Trumbo 2015

     This story takes place in 1947, Dalton Trumbo was a Hollywood screenwriter and he was at the top of his career.  The House Un-American Activities panel questioned Tumbo and nine other artists about their membership in the Communist Party.  They were labeled the Hollywood Ten and a result of their testimony several were sent to Federal Prison for contempt of Congress.  Trumbo was sent to Ashland, Kentucky for ten months and he paid a $1000 fine.  Congress was not the creator of the blacklist, that was done by Hollywood studio chiefs.

      Other artists in Hollywood named others in the party and didn’t go to prison but some didn’t work for a year or more.  Trumbo went on to win two Academy Awards for best screenplay under assumed names because he was on the blacklist.  The problem with this movie is that nothing is addressed about why these people were members of the Communist Party and as a result what did they do for the Party?  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

124 min, Bio directed by Jay Roach with Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Michael Stuhlbarg, David Maldonado, John Getz, David James Elliott, Madison Wolfe, Elle Fanning, Louis C.K.

Note:  Imdb 7.5 out of 10, 75% critic 80% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2 1/2*, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 3198.

Special Note:  There is a mistake in the Roman numeral for 2015 in the opening credits.  MCMXI is shown and that is 1911.  The correct number is MMXV for 2015.  Edward G. Robinson is shown giving already known names but it real life he did not.  John Wayne claimed to be an American hero but he did not serve in the military during WWII and Korea.  Many on the blacklist had served.  Columnist Hedda Hopper turns out to have been a blackmailer.  Eventually 300 artists were boycotted by Hollywood.  Only about 10% were able to rebuild their careers.