A Year in the Movies: 1940

War was raging in Europe, but Hollywood continued to provide movies to the world. American films would earn studios over $100 million dollars this year. U.S. audiences, not yet plunged into battle, still went to the movies in droves. A total of 85 million tickets were sold in 1940.

Hollywood celebrities, however, were embroiled in a battle of another type. A congressman known as Martin Dies had begun to investigate suspected Communist activity in the film capital. An ex-member of the American Communist Party named John Leech informed the politician of motion picture actors that supposedly had involvement with the party or at least had exhibited Communist sympathies…

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