The film’s director, Roger C. Memos, and executive producer Linda D. Levitz will be in Sedona to host the first three screenings of “Marsha Hunt’s Sweet Adversity” (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and conduct Q&A sessions following the film.
In 1935, seventeen-year old aspiring actress Marsha Hunt was discovered in Hollywood. She signed with Paramount Pictures and went on to a flourishing career at MGM. She made 54 films in 17 years before a series of unfortunate events led to her being unfairly blacklisted.
After the blacklist, she championed humanitarian causes, forging a career as one of Hollywood’s first celebrity activists. As far back as 1955, she worked tirelessly alongside her mentor, Eleanor Roosevelt, to support the work that the United Nations Association was accomplishing in the U.S. At age 100, Marsha continued to fight for causes she believes in.
Her life story has peaks and valleys that span the course of the 20th century. The film’s underlying theme is that Marsha rose above adversity. When life handed her lemons, she made lemonade. When the industry she loved turned its’ back on her, she forgave them and moved on a second career as a “planet patriot”. She continued to support causes that she felt needed a "voice".
“Marsha Hunt’s Sweet Adversity” is Marsha’s final act of activism. Through her words and action, this film will serve as an inspirational "primer" for activists of all ages.