> "On the Waterfront" is one of my favorite films, the
> symbolism of which I always assumed was aimed at the cowards who were
> afraid challenge the blacklisters
The film is a defence of the morality of informing--the Marlon Brando character redeems himself by cooperating with the authorities, informing on the corrupt union boss. Kazan himself originally refused to name names but later changed his mind. A good about the Hollywood left and its problems is "The inquisition in Hollywood : politics in the filmcommunity, 1930-1960" by Larry Ceplair & Steven Englund, 1980,Anchor/Doubleday
K. Mickey