Inventory of the Communism: myth vs. reality motion picture film
Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
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Title: Communism: myth vs. reality motion picture film
Date: 1962
Collection Number: 2003C41
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
36 motion picture film reels
(3.6 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Relates to communist regimes and communist movements throughout the world. Produced as a 38-part television series by the
Research Institute on Communist Strategy and Propaganda at the University of Southern California and by television station
KNXT, and hosted by Rodger Swearingen. Parts 1 and 6 missing.
Creator:
Swearingen, Rodger, 1923-
Creator:
Research Institute on Communist Strategy and Propaganda
Creator:
KNXT (Television station : Los Angeles, Calif.)
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2003.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Communism : myth vs. reality : motion picture film, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution
Library & Archives.
Scope and Content of Collection
Relates to communist regimes and communist movements throughout the world. Produced in 1962 as a 38-part television series
by the Research Institute on Communist Stragegy and Propaganda at the University of Southern California and by television
station KNXT, and hosted by Rodger Swearingen. Parts 1 and 6 are missing.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Motion pictures
Communism
reel 2
"The Russian Revolution", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Portrays conditions in Russia prior to the Russian Revolution of 1917 - the status of the peasant, the alienation of the intelligentsia,
the political attempts to modify or channel the unrest, the Russian role in World War I, the position of the provincial government
and the step-by-step takeover by the Communists. Features Donald Treadgold discussing the Kerensky government, the role of
the White Russians and Soviets in revolutionary events, the attitude of the ordinary Russian towards the Bolsheviks and the
alternatives to Bolshevik rule.
reel 3
"Marxism", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Uses stills, drawings and reprints to recreate the Rhineland of Karl Marx's birth, his home life and his acquaintance with
Friedrich Engels. Reconstructs the activities of the Communist League in Europe in the mid - 1800's and examines the impact
of the 'MANIFESTO' and 'DAS KAPITAL.' Discusses the philosophy, reasoning, and aims of Marxism.
reel 4
"Leninism - Stalinism - Khrushchevism", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
A documentary study of the life and influences that molded the political thinking of Lenin, Stalin and Khrushchev. Features
Leo Gruliow examining the changes that Lenin brought to Marxism, the Lenin theories of a permanent and continuing revolution,
Stalin's socialism, the treatment of the peasants under Stalin and Khrushchev's claims of achieving communism by different
means.
reel 5
"Maoism and Titoism", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Describes MaoTse-tung and Tito. Discusses their backgrounds and political development. Examines each leader's philosophy and
its relationship to the Soviet Union. Presents Mao's theories on 'new democracy' and discusses the relevance of these theories
to Africa, Asia and other underdeveloped areas. Reviews Tito's theories on leadership, economy and foreign policy and analyzes
Yugoslavia's contribution to the centrifugal forces in the Soviet bloc.
reel 7
"Communist Fronts", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Depicts communist front organizations as they wage political warfare for the USSR, condemn actions of the West and exploit
the divisive problems among non-communist nations. Portrays the development of professional, ethnic and topical front organizations,
and examines free-world counter organizations. Oliver Carlson describes communist front activity in America. Ede Pfeiffer
discusses the methods and results of communist organization among youth.
reel 8
"One-Party Government", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Uses a graphic representation of the government of the Soviet Union to show its organization, from national to regional offices,
and from the presidium to cell discipline. Features Howard Swearer and Carlton Rodee discussing the features of a totalitarian
system, the relationship of the Communist party to the Soviet government, the role of elections in the Soviet Union, the position
of the military and the police in the state and the transferal of political leadership.
reel 9
"The Planned Economy", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Studies Russia's economic situation at the conclusion of the 1917 revolution. Discusses the retreat to the new economic policy,
the goals and burdens of the five-year plans during the 1920's and 1930's, various industrial projects, austerity in housing
and public transportation and examples of unbalanced diversification. Leon Herman compares the Soviet economy with the United
States economy.
reel 10
"Soviet Agriculture", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Shows the effects of various elements on Soviet agriculture. Examines the handicap of ideology and politics in the collective
system and the results in the marketplace. Features Alec Nove discussing Khrushchev's involvement in agriculture and private
farming, the difference between collective and state farms and the connection between agriculture and foreign policy.
reel 11
"Soviet Science and Technology", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Discusses the Imperial Academy of Science, freedoms in scientific thought after the 1917 Revolution and subsequent pursuit
of theories designed to substantiate communist dialectic. Shows Pavlov's conditioning experiments with dogs and describes
Lysenko's experiments in genetics. Feature John Turkevich discussing the disparity between East and West regarding goals of
science.
reel 12
"The Military Establishment", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Studies the Russian military establishment. Discusses the creation of the revolutionary Red Guard and explores the policies
which shaped Russia's military strength before and after World War II. Features Bernard Brodie discussing different soviet
military affairs.
reel 13
"Life in the Soviet Union", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
A candid portrayal of daily life in the Soviet Union in both urban and rural communities. Includes scenes of people using
beauty aids, medical aids and babysitting services, entertaining and vacationing, shopping, traveling and courting. Features
Albert Parry discussing the distinction in life between the masses and privileged, as well as the problems facing the ordinary
consumer and home owner.
reel 14
"Education in the Soviet Union", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Surveys the Soviet school system and curriculum. Examines illiteracy rates, classroom space shortages, double sessions and
language barriers. Discusses boarding schools, technical institutes and universities. Compares the Soviet school program with
the American system. Features Richard Renfield.
reel 15
"Religion in the Soviet Union", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Examines religion in Russia, the influence of Christianity, the practice of Judaism and the extent of Islamism and Buddhism.
Discusses the state influence in church activities, antireligious campaigns and the strengths and weaknesses of religious
practice. Features Paul B. Anderson discussing the role of religion, the accommodation of the Orthodox faith, attitudes toward
Roman Catholicism and the organization and financing of church activities in the Soviet Union.
reel 16
"Race and Nationality in the U.S.S.R.", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
A film study on Russia's diverse nationality groups. Uses maps to show the extent of Soviet expansion from 1552 to the present.
Illustrates folk art, native dress and decorative arts. Features Richard Pipes discussing the Soviet process of Russification
of its non-Russian inhabitants, the aspirations of the nationality groups in the Soviet territory, and the Soviet interpretation
of 'Self-Determination.'
reel 17
"Soviet Arts and Letters", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Discusses Soviet arts and letters and the employment of the arts in the service of the state. Traces the development of music,
art and the theater. Examines current literary tastes and themes as interpreted by Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Features David Burg
describing the factors that caused a 'thaw' in Soviet literature since Stalin's death and itemizing interpretations of liberalization
by Soviet writers.
reel 18
"How Communism Came to China", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Discusses the 1911 Revolution of Sun Yat-Sen, the impact of the 1917 Russian Revolution, the role of Russians in the Chinese
Communist Party, the rise of the Chiang Kai-Shek and the post World War II nationalist retreat to Formosa. Harold C. Hinton
discusses the receptivity of educated Chinese to Marxism-Leninism, the growth of communist strength and Mao Tse-Tung's strategy.
reel 19
"Communist China's First Decade", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Observes the internal developments under communist leadership. Describes anti-American campaign activities, the participation
and withdrawal of Soviet technicians and the Tibetan crisis. Richard Walker discusses the problems faced by the communists,
their tendencies toward grandiose gambles, their dogmatic conflict with traditional Chinese values and their mobilization
and control of the people.
reel 20
"Government of Communist China", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Discusses the structure and stability of the Chinese communist government. Features Theodore H.E. Chen discussing party policies
and leadership, their relationship of the government of the party and the influence of the government on the people and their
social patterns.
reel 21
"The Chinese Communist Industrial Economy", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
A survey of China's industrial development. Alexander Eckstein examines the economic and industrial objectives and accomplishments
of the Chinese communists. He discusses the relationship of their industrial capacity to that of other Asian countries, the
contribution of the industry to Chinese military capacity and China's economic prospects.
reel 22
"Communist Chinese Agriculture", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Shows the intensive use of land under cultivation, points out land-man ratios and describes the programs of drastic land reform.
Choh-Ming Li discusses the seriousness of agricultural crisis, the recognition of agricultural failures by the communists
and the implications of the Soviet rift for agriculture.
reel 23
"Eastern Europe Under Communism", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Presents a discussion of the trends and outlook for communist East Europe. Features John C. Campbell describing the takeover
and the agitation within the communist bloc nations, comparing economic conditions between East and West Europe, and discussing
recommendations for United States policy in Eastern Europe. Includes candid scenes of life in the East European nations.
reel 24
"Case Study - Poland", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
A comprehensive film study on Poland. Features the history, government, military force, labor, industry, land and mineral
wealth, religion and the people. Compares Poland with that of Russia, and the Poznan riots with the Hungarian Revolution.
reel 25
"Divided Berlin", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Traces developments in Berlin from the aftermath of World War II, through the erection of the wall, to the present dilemma.
Examines the economy and leadership of East Berlin and West Berlin. Features Hans Speier discussing the basic issues in the
Berlin conflict, the long-range goals of the communists and recommendations for a negotiated settlement of the problem.
reel 26
"Tito's Yugoslavia", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Discusses Yugoslavian Communism. Examines various developments in the country, Tito's dictatorship, the Belgrade neutrals
conference in 1961, foreign aid and Yugoslavia's future. Milorad Drachkovith describes postwar orientation, the Titoist de-Stalinization
campaign, differences between the Yugoslavian regime and other satellite governments, U.S. aid and the Yugoslavian attitude
on the Cold War.
"Soviet Foreign Policy", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Traces important developments in Soviet foreign policy in the twentieth century from the formation of the communist international
to the Khrushchev regime. Features Alexander Dallin discussing the foreign policy differences of Russia and non-communist
countries, the changes in policy with the passing of Stalin, the role of espionage and intelligence work and the Soviet interpretation
of coexistence.
reel 28
"U.S.-Soviet Relations", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Shows America's intervention in the Russian uprising in 1918, Coolidge's refusal to grant recognition to the emergent government,
the effects of the American Depression, the opening of the American Embassy in Moscow, the conferences and developments during
the war years and cold war years, the creation of NATO, the U-2 incident and the transfer of ideological conflict to underdeveloped
areas. Features Marshall Shulman.
reel 29
"Negotiating with the Communists", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Uses film of actual negotiating sessions to describe the problems which are encountered in negotiating with the Soviets. Features
Philip E. Mosley discussing his experience in over 500 negotiation sessions with the Russians, his observations of differences
in negotiating with the Russians and with Western countries and his opinions of the value of continued negotiation.
reel 30
"The Communists - Peace and Disarmament", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Discusses Soviet concept of peace and disarmament as defined and practiced by Lenin, Trotsky, Chicherin, Litvinov, Stalin
and Khrushchev. Charles Malamuth evaluates the Soviet attitudes on peace and disarmament and discusses the propaganda value
of Soviet peace talks and disarmament meetings.
reel 31
"The Neutralists and the Communists", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
A film survey on communist activity in neutralist nations. Shows Soviet officials touring former colonial areas, sponsoring
nationalist movements, launching goodwill campaigns, giving technology - oriented aid, making trade alliances, and replacing
Western influence. Examines developments at the 1955 Bandung Conference of Asian and African States and the Afro-Asian Solidarity
Conference. Features Vidya Prakash Dutt discussing the future of non-alignment policy, the neutralist position of India and
the status of India's relations with China, Russia and the United States.
reel 32
"Moscow-Peking Relations", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Traces the background of the relations between Moscow and Peking which led to competitive views on communist theory and the
treatment of uncommitted areas. Discusses the official visits of Peking's and Moscow's leaders from the 1930's to the 1950's.
Reviews their economic relations through these years. Examines the position of each power on the Korean conflict, on Taiwan
and on Albania. Considers the causes of controversy, the Maoist revolutionary pattern, the differences in revolutionary strategy
and tactics and the West's effect on the Chinese. Re-examines attitudes regarding peaceful coexistence.
reel 33
"Chinese Communist Foreign Policy", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Defines China's interests in its bordering countries. Describes settlements with Pakistan over Kashmir, tentative diplomatic
relations beyond the border countries, Chinese strategy at the Bandung Conference and Peking's attitudes about U.N. membership.
Doak Barnett describes the intent, hindrances and possibilities that affect Chinese foreign policy.
reel 34
"The Communist Economic Offensive", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Shows the extent of the Soviet Aid Program. Surveys various Soviet aided projects, discusses the strategy of long-term commitments
and credits, describes the promotion of such socialist programs as state farms and compares the influence of United States
and communist aid. Hans Heymann gives an analysis of the strategy and effects of the Soviet Aid Program.
reel 35
"The Communist Propaganda Machine", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Soviet propaganda organizations use youth groups and newspapers, radio, TV, motion pictures and wired speakers to elicit information
and spread propaganda. Frederick Barghoorn compares the relative effectiveness and scope of communist propaganda to the work
of the U.S. information agency and discusses the main themes, techniques and weaknesses of communist propaganda.
reel 36
"Communism in Southeast Asia", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Describes the guerrilla warfare carried on in Southeast Asia in recent years by the French, Americans and Communists, the
psychological problems of the continuous war and the measures taken to protect the people in the villages. Keyes Beech describes
the background of American involvement in Southeast Asia and the use of American divisions in Vietnam, the defeat of the French
in 1954 and the influences of the Sino-Soviet conflict in the area.
reel 37
"Communism in Latin America", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Illustrates the fluctuating influence of communism in Latin America. Describes anti-Yankee sentiment, the agitation over Panama
Canal and the Soviet and Chinese overtures. Discusses the rigidity of Latin social structure, the role of local military and
the problem of dealing with social-economic transition in Latin America. Rollie Poppino examines communist activities in Latin
America prior to Cuba, the appeals of communism to Latin Americans and the possibilities for curbing communism in Latin America.
reel 38
"Communism in the United States", 16mm film
Scope and Contents
Discusses the background and activities of the American Communist Party. Describes the appeal of Marxism after World War I,
the influence of communism among college youth, clergy and Negroes and the stands communists have taken on American domestic
and foreign policy. William C. Sullivan discusses the future of the American Communist Party and the issues of accommodating
academic freedom and preserving civil liberties while coping with communism in America.
