Carl
Foreman was
born in Chicago on 23rd July, 1914. After
graduating from the University of Illinois he moved to Hollywood and
wrote the screenplays for several films including Rhythm
Parade (1942), So This is New
York (1948), Home of the Brave
(1949) and the The Men (1950).
After the Second World War the House of Un-American
Activities Committee (HUAC), chaired by J.
Parnell Thomas, began an investigation into the entertainment
industry. The HUAC interviewed 41 people who were working in Hollywood.
These people attended voluntarily and became known as "friendly
witnesses". During their interviews they named nineteen people
who they accused of holding left-wing views. This resulted in the
imprisonment of the Hollywood Ten.
Foreman refused to testify and was blacklisted by the Hollywood studios.
He moved to England but continued to work under other people's names
and wrote the screenplays for the Academy Award winning, High
Noon (1952) and The Bridge on
the River Kwai (1957).
After the blacklist was lifted, Foreman was able to openly work in
the cinema industry. This included The Guns
of Navarone (1961), The
Victors (1963), Born Free
(1966), The Virgin Soldiers (1969)
and Young Winston (1972). Carl
Foreman died in Beverly Hills, California, on
26th June, 1984.
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