A true story of politics and art in the 1930s U.S., focusing on a leftist musical drama and attempts to stop its production.
Director:
Tim RobbinsWriter:
Tim Robbins
From metacritic.com
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Title: Cradle Will Rock (1999)
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5 wins & 7 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Hank Azaria | ... | Marc Blitzstein | |
| Rubén Blades | ... | Diego Rivera | |
| Joan Cusack | ... | Hazel Huffman | |
| John Cusack | ... | Nelson Rockefeller | |
| Cary Elwes | ... | John Houseman | |
| Philip Baker Hall | ... | Gray Mathers | |
| Cherry Jones | ... | Hallie Flanagan | |
| Angus Macfadyen | ... | Orson Welles | |
| Bill Murray | ... | Tommy Crickshaw | |
| Vanessa Redgrave | ... | Countess Constance La Grange | |
| Susan Sarandon | ... | Margherita Sarfatti | |
| Jamey Sheridan | ... | John Adair | |
| John Turturro | ... | Aldo Silvano | |
| Emily Watson | ... | Olive Stanton | |
| Bob Balaban | ... | Harry Hopkins | |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Storyline
In 1930s New York Orson Welles tries to stage a musical on a steel strike under the Federal Theater Program despite pressure from an establishment fearful of industrial unrest and red activity. Meanwhile Nelson Rockefeller gets the foyer of his company headquarters decorated and an Italian countess sells paintings for Mussolini. Written by Jeremy Perkins
Plot Keywords:
reference to franklin d. roosevelt | frida kahlo character | diego rivera character | bertolt brecht character | marion davies character |Taglines:
Art is never dangerous -- unless it tells the truth. See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
21 January 2000 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Abajo el telón See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$36,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$93,998, 12 December 1999Gross USA:
$2,903,404Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$2,986,932Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Written by Marc Blitzstein
Performed by Henry Stram, Timothy Jerome (as Tim Jerome), Victoria Clark (as Vicki Clark),
Erin Hill, Daniel Jenkins (as Dan Jenkins) and Chris McKinney
Courtesy of RCA Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Marc Blitzstein was a composer who wrote and adapted musical plays on and off Broadway. In 1958, he appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He said that he had been a member of the Communist Party but quit it in 1949. Nearly two-thirds of the American communists fled the party after Joseph Stalin's atrocities became known. See more »Goofs
At the beginning of Hallie Flanagan's Senate testimony, the court stenograper's machines are not operating although they are pressing the keys. Later in the scene, the machines are working properly. See more »Crazy Credits
There is a heart in the credit roll with the following initials inside; SS, EMLA, JHR & MGR (SS is likely 'Susan Sarandon,' EMLA for Sarandon's daughter Eva Amurri, JHR & MGR for Robbins' & Sarandon's sons Jack Henry & Miles Robbins). See more »Soundtracks
The Cradle Will RockWritten by Marc Blitzstein
Performed by Henry Stram, Timothy Jerome (as Tim Jerome), Victoria Clark (as Vicki Clark),
Erin Hill, Daniel Jenkins (as Dan Jenkins) and Chris McKinney
Courtesy of RCA Records
See more »
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This is a romantic look at 1930's liberalism, with a ham-handed script that pits the evil fascists against the enlightened intellectuals.
It tries to be a little of everything, and doesn't quite pull it off. It alternates from a comedy, to poignant vignettes of depression era poverty, to a musical, to farce, to political drama. I just felt Robbins couldn't make up his mind as what this film was supposed to be. I am guessing that most of it wound up on the cutting room floor, and maybe a longer film would have allowed some of these themes to develop more completely.
It has one of the largest casts I've ever seen. It seems everyone in Hollywood wanted to get in on this one.
The biggest problem I had with the film was that if you weren't one of the warmly-portrayed socialists, then you were either a simple minded right wing alarmist, or a big businessman in bed with the fascists.
One thing is clear - Robbins and Sarandon yearn for the days when being part of the far, far left was fashionable.