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"Trumbo" Comes to DVD
28-Oct-2009
Written by: Blakely Slater
A powerful documentary profiling the blacklisting issues of the 1950's through the story of a great Hollywood screenwriter first captured audiences at a film festival. Peter Askin's Trumbo is now available on DVD.
Dalton Trumbo was an acclaimed screenwriter of the 1940's who created controversy as a result of his communist sympathies. After being sent to jail for defying the House Un-American Activities Committee, Trumbo became one of the infamous "Hollywood Ten," a group of writers and directors blacklisted for their communist associations.
The movie follows the screenwriter's fall from fame, and his subsequent rise, through performances of his letters, clips from his films, and interviews with those whom he considered close.
A trailer for the documentary promises a medley of old Hollywood glamour, court-room drama, emotional pain, and amusing anecdotes. Amid snapshots and clips of Trumbo's life, and actor's performing his letters, a voice-over offers the tagline "He was Hollywood's greatest screenwriter. His words still resonate today. He defied a committee, he defied the system. They took his honor. They took his freedom. So Dalton Trumbo went to war. But the ending could only be written by him."
Many of the greatest actors of today, including Michael Douglas, Liam Neeson, Nathan Lane, Dustin Hoffman, and Paul Giamatti, are featured in the film dramatically reading Trumbo's letters. One clip shows Trumbo's wit, apparent in a letter discussing masturbators, while Fandango's clip highlights Trumbo's anguish and anger over the blacklisting.
Reviews for Trumbo applaud the power of the movie to not only capture the essence of Trumbo, but also to expose important issues.
"Peter Askin's powerful documentary serves as an important reminder of our first Amendment rights," said TV Guide.
The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed the movie "Rousing and captivating."
Trumbo is rated PG-13 for sex-related commentary.
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