Thomas Doherty tells the story of the 1947 hearings into alleged Communist subversion in the movie industry. Show Trial is a character-driven inquiry into how the HUAC hearings ignited the Hollywood blacklist, providing a gripping new history of one of the most influential events of the postwar era.
In this cultural history of the USA during World War II, Thomas Doherty examines the interaction between Hollywood cinema and America's involvement in the war. He reveals how and why Hollywood marshalled its artistic resources on behalf of the war effort, giving a voice to many different groups' viewpoints: the motion picture industry itself; government agencies; and audiences at home and overseas.