The Hollywood Ten were a group of producers, writers, and directors called
before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (see UN-AMERICAN
ACTIVITIES, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON) in October 1947 as "unfriendly" witnesses
during the investigation of Communist influence in Hollywood. Alvah
Bessie, Lester Cole, John Howard Lawson, Dalton Trumbo, Ring Lardner, Jr.,
Herbert Biberman, Adrian Scott, Samuel Ornitz, Albert Maltz, and Edward
Dmytryk refused to state whether or not they were Communists. All served
prison sentences and were blacklisted in the film industry.

Bibliography: Goodman, Walter, The Committee: Extraordinary Career of the
House Committee on Un-American Activities (1968); Hellman, Lillian,
Scoundrel Time (1976); Kahn, Gordon, Hollywood on Trial: The Story of the
Ten Who Were Indicted (1948; repr. 1972).