STORM CENTER

 "STORM CENTER" --- (1956) --- 

MY THOUGHTS:

Due to its subject matter, which is the banning of a book from the town's Public Library, this movie is relevant to today's events / headlines. Because it is regarding a book on "communism" in particular, it touches on what may be considered "dangerous" material. McCarthyism, also known as the "Second Red Scare", was the political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals and a campaign spreading fear of alleged communist and Soviet influence on American institutions and of Soviet espionage in the United States from 1947 through the 1957. This film was made in 1956, as an obvious response to those times. It is a very interesting and (all too) true a story, although a work of fiction. I found it to be very interesting and well-done. It has a very unexpected ending, which puts things into perspective and is well-worth the watch.

SYNOPSIS:

"Widowed librarian Alicia Hull becomes the center of a McCarthyist firestorm when she refuses to remove from her library "The Communist Dream," a book seen by her town council as incendiary anti-American propaganda. Condemned at a town meeting by her former assistant Martha Lockridge and Martha's opportunist attorney boyfriend, Paul Duncan, the principled Alicia chooses the moral high ground even as she must endure the town's oppressive rancor."

STARRING:

Bette Davis, Kim Hunter, Brian Keith, Paul Kelly, Kevin Coughlin and Joe Mantell.

SCREENPLAY:

Daniel Taradash and Elick Moll, based on their story.

DIRECTOR:

Daniel Taradash

AWARDS & OTHER HONORS:

In 1957, Storm Center was awarded the Prix de Chevalier da la Barre at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was cited as "this year's film which best helps freedom of expression and tolerance."