“Red & Black: Hollywood's Blacklist” explores the history of the Hollywood Blacklist and the era of McCarthyism. Through the stories of filmmakers and actors caught in the anti-communist witch hunts of the mid-twentieth century, the series examines how censorship and political pressure transformed American cinema.
Combining original research, archival recordings, film clips, expert contributions, and music, the podcast traces the rise and fall of the blacklist while reflecting on its lasting impact on culture, politics, and freedom of expression.
In this first episode, we dive into the history of the Hollywood Blacklist and the era of McCarthyism. From the persecution of the Hollywood Ten to the wider impact on the American film industry, we examine how political pressure, censorship, and fear reshaped Hollywood and challenged the boundaries of artistic freedom.
10 Jun 2026
02. From Hot War to Cold War: Years of Anxiety
From Charlie Chaplin to Dashiell Hammett, this episode explores how the FBI’s surveillance of artists and filmmakers fueled the rise of the Red Scare. Focusing on wartime Hollywood, political propaganda, and the growing fear of communist influence, it reveals how cinema became a battleground for ideology, censorship, and freedom of expression.
10 Jun 2026
03. The Cinema of the Left and the Radical
As postwar tensions intensified, Hollywood became a battleground for competing political visions. This episode explores the rise of independent filmmaking, the influence of left-wing artists, and the growing anti-communist backlash fueled by industry leaders, political organizations, and cultural commentators. A pivotal chapter in the story leading to the Hollywood Blacklist.
10 Jun 2026
04. HUAC Attacks!
This episode chronicles the HUAC hearings that led to the imprisonment of most members the Hollywood Ten and the creation of the Hollywood Blacklist. Through the testimonies of writers and directors, it explores the growing climate of fear that paved the way for McCarthyism, political persecution, and one of the darkest chapters in the history of American entertainment.
10 Jun 2026
05. Blacklisted and Rejected: Fronts and Exiles
Years after the Hollywood Blacklist began, its effects were still being felt across the film industry. This episode explores how blacklisted artists found ways to keep working through pseudonyms, exile and independent filmmaking, while Hollywood increasingly embraced anti-communist narratives.
10 Jun 2026
06. The New Left and Coming Out of Darkness
This episode traces the decline of the Hollywood Blacklist, from Dalton Trumbo’s public credit on Spartacus to the return of politically engaged filmmaking in the 1960s. Reflecting on the legacy of McCarthyism, it explores how fear, censorship, and ideological pressure reshaped Amercian culture, and why the consequences of the blacklist continue to resonate today.
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