How much do folks in Hollywood truly value free speech?

I just filed a review of “Trumbo,” a new documentary about blacklist victim Dalton Trumbo, for an upcoming Pajamas Media article. That review came to mind while reading Andrew Breitbart’s column in today’s Washington Times. He explores a well worn theme - the ideological uniformity of today’s Hollywood - but it’s written with enough powerful examples that it demands a fresh look.

Here’s what Breitbart previously wrote about his father in law and former blacklist victim - hat tip Powerline Blog via Lucianne:

My father-in-law, Orson Bean, an author, comedian and actor, was once blacklisted as a Communist back in the ’50s. Ed Sullivan called him to say he could no longer book him on the show. Fifty years later, and after a sharp ideological metamorphosis, Orson says it’s harder now to be an open conservative on a Hollywood set than it was back then to be a Communist.

And then there’s always the one-sided battle against smoking on screen. Aren’t there any actors who smoke and are willing to stand up for this creative expression?

Ginger or Mary Ann? Laurel or Hardy?

When it came to movie critics, I always chose the late Gene Siskel over Roger Ebert.

But I was missing Ebert yesterday while watching “Ebert & Roeper,” the long-running critic’s show that goes on without Ebert’s presence. He’s still recovering from a series of medical conditions which have temporarily taken his voice away.

His replacement (for now), the Chicago Tribune’s Michael Phillips, let loose with this stunner while describing “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,” a new doc directed by female documentarian Marina Zenovich.

“Coud any man make a film this nuanced? I doubt it,” Phillips said.

Just imagine the outcry had he reversed the sexes in that dopey statement.

Most of the summer’s big, bad blockbusters have already opened and met their fate - goodnight, and good luck “Speed Racer” and “Meet Dave.”

But while “The Dark Knight” and “Pineapple Express” still await their debuts, I thought it’s high time to toast this summer’s films. So here’s the best, and worst of Summer ‘08 … so far.

Most Embarrassing Subplot: Charlotte’s stomach woes in “Sex and the City.” Did Kristin Davis draw the short straw in the first story meeting? [click to continue...]

Could the next four-to-eight years be a no humor zone in presidential circles?

Comedian Bernie Mac got into some trouble for his recent appearance at a Barack Obama fundraiser. He used some slightly raunchy jokes as part of his routine, which drew a politically correct whiplashing from a few patrons and, later, the Democratic senator himself.

Check out Bernie Mac’s comments. They sound pretty tame to me. Certainly not as coarse as what Whoopi Goldberg unleashed a few years back. And no one on the left batted an eye over it, from what I can recall.

But the change/hope machine that is Sen. Obama’s movement doesn’t have much room for laughter. It’s a bad sign for late night comics, who might have to look elsewhere for humor should the new president and his supporters bark at every joke aimed his way.

Update: Obama’s sense of humor takes another hit.

Update, Part Deux: Here’s more evidence of a possible ‘no laugh’ zone.