Trumbo (2015)

In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.

Director:

Jay Roach

Writers:

John McNamara, Bruce Cook (book)

Stars:

Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 43 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bryan Cranston	...	Dalton Trumbo
Michael Stuhlbarg	...	Edward G. Robinson
David Maldonado	...	Rocco (as Dave Maldonado)
John Getz	...	Sam Wood
Diane Lane	...	Cleo Trumbo
Laura Flannery	...	Party Goer
Helen Mirren	...	Hedda Hopper
David James Elliott	...	John Wayne
Toby Nichols	...	Chris Trumbo (age 6-10) (as Tobias McDowell Nichols)
Joseph S. Martino	...	Rally Participant
Madison Wolfe	...	Niki Trumbo (age 8-11)
Jason Bayle	...	Young Father
James DuMont	...	J. Parnell Thomas
Alan Tudyk	...	Ian McLellan Hunter
Louis C.K.	...	Arlen Hird

Storyline

In 1947, Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) was Hollywood's top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs. TRUMBO (directed by Jay Roach) recounts how Dalton used words and wit to win two Academy Awards and expose the absurdity and injustice under the blacklist, which entangled everyone from gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) to John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger.

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Plot Keywords:

gossip columnist | gossip | communist | fiction writer | communism | 

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Taglines:

When they tried to silence him, he made the world listen.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including some sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 November 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Trambo

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$74,177, 8 November 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$7,857,741

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,430,025

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bleecker Street Films, ShivHans Pictures, Groundswell Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Digital (as Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alan Tudyk entertained his on-screen son, Elijah Miskowski, and the other kids on set by performing the voices of King Candy (Wreck-It Ralph (2012)), Duke (Frozen (2013)), and Alister Krei (Big Hero 6 (2014)). The boys were impressed to discover he was also the marine voice from Halo 3 (2007) and it made Alan the "kid magnet" during the early shooting of Trumbo.

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Goofs

The movie shows Trumbo and former Congressman J. Parnell Thomas in the same prison. But they never were, Thomas was imprisoned in Danbury CT Prison with Lester Cole and Ring Lardner, Jr., both members of the "Hollywood Ten". Trumbo served eleven months in the federal penitentiary in Ashland, Kentucky, not in Connecticut.

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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.

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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').

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Connections

Referenced in I Hate Everything: the Search for the Worst: The Little Panda Fighter (2015)

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Soundtracks

Merry Christmas Mama!
from the motion picture A Summer Place (1959)
Composed by Max Steiner
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

User Reviews

Very similar, to a lot of political battles, and social struggles, still going on today!

'TRUMBO': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A biographical-drama flick, based on the life of successful Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo; who was jailed, and blacklisted (in the 1940s), for his communist beliefs. The film stars Bryan Cranston, as Trumbo, and it costars Diane Lane, Louis C.K., Helen Mirren, Elle Fanning, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Dean O'Gorman, David James Elliott and Alan Tudyk. It was directed by Jay Roach, in his dramatic directorial debut; following many popular comedy flicks (like 'MEET THE PARENTS', it's first sequel, and all of the 'AUSTIN POWERS' movies). The film was written by John McNamara, and it was based on the book ('Dalton Trumbo') by Bruce Cook. I found it to be very involving, educational and inspiring.

In 1947, Dalton Trumbo (Cranston) was one of Hollywood's most successful screenwriters; he was also a member of the extremely controversial CPUSA (Communist Party of the USA). The party was so threatening, to those in power, that many famous Hollywood figures, of the time, were subpoenaed and jailed, for their beliefs (and refusing to admit to the use of propaganda, in their work). Trumbo was one of 10 screenwriters, that fell victim to this paranoia. Upon release from prison, he continued to work, under aliases, and attempted to expose the injustice, of this abuse.

I didn't know a lot about the details, of these historical events; I also knew very little about Dalton Trumbo. So for me, the movie was very informative, and fascinating. It reminded me (a lot) of similar political battles, and social struggles, still going on today. For these reasons, I found the film to be extremely emotional. I also found it to be very entertaining, because of it's insightful details, about Hollywood (at that time). Cranston gives a very impressive performance; and the supporting cast is all good as well (O'Gorman is especially memorable, as Kirk Douglas). Roach might not have been the best director, for this material, but the movie is still really memorable, and enjoyable!

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