Actors Say Hollywood's Being 'Pressured' to Make War Movies

CNSNews ^ | December 13, 2002 | Jim Burnes

[ejdrapes]

Actors Say Hollywood's Being 'Pressured' to Make War Movies

Jim Burns | Senior Staff Writer

(CNSNews.com) - Two American actors reportedly said the Bush administration is pressuring Hollywood to make war movies and violent films to "push" its war machine. They allegedly made the comment in Havana, Cuba, while attending a film festival.

Radio Havana reported Thursday that actors Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover told a press conference there is a struggle within the U.S. movie industry for "quality" versus movies "that bring in large amounts of money."

They pointed out that Hollywood is presently controlled by huge corporations that determine what movies audience will or will not see. According to Radio Havana, they also said the war movies and violent films that are now in fashion are "molded by the interests of the Pentagon and the White House."

Belafonte and Glover also told reporters that they were among a group of actors who recently signed an "open letter" to President Bush calling on him to stop his war plans.

Glover reportedly said he was "against a war whose victims will be Iraqi women and children, who have already suffered enough through bombings and the blockade."

Belafonte told reporters that, "More and more Americans are opposed to the war machine driven by (President) George W. Bush." He was quoted as saying, "The (anti-war) movement is growing among intellectuals and university students and expanding to many other sectors as well."

Belafonte added that the Sept. 11 tragedy provided an "excuse" for Bush to move ahead with plans "to control the world militarily, economically and culturally."

It is not the first time Belafonte has criticized the Bush administration. Last October, on a San Diego radio talk show, he criticized Secretary of State Colin Powell, comparing him to a house "slave."

"Colin Powell's committed to come into the house of the master," Belafonte said. "When Colin Powell dares to suggest something other than what the master wants to hear, he will be turned back out to pasture.

"In the days of slavery, there were those slaves who lived on the plantation and were those slaves that lived in the house. You got the privilege of living in the house if you served the master ... exactly the way the master intended you to serve him," Belafonte said.

[Cyber Liberty]

You're damned right they're being "pressured". That's the market talking to them. Folks want to see a decent war flick when they plunk down their dough at the box office.

[HELLRAISER II]

Belefonte and Danny Glover? I thought the title said American Actors, not Socialist Liberal Pukes.

[Bikers4Bush]

Oh my god. These two have obviously gone off their meds.

[My2Cents]

LOL!!! Harry "Day-O" Belafante being pressured to make war movies!? He should be so lucky to be cast in anything. And the idea that someone would suggest that Hollywood make violent films! I'm shocked, shocked I tell you! Who ever heard of such a thing?! Violent films coming out of Hollywood!

[wideawake]

All I need to read here are the words: "Danny Glover . . . Harry Belafonte . . . Radio Havana . . . "

[wideawake]

Thank you. Absolutely no one is pressuring Harry to make any movies of any kind.

[VaBthang4]

"They pointed out that Hollywood is presently controlled by huge corporations that determine what movies audience will or will not see."

Oi...

Do these goofballs not consider that many of us would ask...

"well, who determined what movies would and wouldnt get made before we were attacked on 9/11? And why are they now making this complaint?"

Transparency you have a name and it is Danny Glover.

I dont consider that has-been Belafonte to be worthy of the VaB's comment.

[matthew_the_brain]

Intellectuals...haha, that always makes me laugh when the left thinks they have the monopoly on brain power. When was the last time Belafante was in a movie that made money? Even Mediocre Glover cannot claim much recently.

[conservativemusician]

From HAVANA? No kiddin'?

When was the last time either one of these knuckleheads made a "quality" movie?

What's next for Glover, Lethal Weapon 5 or Predator 3?

[js1138]

I can just hear Bush on the phone with Babs: "Honey I know we've had our differences in the past, but we just have to have some John Wayne style flicks to kick start the next war." Right. Washington pressuring Hollywood.

[Argus]

Radio Havana reported Thursday that actors Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover told a press conference there is a struggle within the U.S. movie industry for "quality" versus movies "that bring in large amounts of money."

These guys are hilarious. The only Danny Glover movies to make money were LETHAL WEAPON 1-4, and Harry Belafonte hasn't had a real acting job since the 70's, while all the movies he's been in since feature him playing "Himself" (most recently in TV's "Fidel", a video mash note to Castro).

[Enterprise]

It must be true though. Spielberg has made "Taken," a "war" series about aliens and humans. I am soooooooo sure that he was pressured to make it.

[Non-Sequitur]

they also said the war movies and violent films that are now in fashion are "molded by the interests of the Pentagon and the White House."

Said the star of such peaceful movies as Silverado, Lethal Weapon I, II, III, and IV, Lonesome Dove, Predator 2...

[luv2ndamend]

Yeah, that 15-20 million dollars a movie does put alot of pressure on one!! LOL

[lunatic12]

Yes, and Queen Elizabeth the 1st paid "Shake-speare" (not his real name) to write historical plays about Englands past triumphs to rally the public for the battle against Spain.

"And he who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother, be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition, and gentleman in England now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here and fought with us, UPON ST. CRISPIN'S DAY!!!"

Makes ya just want to run down to the recruitment office, doesn't it?

[Dementon]

I understand that he's signed up for Lethal Weapon 5...

[Far Right Of Left]

Funny how these so-called "actors" always seem to make such comments when their in England,France or Cuba! Here's a column header I'd love to see-
Public Says To Hollywood-SHUT THE F*** UP!!!

[dighton]

LOL!!! Harry "Day-O" Belafante being pressured to make war movies!?

You bet. They need him *immediately* to play a tough, battle-hardened, seventy-five year-old sergeant.

;-)

[Howlin]

I'd bet my house that not one person in the Bush administration has pressured ANYBODY in Hollywood about anything.

I get the impression that Hollywood is WAY down the list of things they are concerned with.