1 | [[quoteright:290:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fa9e33f374bc186eeca03d14b14c6403.jpg]] |
2 | [[caption-width-right:290:''"I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit\ |
3 | this year's fashions."'' [[note]] Hellman, in a 1952 letter to the House Un-American Activities Committee. [[/note]] ]] |
4 | |
5 | ->''"Every word she writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the.'"'' |
6 | -->-- '''Mary [=McCarthy=]''' on Lillian Hellman |
7 | |
8 | Lillian Florence "Lilly" Hellman (June 20, 1905 – June 30, 1984) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and memoirist. She achieved her greatest success in writing dramatic plays for Platform/{{Broadway|AndTheWestEnd}} in the 1930s and '40s. |
9 | |
10 | Hellman was known for her strong left-wing views and activism. She was briefly a member of the American Communist Party, and during the '50s RedScare era was targeted by UsefulNotes/TheHollywoodBlacklist for refusing to name names. |
11 | |
12 | By the 1970s, Hellman was widely regarded as a hero for having taken a stand against the blacklist. During this period, she published her memoirs. One chapter of her 1973 memoir ''Pentimento'' formed the basis for the 1977 film ''{{Film/Julia}}'', which starred Creator/JaneFonda as a young Lillian Hellman. |
13 | |
14 | During an interview on ''Series/TheDickCavettShow'' in 1979, novelist Mary [=McCarthy=] (no relation to the [[UsefulNotes/JosephMcCarthy red-baiting Senator]]) accused Hellman of being a ConsummateLiar. After Hellman sued her for libel, [=McCarthy=]'s lawyers responded by unearthing evidence of Hellman's dishonesty, including the likelihood that the "Julia" chapter in ''Pentimento'' was BasedOnAGreatBigLie. Hellman died before the issue could be settled in court. |
15 | |
16 | Although Hellman's writing is still respected, the controversy over her dishonesty went a long way to overshadowing and tarnishing her prior reputation as an [=anti-McCarthyite=] heroine, leaving her with a mixed legacy. |
17 | |
18 | ---- |
19 | !!Works by Lillian Hellman with their own trope pages include: |
20 | |
21 | * ''Theatre/TheChildrensHour'' |
22 | * ''Theatre/TheLittleFoxes'' |
23 | * ''Film/WatchOnTheRhine'' (from her play) |
24 | * ''Film/TheNorthStar'' (screenplay) |
25 | * ''{{Film/Julia}}'' (from a chapter of ''Pentimento'') |
26 | |
27 | !!Other works by Lillian Hellman contain examples of: |
28 | |
29 | * {{Prequel}}: ''Another Part of the Forest'' is a prequel to ''Theatre/TheLittleFoxes'' set 20 years earlier. |
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