It never used to be easy to get your favorite films for home viewing. Videocassettes, DVDs and streaming services were in the distant future. Even Hollywood legends often broke the rules to see their favorite films. In 1974, Roddy McDowall got caught up in an FBI sting operation that was tracking pirated films.
While the industry officially looked down on pirated films, there was an underground world that traded in them. Mr. McDowall was not willing to go to jail, so he named names. Mel Torme and Dick Martin were among the big names caught up in the scandal.
While the storm eventually blew over, all of Hollywood knew that Mr. McDowall was responsible for the scrutiny and his career was never the same again. Luckily, the era of videocassettes and home entertainment exploded just a few years later, offering a legitimate way to acquire Hollywood's Crown Jewels for home viewing.
