Tuesday, November 3, 2015

"Trumbo" with Bryan Cranston tackles dark period in Hollywood history

TRUMBO will be in limited theatrical release on Nov. 6, 2015. Dalton Trumbo was a screenwriter who was Blacklisted in Hollywood when he wouldn't discuss his Communist political beliefs. The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) went on a witch hunt from 1947 to 1960 to weed out those in Hollywood who were Communist or connected to those practicing Communism. Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) wrote hit movies under a different name. 

The "red scare" ruined careers & personal lives in Hollywood. I think I've read every Autobiography or Biography of Film Stars who lived in that era of Movie-making. Screenwriters, actors, actresses & directors became prime targets. Trumbo worked in secret & was considered one the best screenwriters who ever lived. Kirk Douglas (Dean O'Gorman) hired Trumbo to write the Blockbuster Epic "Spartacus." Douglas decided to put Trumbo's real name in the film credits & helped break the Blacklist.

John Wayne, Edward G. Robinson & film director Otto Preminger are portrayed in this film. So is gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) who had a major influence with her millions of readers. Kirk Douglas who will be 99-years-old soon, screened the film & approved of it. Remember, Douglas was the biggest movie star of the 1950's. I think everyone should research this ugly time in Hollywood because it was all about fear.

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