The Front (1976): Woody Allen vs. the House Un-American Activities Committee
Directed by Martin Ritt, and written by Walter Bernstein, The Front (1976) focused on the tragic anti-communist blacklist and was a very personal project for the filmmakers involved... as many had themselves been blacklisted in the 1950's. Woody Allen plays a cashier who agrees to act as a front for blacklisted TV writers, putting his name on their scripts and taking a percentage of the earnings. All goes well until the House Un-American Activities Committee calls. Witty and poignant, the film is a true Gem. The supporting cast is great, including Zero Mostel and Herschel Bernardi (both actors had been blacklisted as well).
