January 2, 2016 -- This is a movie about a screenwriter who was blacklisted during the red scare era of the 1940s, 50s and 60s, but who finally prevailed against the system with determination, hard work, and talent. A number of films have been made about the Hollywood blacklist, but this one takes you inside that world.

Dalton Trumbo (played by Bryan Cranston of “Argo”) was a member of a prominent group of Hollywood talents called the “Hollywood 10” who in 1947 were targeted by the Congressional House Committee on Un-American Activities for their political views. They refused to testify about Communist Party members and others, based on First Amendment rights (others later refused on Fifth Amendment grounds).

Trumbo and others went to prison for refusing to testify, even though those were not legal sentences, and they lost their jobs, even though that lockout wasn't legal, either. The legal strategy of the Hollywood 10 was based on the expected outcome of their cases in the Supreme Court, but the makeup of the court changed during the trials, and it no longer favored their First Amendment rights.

But Trumbo was no ordinary screenwriter, and no ordinary jailbird, either. He fought back the only way he knew, with his typewriter. He made a deal with Frank King (John Goodman) of King Brothers Productions to write scripts under assumed names. King loved Trumbo's scripts and soon had so much work for him that Trumbo was able to farm out script work to other blacklisted writers who, like him, needed the money.

Eventually, Trumbo would win two Academy Awards for scripts he wrote while blacklisted, even though his name did not originally appear in the credits of either movie, “Roman Holiday” (1953) and “The Brave One” (1956). His work became so well known that top stars, like Kirk Douglas, and to directors, like Otto Preminger, would seek him out. The blacklist was openly defied and Trumbo's name appeared once again on the silver screen in “Spartacus” (1960) and “Exodus” (1960). He had beat the system, but it would take decades to get all of his film credits restored.

But Trumbo and others were up against some powerful forces, including syndicated columnist Hedda Hopper (played by Hellen Mirren of “The Hundred-Foot Journey”) and John Wayne, four-term president of the powerful Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals. Hedda Hopper was also a member of the Alliance as was Walt Disney. Ayn Rand wrote a pamphlet for the Alliance, denouncing moral corruption in movies.

Trumbo himself was a rare exception to the blacklist. Most didn't beat the system the way he did. Many of those on the blacklist would not get jobs in the entertainment industry again for years. Many never again worked in the industry. The film shows the damage done to Trumbo and others who were blacklisted. Many lost their homes and families because of the blacklist.

Those who were blacklisted were not united. Some, like Edward G. Robinson (played in the film by Michael Stuhlbarg of “Steve Jobs”) eventually named names to the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Even though he had supported the Hollywood 10, he was shunned by them after his testimony. There were bitter divisions among those on the blacklist about the proper tactics to fight the blacklist.

The fear, frustration and stress caused by the blacklist permeates the film, but there is one scene of defiance that is delicious. When a member of Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals comes to threaten Frank King for using blacklisted talent in his King Brothers movies, Frank starts smashing up his own office with a baseball bat. Holding the bat against the throat of the man threatening him, he basically tells the man he'll kill him if the Alliance carries out its threats and ruins his business.

Cranston is amazing in his performance, ably supported by Diane Lane, who plays his wife, and Elle Fanning, who plays his daughter. Other notable performances, in addition to Goodman's are Louis C.K. who plays his friend, Arlen Hird, Alan Tudyk who plays Ian McLellan Hunter. This is a very well-written (John McNamara) acted and directed (by Jay Roach of “The Campaign”) movie. This is one of the year's best films, and one of the best films about the Hollywood blacklist. It rates a B+.

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Copyright © 2016 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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