The Politics of Robert Taylor: Song of Russia and HUAC

Taylor testifying before HUAC, 1947

Popular leading man of the era Robert Taylor was not afraid to risk his successful film career by diving into Hollywood politics in the 1940s. In fact, many critics and reviewers of today express a dislike for Taylor, his acting, and his films because of his markedly conservative stance. This is perhaps the reason he has been practically “buried” in Hollywood’s past, unlike icons Henry Fonda, Spencer Tracy, and Gregory Peck.

Taylor once admitted that he’d never “cared” a lot for politicians, whether Republican or Democrat. He also didn’t believe it was inherent in his career to “aid in feathering any of their nests for them via publicity from my name.” Just how much weight did Robert Taylor’s name hold at the time? Back in 1937, he was ranked as Hollywood’s third most popular star. He had recently starred in the classic Waterloo Bridge (1940), and was known as “The Man with the Perfect Profile”.

Still, Taylor, who was very firm in his beliefs, was not concerned about how they would reflect upon his career at MGM studios. In 1944, Taylor and other fellow actors, including Clark Gable, Hedda Hopper, Irene Dunne, Gary Cooper, Ginger Rogers, Barbara Stanwyck, and John Wayne, founded the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals. It was “dedicated to the preservation and continuance of the American scene and the American way of life.” The Alliance started lobbying for the House of Un-American Activities (HUAC) to investigate Communist influence in Hollywood. Taylor was a foremost force, a “stalwart”, along with friend and fellow actor Ronald Reagan. From 1939-1952, Taylor was married to actress Barbara Stanwyck, who also shared similarly conservative beliefs.

Robert Taylor’s political creed can be summed up in these words of his from 1951: “I am pro-freedom and pro-decency.” In the 1950s, a Hollywood magazine ran a feature by the star entitled “Ten Things That Make My Heart Beat Faster”, No. 6 on the list being “the integrity of Eisenhower”. He supported Dewey in the presidential races of 1944 and 1948, and Eisenhower in 1952 and 1960. Years later, Taylor would briefly and quietly be considered as a candidate for California governor. He possessed good leadership qualities, was direct, down-to-business, and serious (despite the fact one biographer insisted that Taylor was not articulate about his politics unless he had a script). However, Ronald Reagan was selected as the gubernatorial candidate. Taylor had a grimmer outlook on things (“The Middle East is going to get us into the third world war” he predicted). Instead, he campaigned for Reagan.

Song of Russia

One film caused Taylor a lot of trouble: Song of Russia (1944), in which he played an American conductor touring the Soviet Union. Although it was touted as a cute “boy meets girl in Russia” story, Taylor would reluctantly testify before a closed hearing of a HUAC sub-committee that the original script “contained Communist propaganda, but a lot of my friends didn’t agree with me.” (Later the script would be somewhat modified.)

He testified in Los Angeles that in 1943, government officials had delayed his naval commission until he had finished the picture. He also made it quite clear that he didn’t want a Communist “within 100 miles of me, the studio, or the script.” However, he added that “In my own defense, lest I look a little silly by saying I was ever forced to do the picture, I was not forced.” His studio delicately followed up the testimony of one of their brightest stars, admitting that while Taylor had mentioned his commission, they felt Song of Russia was paramount to the war effort, and that the Navy had agreed that he could finish the film first.

With Susan Peters in Song of Russia

The ordeal tarnished the film for Taylor, although the elite movie reviewers lauded it. Mayer said that the film was meant to be “a pat on the back for our then ally, Russia”, noting that if there happened to be any Communists at the studio, there was nothing he could do about it.

“This may sound biased,” Taylor said afterward. “However, if I were even suspicious of a person being a Communist with whom I was scheduled to work, I am afraid it would have to be either him or me, because life is a little too short to be around people who annoy me as much as these fellow travelers and Communists do.”

Although Taylor had been promised confidentiality, his remarks were quickly published, making Louis B. Mayer upset, and angering Taylor. Privately, Taylor said, “These investigations, the way they are being run in Washington at the moment, remind me more of a three-ring circus than of a sincere effort to rid the country of a real threat. There’s nothing any of us are going to tell them in Washington that the FBI didn’t know five years ago.”

Testifying before HUAC

Thoroughly irked, he was to be ruffled further by being subpoenaed to testify before HUAC publicly in the fall of 1947 about Communist influence in Hollywood. His presence caused a furor among curious fans. Entering the building and raising his hand to take the oath, Taylor was rebuked because the photographers couldn’t see his face. Taylor may have been there to do his duty, however unhappy it might have made him; but HUAC was well aware of the star’s appeal and were eager to hear him out. Cameras flashed incessantly. Reporters were thrilled. Fans were wreathed in huge smiles.

Raising his hand to take the oath, Taylor was rebuked because the photographers couldn’t see his face. Here we see Taylor’s reaction as he slightly grimaces and pulls his hand back to comply.

The newspapers recorded that Taylor’s testimony was given in just twenty-five minutes. His face clearly shows that he was not happy about testifying. 

Taylor, in his characteristic, straightforward fashion, laid out his evidence in twenty-five minutes, as the newspapers reported. He was asked for the names of any possible Communists within the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). It was an uncomfortable question, but Taylor answered truthfully without directly labeling anyone as “Communist”, replying that actor Howard da Silva and actress Karen Morely were “disruptive” during SAG meetings. He also admitted that a number of movie scripts he had viewed “appeared to me to be slightly on the pink side”.

It was mentioned by one of the questioners, congressman Richard Nixon, that Taylor had been subjected to “considerable criticism and ridicule from certain left-wing quarters.” To this Taylor replied, “Yes, sir. It didn’t bother me, however. . . . Any time any of the left-wing press or individuals belonging to the left-wing or their fellow traveler groups ridicule me, I take it as a compliment because I really enjoy their displeasure.” This could have been a movie, but here was the real-life Taylor voicing his principles. “I happen to believe strongly enough in the American people to think that they will go along with anybody who prefers America and the American form of government over any other subversive ideologies which might be presented and by whom I might be criticized.” A tremendous applause swept the room.

Following his testimony, Taylor’s fans were very noticeably appreciative of his stance. In return, he reacted favorably toward their support, and continued his devotion to the ideals of freedom and decency.

Photo credits: Robert Taylor portrait and Song of Russia from Pinterest. All other images are screenshots, and fall under fair use.