The House Unamerican Activities Committee starts calling witnesses. Their hearings with Tinseltown celebrities create a sensation and put Hollywood's alleged communists in the spotlight. Dalton Trumbo is among those summoned to Washington for hearings. Oona Chaplin explains why her grandfather Charlie was not called to appear, despite his reputation as a leftist. Actress Katharine Hepburn takes a public stand against HUAC, mocking its hearings at a Los Angeles rally.

Archive used:

Testimony of J. Edgar Hoover before HUAC, National Archives and Records Administration, 1947 Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood Show, 25 February 1951 Katharine Hepburn for Progressive Citizens of America at Gilmore Stadium, Alco Records, 1947 ‘Monsieur Verdoux’, Charlie Chaplin, United Artists, 1947 Recordings of House Unamerican Activities Committee by Paramount Newsreels

Friday 1 August 2025 Morning Prayer for Friday in Ordinary Time