What were some cinema responses to the Cold War?

Question

I need to know what changes in Cinema during the cold war...I know that a lot more science fiction movies came out during this period

Answer 1

"Fail Safe" reflected the mood of the country....what with the Cuban Missile Crisis, Red scare and doomsday ethos......

Answer 2

The most telling effect of the Cold War on cinema in the US was the blacklisting of screenwriters, directors and actors because of their membership or former membership in the American Communist party. Many well-known hollywood artists were denied work on this basis. One notable screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, continued to write and used intermediaries to present his work. He was the actual writer of such film classics as Spartacus and Exodus. See the link below for complete information.

As mentioned previously, science fiction films were popular (for a variety of reasons, notably the advent of the drive-in theater). One movie stands out in my mind, The Beast with a Million Eyes, which was so thinly veiled anti-communist propaganda that even as a child I recognized it for what it was.

Even television was affected. In the early fifties there was a program called "I was a communist for the FBI" which starred Richard Carlson. The introduction each week was given by none other than J. Edgar Hoover himself. He did not, however, appear in a dress ;-) Of course, none of the supposed plots depicted in the program ever took place.

Answer 3

Actually the science fiction movies were used as a metaphor for the unknown soviet society. The men from space or from the swamp or whatever were NEVER friendly. They were always unreasoning killers. The Manchurian Candidate is a wonderful example of the despicable practise of brain-washing. I'm talking about the 1961 (?) version with Frank Sinatra, not the recent version with Denzel Washington.

The science fiction creatures represented the soviet and/or the Chinese governments and could never be understood because they were "not like us." Great propoganda.

Answer 4

'Salt of the Earth' (1953), a film written and directed by the victims of the Hollywood Blacklist. To truly understand the Cold War and Cinema, you need to look at the "The Only Blacklisted American Film".

Answer 5

Dr Strangelove immediately comes to mind

Answer 6

Red Dawn is a cool as anti commie movie. Patrick Swayze kicks a ton of marxist butt.