[ Freedom of Speeech; Democracy; the Film industry ] John Howard Lawson petitioner [...] Brief of Alexander Meiklejohn, of Cultural Workers in Motion Pictures and Other Arts, and of Members of the Professions, as Amici Curiae

[vi].36, 8vo, paper wraps, edges sunned, minor creasing, mainly good condition. Notes: A. "John Howard Lawson ( 1894 - 1977) was an American writer. He was for several years head of the Hollywood division of the Communist Party USA. He was also the organization's cultural manager and answered directly to V.J. Jerome, the Party's New York-based cultural chief. He was the first president of the Writers Guild of America, West after the Screen Writers Guild divided into two regional organizations": B. " Lawson was one of the Hollywood Ten, the first group of American film industry professionals to be blacklisted during the 1950s McCarthy era." And Freedom of Speech and Democracy were major subjects in the thinking of Meiklejohn's philosophical studies; C. A lengthy list of Amici Curiae (6pp., double column) include Sam Wanamaker (of course) , Fred Zimmerman, Burt Lancaster, Joseph Losey, Carl Foreman, etc etc. Many fell foul of McCarthy during his witch-hunt (from 1953), but oppression was rife in the late 40s.