others. The Hollywood Blacklist, Which Began In The Late 1940s And Ran Well Into The 1960s, Ended Or Curtailed The Careers Of Hundreds Of People Accused Of Having Ties To The Communist Party. Bernard Gordon Was One Of Them. In This Highly Readable Memoir, He Tells An Engrossing Insider's Story Of What It Was Like To Be Blacklisted And How He And Others Continued To Work Uncredited Behind The Scenes, Often In Europe, Writing And Producing Many Box Office Hits And Cult Classics Of The Era. Gordon Movingly Describes How The Blacklist Cut Short His Screenwriting Career In Hollywood And Forced Him To Work In France And Spain. Ironically, Though, His Is A Success Story That Includes The Films El Cid, 55 Days At Peking, The Thin Red Line, Krakatoa East Of Java, Day Of The Triffids, Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers, Horror Express, And Many Others.^ He Recounts The Making Of These And Other Movies For Which He Was The Writer And/or Producer, With Wonderful Anecdotes About Stars Such As Charlton Heston, David Niven, Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, And James Mason; Directors Nicholas Ray, Frank Capra, And Anthony Mann; And The Producer-studio Head Team Of Philip Yordan And Samuel Bronston, With Whom Gordon Worked Extensively. In 1997, The Writers Guild Of America Began Publicly Re-crediting Screenplays To The Authors Who Wrote Them During The Blacklist Era. Bernard Gordon's Name Has So Far Appeared More Often Than Any Other. From This Unique Vantage Point, He Offers A Clear-eyed Perspective On The Intended And Unexpected Consequences Of The Hollywood Blacklist That He Successfully, If Anonymously, Defeated. It's A Story As Entertaining As Any Of His Movies. During A Thirty-year Career, Bernard Gordon Was The Writer Or Producer Of More Than Twenty Motion Pictures.^ An Active Trade Unionist In Hollywood During The 1940s, He Was Named As A Communist During The Infamous House Un-american Activities Committee Hearings In Washington In 1947. Now Retired From Active Work In Films, But Still Writing, He Lives In Los Angeles.--dust Jacket. By Bernard Gordon. Includes Index. Filmography: P. [293]-296. "The Hollywood blacklist, which began in the late 1940s and ran well into the 1960s, ended or curtailed the careers of hundreds of people accused of having ties to the Communist Party. Bernard Gordon was one of them. In this memoir, he tells an insider's story of what it was like to be blacklisted and how he and others continued to work uncredited behind the scenes, often in Europe, writing and producing many box office hits and cult classics of the era."--BOOK JACKET. "Gordon movingly describes how the blacklist cut short his screenwriting career in Hollywood and forced him to work in France and Spain. Ironically, though, his is a success story that includes the films El Cid, 55 Days at Peking, The Thin Red Line, Krakatoa East of Java, Day of the Triffids, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, Horror Express, and many others. He recounts the making of these and other movies for which he was the writer and/or producer, with wonderful anecdotes about stars such as Charlton Heston, David Niven, Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, and James Mason; directors Nicholas Ray, Frank Capra, and Anthony Mann; and the producer - studio head team of Philip Yordan and Samuel Bronston, with whom Gordon worked extensively."--BOOK JACKET. "In 1997, the Writers Guild of America began publicly re-crediting screenplays to the authors who wrote them during the blacklist era. Bernard Gordon's name has so far appeared more often than any other. From this unique vantage point, he offers a clear-eyed perspective on the intended and unexpected consequences of the Hollywood blacklist that he successfully, if anonymously, defeated."--BOOK JACKET. In this highly readable memoir, Bernard Gordon tells a engrossing insider's story of what it was like to be blacklisted and how he and others continued to work uncredited behind the scenes, writing and producing many box office hits of the era.