“The Strongest Weapon on Earth”
In 1961, the U.S. participated in the Moscow International Film Festival, along with fifty-four other nations. Hollywood stars, such as Doris Day (b. 1924), Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011), and Eddie Fisher (1928–2010), were urged to attend, as were directors Rouben Mamoulian (1897–1987), as indicated in this letter, and Joshua Logan (1908–1988), who served on the festival’s jury. After many attendees judged the State Department’s chosen entry to be “boring,” Logan complained about the ineffectual attempt to use “art . . . the strongest weapon on earth,” to display America’s “most endearing side.” In subsequent years, a board of experts from Hollywood advised on selections.
In 1961, the U.S. participated in the Moscow International Film Festival, along with fifty-four other nations. Hollywood stars, such as Doris Day (b. 1924), Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011), and Eddie Fisher (1928–2010), were urged to attend, as were directors Rouben Mamoulian (1897–1987), as indicated in this letter, and Joshua Logan (1908–1988), who served on the festival’s jury. After many attendees judged the State Department’s chosen entry to be “boring,” Logan complained about the ineffectual attempt to use “art . . . the strongest weapon on earth,” to display America’s “most endearing side.” In subsequent years, a board of experts from Hollywood advised on selections.