#lillian hellman

Jun 20

"Since when do we have to agree with people to defend them from injustice?"

Lillian Hellman, June 20, 1905 – June 30, 1984.

“She was an American playwright, prose writer, memoirist, and screenwriter known for her success on Broadway as well as her communist views and political activism. She was blacklisted after her appearance before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) at the height of the anti-communist campaigns of 1947–1952. Although she continued to work on Broadway in the 1950s, her blacklisting by the U.S. film industry caused a drop in her income. Many praised Hellman for refusing to answer HUAC's questions, but others believed, despite her denial, that she had belonged to the Communist Party. As a playwright, Hellman had many successes on Broadway, including The Children's Hour, The Little Foxes and its sequel Another Part of the Forest, Watch on the Rhine, The Autumn Garden, and Toys in the Attic. She adapted her semi-autobiographical play The Little Foxes into a screenplay; the movie starred Bette Davis.”

The Chase premiered in Boston, MA on 17 February 1966, before wider release a day later.

Lillian Hellman wrote the screenplay, based on Horton Foote's 1952 play (and his 1956 novel). Faye Dunaway auditioned for the role of Anna Reeves, but Jane Fonda was cast instead (director Arthur Penn would cast Dunaway in his next film, Bonnie and Clyde, for which she'd receive an Academy Award nomination).