Ayn Rand’s Fight Against Communist Influence in Hollywood

In this video, Elan Journo interviews Brandon Lisi about Ayn Rand's 1947 essay Screen Guide for Americans. The interview explores the historical circumstances that led Rand to write the essay, the deeper philosophical ideas behind her analysis, and the significance of ARI Press’s new authoritative edition. They also discuss Michael Berliner’s new afterword and the archival materials that illuminate Rand’s work in Hollywood, including additional documents now available through the Ayn Rand Archives.

Topics Include:

• What’s new in ARI Press’s authoritative edition of Screen Guide for Americans
• Why Ayn Rand wrote Screen Guide for Americans in 1947
• Communist influence in 1940s Hollywood
• How propaganda can influence a culture without explicit political slogans
• How to access additional archival materials related to the “Screen Guide” online

Resources:

• Ayn Rand, Screen Guide for Americans
• Archival Supplement: Screen Guide for Americans archival supplement

Recorded on August 25, 2026.