Ben Barzman: Who was Norma Barzman‘s husband?

Ben Barzman, the husband of Norma Barzman, was a significant figure in the world of screenwriting during the mid-20th century. Born on May 12, 1910, in Montreal, Canada, Ben embarked on a career that would later intertwine with the Hollywood blacklist and political upheavals.

In the 1940s, Ben and Norma Barzman became a creative duo, contributing to the film industry with their storytelling prowess. However, their journey took an unexpected turn during the era of McCarthyism, a time marked by anti-communist investigations and blacklisting in Hollywood.

Both Ben and Norma found themselves on the infamous Hollywood blacklist, a list of individuals deemed to have communist affiliations, which severely impacted their careers. To escape the challenges posed by the blacklist, the Barzmans left the United States in 1949 and spent nearly three decades living in Europe.

One of their notable collaborations was on the original story for the film “Never Say Goodbye” (1947), starring Errol Flynn. Despite the challenges they faced, the couple continued to contribute to the film industry from abroad, with Ben working on various projects, including the film “Give Us This Day” (1949) in England.

The Barzmans found a new home in Paris in 1954, where they immersed themselves in a vibrant cultural scene and formed connections with renowned artists like Pablo Picasso. The couple chose to stay away from Los Angeles for over 20 years, navigating the complexities of the political climate and blacklist repercussions.

Ben Barzman’s journey mirrored the challenges and resilience of many artists during a turbulent period in Hollywood. His career, entwined with the experiences of McCarthyism and the Hollywood blacklist, serves as a testament to the impact of political ideologies on the creative landscape of the time.