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Trumbo

  • 20152015
  • RR
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
81K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Bryan Cranston in Trumbo (2015)
The successful career of Hollywood screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, comes to an end when he is blacklisted in the 1940s for being a Communist.
Play trailer2:32
16 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
81K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jay Roach
  • Writers
    • John McNamara
    • Bruce Cook(book "Dalton Trumbo")
  • Stars
    • Bryan Cranston
    • Diane Lane
    • Helen Mirren
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jay Roach
  • Writers
    • John McNamara
    • Bruce Cook(book "Dalton Trumbo")
  • Stars
    • Bryan Cranston
    • Diane Lane
    • Helen Mirren
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 234User reviews
    • 304Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 8 wins & 45 nominations total

    Videos16

    New International Trailer
    Trailer 2:32
    New International Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:26
    Official Trailer
    It Simply Lacks Genius
    Clip 1:06
    It Simply Lacks Genius
    The Second We Need You You Do Nothing
    Clip 0:52
    The Second We Need You You Do Nothing
    This Isnt A Discussion
    Clip 0:44
    This Isnt A Discussion
    He Thinks Hes The Cat
    Clip 1:09
    He Thinks Hes The Cat
    Spartacus
    Clip 0:51
    Spartacus
    You Live Like A Rich Guy
    Clip 1:11
    You Live Like A Rich Guy
    You Don't Want My Name On It
    Clip 0:51
    You Don't Want My Name On It
    You Live Like A Rich Guy
    Clip 1:11
    You Live Like A Rich Guy
    F Ire Dalton Trumbo
    Clip 0:47
    F Ire Dalton Trumbo
    Ill See You In Washington
    Clip 0:56
    Ill See You In Washington

    Photos120

    Louis C.K. in Trumbo (2015)
    Trumbo (2015)
    Trumbo (2015)
    Jay Roach and Bryan Cranston in Trumbo (2015)
    James DuMont in Trumbo (2015)
    Trumbo (2015)
    Jay Roach and Michael Stuhlbarg in Trumbo (2015)
    Jay Roach and Bryan Cranston in Trumbo (2015)
    Jim Denault in Trumbo (2015)
    Diane Lane in Trumbo (2015)
    Christian Berkel in Trumbo (2015)
    Bryan Cranston in Trumbo (2015)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bryan Cranston
    Bryan Cranston
    • Dalton Trumboas Dalton Trumbo
    Diane Lane
    Diane Lane
    • Cleo Trumboas Cleo Trumbo
    Helen Mirren
    Helen Mirren
    • Hedda Hopperas Hedda Hopper
    Louis C.K.
    Louis C.K.
    • Arlen Hirdas Arlen Hird
    Michael Stuhlbarg
    Michael Stuhlbarg
    • Edward G. Robinsonas Edward G. Robinson
    David Maldonado
    David Maldonado
    • Roccoas Rocco
    • (as Dave Maldonado)
    John Getz
    John Getz
    • Sam Woodas Sam Wood
    Laura Flannery
    Laura Flannery
    • Party Goeras Party Goer
    David James Elliott
    David James Elliott
    • John Wayneas John Wayne
    Toby Nichols
    Toby Nichols
    • Chris Trumbo (age 6-10)as Chris Trumbo (age 6-10)
    • (as Tobias McDowell Nichols)
    Joseph S. Martino
    • Rally Participantas Rally Participant
    Madison Wolfe
    Madison Wolfe
    • Niki Trumbo (age 8-11)as Niki Trumbo (age 8-11)
    Jason Bayle
    Jason Bayle
    • Young Fatheras Young Father
    James DuMont
    James DuMont
    • J. Parnell Thomasas J. Parnell Thomas
    Alan Tudyk
    Alan Tudyk
    • Ian McLellan Hunteras Ian McLellan Hunter
    Dan Bakkedahl
    Dan Bakkedahl
    • Roy Breweras Roy Brewer
    Richard Portnow
    Richard Portnow
    • Louis B. Mayeras Louis B. Mayer
    Roger Bart
    Roger Bart
    • Buddy Rossas Buddy Ross
    • Director
      • Jay Roach
    • Writers
      • John McNamara
      • Bruce Cook(book "Dalton Trumbo")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Edward G. Robinson testified four times in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee, and the fourth time, on April 30, 1952, named Albert Maltz, Dalton Trumbo, John Howard Lawson, Frank Tuttle, Edward Dmytryk, and Sidney Buchman. He also expressed regret at his association with the Communist Party, proclaiming himself a "dupe". However, one character mentioned in the movie, Arlen Hird, played by Louis C.K., never actually existed. He is, in fact, an amalgam of several historical blacklisted writers.
    • Goofs
      When the Oscar is presented for Best Screenplay at the 1954 Awards the presenter says, "And the Oscar goes to..." This phrase was not used by presenters until the 61st Academy Awards in 1989. In the 1950s the presenter would have said, "And the winner is..." when presenting an Oscar.
    • Quotes

      Dalton Trumbo: [challenging John Wayne] If you're gonna talk about World War II as if you personally won it, let's be clear where you were stationed - on a film set, shooting blanks, wearing makeup, and if you're going to hit me, I'd like to take off my glasses.

    • Crazy credits
      As the credit scroll begins, photos of the real Dalton Trumbo, his family and other people portrayed in the film are shown. These are followed by historical footage of Trumbo giving an interview (from the same one where he acknowledges that he is 'Robert Rich').
    • Alternate versions
      The version of the movie that has been screened on Indian theaters and telecast in India is a PG-13 level cut that has been rated UA by the CBFC.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Bryan Cranston/Rachel Maddow/Andrea Bocelli (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Drunken Father
      Composed by Max Steiner

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

    User reviews234

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Overcomes hurdles to succeed in delighting its audience.
    Trumbo is a period piece set in the late 40s and early 50s, following the life of Dalton Trumbo, arguably the leader of the Hollywood 10 who stood up to congress over what they saw as the illegal investigation and censorship of people's beliefs and free speech during the Second Red Scare after WWII. At the time, Congress and, in turn, members of the Hollywood elite blackballed writers, actors, directors, etc who identified as communists. Not spies for Moscow, but communists by political belief. Some faced jail time. Some lost their homes because they could not find work. Others encountered harsher realities. And Hollywood witch-hunt was merely a small part of a more wide-spread affront to civil liberties.

    The time period itself is difficult to portray without seeming to be caricature - or perhaps style and communication have changed so much in 65 years that it just seems like caricature. Added to that difficulty are portrayals of John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, legends of film that, as a young person, I may have gone my whole life subconsciously thinking of as only existing on screen. Trumbo mostly rises to the occasion.

    Much of Trumbo is comedic, and with intention, but the film also carries a certain amount of poignancy, if maybe a little less than it could use given the subject matter. Bryan Cranston is incredibly enjoyable to watch, and during the credits you get to watch a clip of the real Trumbo to compare. The portrayal is jarringly realistic (something you may question for the entirety of the film). Helen Mirren is a worthy antagonist, and very effectively displays the fear and anger that result from war - the need to dehumanize the enemy in order to survive the loss you feel as your family is fighting thousands of miles across the world, the need to justify pain through rigid ideology.

    Other notable performances come from Michael Stuhlbarg, whose character, Eddie, provides for much of the films poignancy, and Diane Lane as the quiet but strong Cleo Trumbo, the rock of her family. John Goodman, is well cast as the comedic used car salesman of film, and Elle Fanning makes her mark as the rebellious daughter learning to be every bit of a force as her father.

    It would be unfair to pin the failings of the film on a single person, but Louis C. K. continues to prove that being a great comedian does not make you a great actor. His portrayal is, in fact, so flat that it pulls you out of immersion in the film, a flaw that is further exacerbated by Bryan Cranston's mastery. Scenes between the two are simply absurd.

    As a whole, the film's laughs are well earned and its feelings are well felt. Where the film falls short is to evoke, without personal reflection, the so obvious parallels between the state of our country today and that of the film. But perhaps that is not the goal. Perhaps the goal was to, with a bit of fun, portray a larger than life writer who decided to take on the world...and won. In that, Trumbo is a great success.
    helpful•40
    29
    • cscaisse
    • Nov 13, 2015

    FAQ1

    • What is the real-life story of the Hollywood blacklist depicted in "Trumbo"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 27, 2015 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nhà Biên Kịch Trumbo
    • Filming locations
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Bleecker Street Films
      • ShivHans Pictures
      • Groundswell Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,857,741
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $74,177
      • Nov 8, 2015
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,430,025
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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