TRUMBO

"The gruff, loquacious, brilliant and brave screenwriter who endured years in the wilderness rather than cave in to the congressional witch-hunts of McCarthy-era America is given the respectful portrait he deserves. Recitations from his letters by stars like Joan Allen, Michael Douglas, Donald Sutherland and David Strathairn add to the pleasure." — Peter Calder, New Zealand Herald

Dalton Trumbo was the most famous, or infamous, of the Hollywood Ten, the group of writers, directors and producers who in the late 40s were accused of being communist sympathizers and blacklisted by the Hollywood studios. He was the most successful screenwriter of his day (“I am Spartacus!”), and one of the most talented. In this fascinating documentary, based on the stage play written by his son Christopher, Trumbo’s life and turbulent times are evoked in his letters – many of them written in prison – read with relish by a stellar cast. And what great letters they are; muscular with conviction, crackling with wit and bursting with his sense of how great life might be if the bastards would only loosen up.

“Tragic, comic and incisive... A rousing documentary as ornery, orotund and captivating as its subject.” — Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer. “An amazing primer on how to stand by your principles even as the unprincipled knock you around.” — James Rocchi, Cinematical