More on Hollywood and Self Censorship

After I published a blog this morning on The Interview, the following piece appeared in a guest column in The Hollywood Reporter.

://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/film-expert-sony-surrender-joins-759754?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_breakingnews&utm_campaign=THR%20Breaking%20News_now_2014-12-21%2014%3A54%3A16_RGajewski

Film Expert: Sony “Surrender” Joins Long History of Studios Bowing to “Intimidation Tactics” (Guest Column)

But, says Brandeis University professor Tom Doherty, author of the book ‘Hollywood and Hitler,’ threats have never shut down the release of a film before ‘The Interview’

The Hollywood ReporterThomas Doherty

It is worth reading for several reasons:

• It gives even more examples of how films have precipitated violent protests.
• It casts Hollywood’s obsession with “free speech” in a light that suggests a great deal of hypocrisy on the part of those who claim that Sony’s decision was unprecedented.
• It makes clear that studios have historically been willing to make specific edits to pacify a foreign government.
• It notes that there have been many protests initiated domestically relative to controversial feature films, such as Birth of a Nation.