This fifth episode of "Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story" is all about the studio's B-unit and lower budgeted films as well as the Blacklist era. Much of the focus was on Val Lewton's Bs as well as the films of Robert Mitchum (as well as his marijuana conviction). The last third of the show was devoted to the Red Scare and the Blacklist...something that affected all the studios, not just RKO. What I found interesting was Ginger Rogers' and her mother's virulence in attacking the Hollywood 10...and in Ginger's case it was interesting since the interview was done in the 1980s...when it became very unfashionable to back the Blacklist.
Overall, an interesting episode well worth seeing. Despite some of the folks associated with making the film are on the left (such as the narrator Ed Asner), the discussion seemed fair and evenhanded. Worth seeing.
By the way, entitling this episode 'Dark Victory' is odd, as that's the name of a famous Warner Brothers picture!
Overall, an interesting episode well worth seeing. Despite some of the folks associated with making the film are on the left (such as the narrator Ed Asner), the discussion seemed fair and evenhanded. Worth seeing.
By the way, entitling this episode 'Dark Victory' is odd, as that's the name of a famous Warner Brothers picture!