A kiradírozott színész
The Disqualified Actor

The Case of László Szilassy Based on Contemporary Press Sources

Summary/Abstract: After the Second World War, the actor László Szilassy was accused of war crimes and crimes against the people, including joining the Arrow Cross, participating in the torture of people, and agitating for the continuation of the war. However, he was not prosecuted in absentia, evidence was not uncovered, and no investigation was carried out. In early 1945 Szilassy had to emigrate after successfully escaping over the front west of Budapest. After 1949, he performed for years with the artists-refugees of the Hungarian diaspora in South America (including Zita Szeleczky, Juliska Páger Komár, Piri Vaszary, Lajos Cselle, Miklós Hajmássy, and Antal Páger) in the performances of the Hungarian Dramatic Society of Buenos Aires. His image in Hungary changed only during the democratic regime change of 1989–90. Szilassy was acquitted of the charges against him by film critics, who saw evidence that the actor had been confused with an extreme right-wing officer, László Szilassy, because of his name identity. (The actor's original family name was Szabó, and Szilassy was used only as a stage name.) Since then, it has become clear that the picture is more complicated and the role of László Szilassy more controversial than was thought after the regime change. This is confirmed by documents and press sources of the time.

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