137. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Murrow) to President Kennedy 1

I understand that you have expressed interest in United States participation in the 1963 Moscow International Film Festival2 and in the selection of the American film entry “The Great Escape.”3

“The Great Escape” was selected by the Hollywood Guilds Festival Committee, which is comprised of members appointed by the presidents of the Directors Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild, the Screen Producers Guild and the Writers Guild of America. The need to increase and augment the prestige of the United States and of the American film art at international motion picture events was immediately apparent when I took over as Director of this Agency. It seemed obvious that a qualified body of experts of the motion picture industry itself, in cooperation with the government, was required to meet this objective effectively. Thus, this Festival Committee was formed at the instigation of George Stevens, Jr., Director of the Motion Picture Service of the Agency, and has made the selection of the official American film entries to all major festivals since the spring of 1962. Where political [Page 359] considerations obtain, as is the case with the Moscow Film Festival, the Committee consults with the government on the appropriateness of any motion picture as an official entry. Present members of the Committee are: Willis Goldbeck, Gene Kelly, Richard Widmark, John Houseman, Walter Mirisch, Ernest Lehman, Allen Rivkin, Joseph C. Youngerman, and Fred Zinnemann, Chairman.4

The Committee considered a number of motion pictures in the process of selecting the official United States entry in the Moscow Film Festival, including the film “How the West Was Won.”5 Almost up to the time of the Festival entry deadline, the Committee did not feel that it had found just the right film for this event. When “The Great Escape” was offered for consideration, however, Committee members were unanimous in selecting it as the official Festival entry.

Upon receipt of the Committee’s nomination, the Agency made arrangements for review of the film by government officers in the Department of State and USIA. Those who saw the film felt that in addition to its technical and cinematographic excellence, it dramatically illustrated the precept that whatever the conditions, the human spirit will strive to remain free. They also noted, as did the Russians, that it gave counterpoint to the image of Nazi Germany military leadership set forth in present Communist propaganda.

Officials of the Soviet Embassy also saw the film. They thought the treatment given the Nazi prisoner of war camp and Nazi military leadership not understandable within Russian experience with the Nazis, but interposed no objection to the film’s entry in the Moscow Festival.

The American Embassy at Moscow has since reported that the Soviet publications Pravda, Izvestiya and Trud praised “The Great Escape” for the performance of its cast (Steve McQueen received the award for best actor), and have otherwise acclaimed the excellence of the picture. They have been caused, however, to rise in the defense of their own anti-German propaganda.

Mr. Stevens was accredited as the Chairman of the United States Delegation to the Moscow Festival. He is expected to return to duty in the Agency very shortly, and I look forward to receiving his personal [Page 360] comments on the effectiveness of United States participation in the Festival. I shall, of course, be happy to report to you more fully the substance of his observations as well as to supply you with a copy of the written report of the Delegation.

Edward R. Murrow
  1. Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Departments and Agencies Series, Box 91 USIA 7/63. No classification marking. According to a time stamp in the upper right corner of the memorandum, it was received in the White House on July 31 at 10:28 a.m. Another copy of the memorandum, dated July 29, is also printed in Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, vol. XXV, Organization of Foreign Policy; Information Policy; United Nations; Scientific Matters, Document 151.
  2. The 1963 Moscow Film Festival ran from July 7 to 21.
  3. This 1963 film about a mass escape of U.S. and British prisoners from a German prison camp during World War II, featured a large cast of well-known actors, including Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, and James Garner. The film was based on the 1950 non-fiction book of the same name written by Paul Brickhill. McQueen won the Film Festivals award for best actor for his performance in the film. (Richard L. Coe, “Film Festivals Gird the Globe,” The Washington Post, June 30, 1963, p. G1)
  4. Willis Goldbeck was a screenwriter and film director. Gene Kelly, Richard Widmark, and John Houseman were all prominent film actors; Houseman was also the first Director of VOA, serving from February 1942 until July 1943. Walter Mirisch was a film producer. Ernest Lehman and Allen Rivkin were screenwriters. Joseph C. Youngerman and Alfred Zinnemann were film directors.
  5. This 1963 Academy Award-nominated film was directed, in part, by the famous film director John Ford and starred a large cast of famous actors, including James Stewart, John Wayne, and Debbie Reynolds.