Hollywood Left and Right : How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics

From The Publisher. In Hollywood Left And Right, Steven J. Ross Tells A Story That Has Escaped Public Attention: The Emergence Of Hollywood As A Vital Center Of Political Life And The Important Role That Movie Stars Have Played In Shaping The Course Of American Politics. Ever Since The Film Industry Relocated To Hollywood Early In The Twentieth Century, It Has Had An Outsized Influence On American Politics. Through Compelling Larger-than-life Figures In American Cinema -- Charlie Chaplin, Louis B. Mayer, Edward G. Robinson, George Murphy, Ronald Reagan, Harry Belafonte, Jane Fonda, Charlton Heston, Warren Beatty, And Arnold Schwarzenegger -- Hollywood Left And Right Reveals How The Film Industry's Engagement In Politics Has Been Longer, Deeper, And More Varied Than Most People Would Imagine. As Shown In Alternating Chapters, The Left And The Right Each Gained Ascendancy In Tinseltown At Different Times. From Chaplin, Whose Movies Almost Always Displayed His Leftist Convictions, To Schwarzenegger's Nearly Seamless Transition From Action Blockbusters To The California Governor's Mansion, Steven J. Ross Traces The Intersection Of Hollywood And Political Activism From The Early Twentieth Century To The Present. Hollywood Left And Right Challenges The Commonly Held Belief That Hollywood Has Always Been A Bastion Of Liberalism. The Real Story, As Ross Shows In This Passionate And Entertaining Work, Is Far More Complicated. First, Hollywood Has A Longer History Of Conservatism Than Liberalism. Second, And Most Surprising, While The Hollywood Left Was Usually More Vocal And Visible, The Right Had A Greater Impact On American Political Life, Capturing A Senate Seat (murphy), A Governorship (schwarzenegger), And The Ultimate Achievement, The Presidency (reagan). Introduction: Movie Stars And Politics -- The First Political Movie Star: Charlie Chaplin -- The Man Who Brought Hollywood Into The Republican Party: Louis B. Mayer -- Little Caesar And The Huac Mob: Edward G. Robinson -- Hollywood And The Conservative Revolution: George Murphy And Ronald Reagan -- Politics In Black And White: Harry Belafonte -- Movement Leader, Grassroots Builder: Jane Fonda -- Moses And The Red Tide: Charlton Heston -- President Bulworth, Or, Will Mr. Beatty Go To Washington?: Warren Beatty -- Governor Arnold And The Age Of Celebrity Politics: Arnold Schwarzenegger -- Epilogue. Steven J. Ross. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In Hollywood Left and Right, Steven J. Ross tells an important story that has escaped public attention: the emergence of Hollywood as a vital center of political life and the important role that movie stars have played in shaping the course of American politics. Ever since the film industry relocated to Hollywood early in the twentieth century, it has had an outsized influence on American politics. Through compelling larger-than-life figures in American cinema - Charlie Chaplin, Louis B. Mayer, Edward G. Robinson, George Murphy, Ronald Reagan, Harry Belafonte, Jane Fonda, Charlton Heston, Warren Beatty, and Arnold Schwarzenegger - Hollywood Left and Right reveals how Hollywood's engagement in politics has been longer, deeper, and more varied than most people would imagine. As shown in alternating chapters, the Left and the Right each gained ascendancy in Tinseltown at different times. From Chaplin, whose movies almost always displayed his leftist convictions, to Schwarzenegger's nearly seamless transition from action blockbusters to the California governor's mansion, Ross traces the intersection of Hollywood and political activism from the early twentieth century to the present. Hollywood Left and Right challenges the commonly held belief that Hollywood has always been a bastion of liberalism. The real story, as Ross shows in this passionate and entertaining work, is far more complicated. First, Hollywood has a longer history of conservatism than liberalism. Second, and most surprising, while the Hollywood Left was usually more vocal and visible, the Right had a greater impact on American political life, capturing a senate seat (Murphy), a governorship (Schwarzenegger), and the ultimate achievement, the Presidency (Reagan) "Ever since the film industry relocated to Hollywood early in the twentieth century, it has had an outsized influence on American politics. Almost immediately, the savviest stars and moguls learned that their ability to attract millions of fans also meant that they could sway public opinion. Through compelling larger-than-life figures in American cinema - Charlie Chaplin, Louis B. Mayer, Edward G. Robinson, George Murphy, Ronald Reagan, Harry Belafonte, Jane Fonda, Charlton Heston, Warren Beatty, and Arnold Schwarzenegger - Hollywood Left and Right reveals how Hollywood's engagement in politics has been longer, deeper, and more varied than most people would imagine. Alternating between stars from the right and the left, Steven J. Ross shows how each gained ascendancy in Tinseltown in different periods. From Chaplin, whose movies almost always displayed his leftist convictions, to Schwarzenegger's nearly seamless transition from action blockbusters to the California governor's mansion, Ross shows how both left and right activism in Hollywood reinforced the defining trends in American politics from the early 1900s to the present. Most significantly, Hollywood Left and Right challenges the commonly held belief that Hollywood has always been a bastion of liberalism. The real story, as Ross demonstrates in this passionate and entertaining work, is far more complicated. Most surprisingly, while the Hollywood left was usually more vocal and visible, the right had a greater impact on American political life, capturing a Senate seat (Murphy), a governorship (Schwarzenegger), and the ultimate achievement, the Presidency (Reagan)."--Jacket Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 INTRODUCTION: MOVIE STARS AND POLITICS......Page 16 1 THE FIRST POLITICAL MOVIE STAR: CHARLIE CHAPLIN......Page 24 2 THE MAN WHO BROUGHT HOLLYWOOD INTO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY: LOUIS B. MAYER......Page 64 3 LITTLE CAESAR AND THE HUAC MOB: EDWARD G. ROBINSON......Page 102 4 HOLLYWOOD AND THE CONSERVATIVE REVOLUTION: GEORGE MURPHY AND RONALD REAGAN......Page 144 5 POLITICS IN BLACK AND WHITE: HARRY BELAFONTE......Page 198 6 MOVEMENT LEADER, GRASSROOTS BUILDER: JANE FONDA......Page 240 7 MOSES AND THE RED TIDE: CHARLTON HESTON......Page 284 8 PRESIDENT BULWORTH, OR, WILL MR. BEATTY GO TO WASHINGTON? WARREN BEATTY......Page 328 9 GOVERNOR ARNOLD AND THE AGE OF CELEBRITY POLITICS: ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER......Page 376 EPILOGUE......Page 422 Notes......Page 432 A......Page 496 B......Page 497 C......Page 498 F......Page 500 G......Page 501 H......Page 502 J......Page 503 L......Page 504 M......Page 505 N......Page 506 P......Page 507 R......Page 508 S......Page 510 T......Page 511 W......Page 512 Z......Page 513