Storm Center (1956)

In the quiet town of Kenport, Alicia Hull stands as a beacon of knowledge and respect, serving as the head librarian at the Free Public Library. Her dedication to the library stems from her past, a widow seeking solace following her husband's death in WWI. However, the tranquility of her literary sanctuary is disrupted when a controversial book, "The Communist Dream," is discovered within the library's inventory, igniting the fury of some citizens. In response to public outrage, the city council demands Alicia to remove the book from circulation. Initially, she complies, swayed by their recent approval of her long-desired project, a children's wing for the library. However, Alicia soon finds herself in an ethical quandary, questioning if succumbing to the council's demand is tantamount to endorsing censorship and suppressing freedom of expression. Admitting to purchasing the book, Alicia describes its contents as ludicrous, arguing that people should be allowed to read and judge it for themselves. However, as the controversy escalates, ambitious councilor Paul Duncan, using information from his unsuspecting fiancé and assistant librarian Martha Lockridge, uncovers Alicia's past connections with Communist-leaning organizations. Even though Alicia left these associations upon discovering their political leanings, Duncan exploits this information to oust Alicia from her position when she refuses to remove the book from the library. Publicly branded a Communist, Alicia is ostracized by most of Kenport, including those who once cherished her as a community figure. Initially, Alicia accepts her fate, lacking the energy to fight against the injustice. However, young Freddie Slater, an avid library patron with a troubled home life, inspires Alicia to reconsider her resignation. As Freddie grapples with his father's misunderstanding of his love for reading and Alicia's supposed Communism, the librarian realizes the profound impact she has had on his life. As Duncan capitalizes on Alicia's past to further his political ambitions, Alicia’s journey to reclaim her reputation and the freedom of expression she deeply values begins.

Storm Center is a drama movie featuring Bette Davis and directed by Daniel Taradash.

Storm Center is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Tubi TV and it's also available on fuboTV.