# Hollywood leans left: why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 19, 2006, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632 "2006-01-19T07:16:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/101 "2006-01-20T19:20:29Z")
After actually clicking on some of those links, I see they’re not even real reviews, they’re just reader reviews by screaming, right wing retards who probably didn’t even see the movies. One more time: what is partisan about those movies? Is anti-Mccarthyism a “liberal” position? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/102 "2006-01-20T19:24:20Z")
Why does a movie have to be partisan in order to be political? Syriana portrays a government that is so in league with “big oil” that it assassinates the leaders of other countries in order to enrich “big oil”. While not expicitly partisan, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand the link that the left often associates between Rebublicans (esp. Bush) and “big oil”. I didn’t see Goodnight, but the reviewers that I read complained that it showed the E.R. Murrow side as unbelmished saints, while igoring the real threat of communism that existed during the cold war. I’m not saying I agree with that, because I haven’t seen the movie. I’m just relaying what I’ve read. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/103 "2006-01-20T19:35:33Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I didn’t see Goodnight, but the reviewers that I read complained that it showed the E.R. Murrow side as unbelmished saints, while igoring the real threat of communism that existed during the cold war. Based on what I’ve read of the history of the period, Murrow et al. **were** unblemished saints, at least with respect to this particular issue, and not in the least deceived about the Soviets. More importantly, it is a historical fact that the MCarthy hearings served no real purpose than McCarthy’s self-aggrandizement; there **were** Communists in the State Department, etc., but Truman had already purged them before McCarthy started making an issue of it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/104 "2006-01-20T19:43:53Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Based on what I’ve read of the history of the period, Murrow et al. **were** unblemished saints, at least with respect to this particular issue, and not in the least deceived about the Soviets. More importantly, it is a historical fact that the MCarthy hearings served no real purpose than McCarthy’s self-aggrandizement; there **were** Communists in the State Department, etc., but Truman had already purged them before McCarthy started making an issue of it. You obviously haven’t read Ann Coulter’s version! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/105 "2006-01-20T19:56:26Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Why does a movie have to be partisan in order to be political? > > Syriana portrays a government that is so in league with “big oil” that it assassinates the leaders of other countries in order to enrich “big oil”. While not expicitly partisan, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand the link that the left often associates between Rebublicans (esp. Bush) and “big oil”. But the movie doesn’t suggest that “the Republicans” are to blame, it suggests that the shrinking supply of oil combined with the increasing demand worldwide is bound to lead to corrupion _regardless_ of who’s in charge. There’s nothing “liberal” about that position. > [@](#): > > I didn’t see Goodnight, but the reviewers that I read complained that it showed the E.R. Murrow side as unbelmished saints, while igoring the real threat of communism that existed during the cold war. I’m not saying I agree with that, because I haven’t seen the movie. I’m just relaying what I’ve read. That’s an inaccurate take on the movie. Murrow is not portrayed as anything but hostile and contemptuous towards communism. The film is about Murrow’s decision to condemn McCarthy for his _tactics_, not for his ideology and it does not remotely defend Communism. It’s also extremely accurate as far as I can tell. It uses real transcripts and archival footage for the most part. I’m not aware of a single thing in the film which was portrayed dishonestly or inaccurately. McCarthy himself is portrayed only in archival footage. There is no actor and no written dialogue for any scene that he’s in. It doesn’t get anymore accurate than that. Do you believe that anti-McCarthyism is a “liberal” position? Do you beloieve that condemning McCarthy is the same as endorsing Communism? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/106 "2006-01-20T20:01:25Z")
By the way, _Brokeback Mountain_ is [still the number one movie in the country](http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2006-01-18&p=.htm). Here’s an article from [Variety](http://www.variety.com/VR1117936467.html) about it. It’s supposed to open in a lot more theaters today and they’re expecting a big weekend. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/107 "2006-01-20T20:22:03Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > But the movie doesn’t suggest that “the Republicans” are to blame, it suggests that the shrinking supply of oil combined with the increasing demand worldwide is bound to lead to corrupion _regardless_ of who’s in charge. There’s nothing “liberal” about that position. Really? But like I said, something doesn’t have to be partisan to be political. > [@](#): > > Do you believe that anti-McCarthyism is a “liberal” position? Do you beloieve that condemning McCarthy is the same as endorsing Communism? Dude, I said I was only relaying what I read and that it wasn’t my view. I’ll see it when it comes out on DVD and get back to you. 🙂 As for Brokeback, those numbers still say “estimate”. I wonder why. But there’s no doubt it has jumped to the top if it isn’t at the very top. It’ll drop down below #1 by Monday, though, if not today. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! 🙂 I’m going to see the new _Underworld_ movie today. I’ll report back on any liberal bias I spot. Let’s see: vampires… bloodsuckers… Republicans!!! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/108 "2006-01-20T20:33:03Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > But like I said, something doesn’t have to be partisan to be political. But question is “Is Hollywood leftist?” In addressing this question, what does it matter if a movie is “political” unless it is political in a “leftist” way? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/109 "2006-01-20T20:39:40Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I’m going to see the new _Underworld_ movie today. I’ll report back on any liberal bias I spot. Let’s see: vampires… bloodsuckers… Republicans!!! Even the superheros are against us: [http://smirky.com/images/spideysense.jpg](http://smirky.com/images/spideysense.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/110 "2006-01-20T20:47:49Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > But question is “Is Hollywood leftist?” In addressing this question, what does it matter if a movie is “political” unless it is political in a “leftist” way? Well, there’s two things we’re talking about. \*\*Diogenes \*\*keeps saying there’s nothing political about Syriana because it doesn’t finger either ther Repuiblicans or the Democrats. Hence my political doesn’t equate to partisan comment. But I already outlined why I did think Syriana was both political and partisan. Let me rephrase: The movie assumes that our M.E. policy is run by and for the benefit of Texas Oilmen. If you think that isn’t a partisan swipe, then I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/111 "2006-01-20T20:50:07Z")
Oh, let me add that I’m not saying Syriana’s politics proves that Hollywood leans left. I already said I don’t know know how you would prove that type of sweeping generalization. My comments about Syriana are strictly about Syriana, not about Hollywood in general. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/112 "2006-01-20T22:04:12Z")
> [@Serket](#): > > Here are some reviewers who thought “Good Night and Good Luck” was too liberal: Are you serious? A bunch of links to ‘critics’ on Yahoo movies? You do know why it’s called Yahoo? Any Yahoo can write a movie review. So some members of the audience thought it was too liberal. Can something even be _too_ liberal? But even if the films are liberal, if you have looked at my link to Participant Productions, you would see that both films were made by that company and that company is interested in making political statements through the films they make. The guy in charge was the first president of Ebay and after makeing a billion dollars, he decided to make movies. Since he doen’t care if they make money, he only cares about story and quality. So yes, GN&GL and Syriana are political films and guess what? They have a right, given to them by the Constitution of the United States to say what they want to say and if you think they should expouse liberal ideas, then you are Un-American. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/113 "2006-01-20T22:57:08Z")
Here’s how I see it: Working behind the scenes in making movies, actors can tell the difference between fantasy worlds and the real world. OTOH, conservatives think that they themselves are characters in a movie (or a Tolkien novel), heroically battling evil forces. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/114 "2006-01-21T01:16:41Z")
[Speculation]If Hollywood (and the entertainment industry in general) is indeed “liberal”, might it be because people with conservative views are less likely to consider creative fields as viable employment?[/speculation] Although I’m sure there are numerous exceptions, I suspect that most Hollywood liberals (and conservatives, libertarians, apoliticals, etc.) were that way before they set foot in Los Angeles. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/115 "2006-01-21T03:02:22Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that many of the actors and artists themselves come from red states, at least originally. Tallulah Bankhead. The hottest mama from Alabama. With her antics she probably set back lesbian rights at least 20 years. (just kidding) "My father always warned me about men and booze. But he never said anything about women and cocaine." ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/116 "2006-01-25T05:36:54Z")
> [@Serket](#): > > [List of conservative celebrities](http://celiberal.com/theRighties.php) Hmm, anyone who expresses “support for the troops” counts as a conservative? What about a celebrity who writes and sings a song in praise of one of the heroes of Flight 93 on September 11? A patriotic song all about what makes a great American hero? Would that count as conservative by the above criteria? I’m thinking of “Tuesday Morning” by Melissa Etheridge. Whoops, no. Mark Bingham was gay. Scratch them off the list… > [@Melissa Etheridge](#): > > A hundred lives he must have saved > And the things you might take for granted > Your inalienable rights > Some might chose to deny him > Even though he gave his life > Can you live with yourself in the land of the free > And him less of a hero than the other three > Well it might not begin to change ya > In a field of Pennsylvania ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/117 "2006-01-25T19:57:39Z")
Hollywood hasn’t always leaned left. During the golden age of the studio system from the 1920’s to the 50’s, while many actors and writers certainly had leftist sympathies, most of the studio heads were to the right of Attila the Hun (and had even worse temperments). In fact, until recently, there was always a significant block of actors, directors, and (especially) studio executives who the Republicans could count on for support. I think the reason why there appears to be a more pronounced shift “leftward” in Hollywood is because the GOP’s alliance with the religious right has gotten a lot closer and that scares many people in the entertainment industry–even nominal Republicans. > [@threeorange](#): > > [Speculation]If Hollywood (and the entertainment industry in general) is indeed “liberal”, might it be because people with conservative views are less likely to consider creative fields as viable employment?[/speculation] That’s pretty much true. Conservative views often go hand-in-hand with a puritanical mindset. America was settled by people who disdained anything that diverted you from either hard work or thinking about God. That attitude certainly isn’t very conducive to anyone who wants to get into a “frivolous” field like the arts. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/118 "2006-01-25T20:47:05Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > But I already outlined why I did think Syriana was both political and partisan. Let me rephrase: The movie assumes that our M.E. policy is run by and for the benefit of Texas Oilmen. If you think that isn’t a partisan swipe, then I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. Or maybe **DtC** has a longer-term picture of “Texas Oilmen” than you do? I may be dating myself here, but when I hear “Texas Oilmen” the first person I think of is Lyndon Johnson. Most notably, the original Brown and Root (later KBR and now Halliburton) got their political start, and their first major government contracts, working with Johnson. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/119 "2006-01-27T03:10:53Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Because Producers, Actors, and Rock Stars like to smoke pot and fuck hookers. While Businessmen, Preachers, and Guys in the Military like to get drunk and fuck hookers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632.md?page=5)