Through the World War II, Hollywood had trained audiences en masse to absorb the messages placed among the entertainment they were watching, whether that was through the moral actions of characters or the enduring strife of others. With the war now over, writers and directors who had emigrated from Europe turned their attention towards the social problems that Americans were living with at home.

This realistic, and often journalistic, approach to American issues caught the eye of the US Government. Without clear international conflict the rally audience support towards, the government was fearful that liberal-minded filmmakers were turning the influential power of the film against America itself. Hollywood soon found itself fighting for the social problem edge it was just starting to carve out through films like The Lost Weekend, The Best Years of Our Lives, Gentleman's Agreement, and All the King's Men.