Trumbo

I grew up watching Trumbo on the Johnny Carson show, so I knew a little bit about him. I learned unknown facts and bits of his personality that I didn't know from this video. For example, I did not realize that he was such a caring and typical family man, true to American ideals.

James Dalton Trumbo, a man for all seasonsWhat do you say about a man who stood his ground without reservation? A visionary who fell from grace, and found dignity to be different. In 1946 thru 1960 Trumbo weathered the assault of the United States Government, a Senator from Wisconsin Joseph R. McCarthy, and hollywood's disgrace. The House on Un-American Activities, et al, imprisoned him for a year, and took away his only means to survive, writing. The man who gave us, "Johnny Got His Gun" was deprived by a man without intellect or judgment to render such opinion(s).Dalton son, Christopher directed the film. In my opinion made it real, without error, and that is what Trumbo demanded. This film will make you cry, and laugh, and a little of both.You are Spartacus, James Dalton Trumbo,"Barcelona fell, and you were not there, and I was not there, and perhaps if we had been, the city would have stood and the world would have been changed and better. But we were here, and here together we remain, and our city won't fall, and if it should, better that we lie buried in its ruins than be found absent a second time."JMHB

As noted by some of the other much more skilled reviewers here, the movie did not and could not tell Dalton Trumbo's life in an hour and a half. It is a worthy introduction, though, and a warning to wannabe rebels: There are consequences to saying out loud what everyone is thinking. "Johnny Got His Gun" and "Executive Action," for example, are two of the most disturbing truths I've ever seen. On the other hand, the movie also answers an old curiosity about the unexpected story quality of several B Movies most people have never heard about. In fact, I'm checking back to see just how much I missed at the drive-ins. In the end, I give it five stars because of its nebulous effect on viewers. You will want to know more and you will discover some really cool stuff along the way. Come back and tell us what you've found.

Ok if you're really curious about the black listing era and Hollywood. I got it so my brother-in-law could check it out and he was delighted with the content. For me, it absorbed a lot more valuable time than I hoped. Some interesting tidbits ... but ultimately, you realize that you got the point in the 1st half hr. And note, this is not the new (Bryan Cranston, Helen Mirren, etc.) version released into 2015/16. It's from 2008 with footage from the 40's - and the real Trumbo character.

This is a wonderful documentary on the life of a Hollywood screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, who was blacklisted for refusing to name names during the McCarthy era witch hunts. Trumbo was one of the so-called Hollywood 10, who refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee and the film follows his odyssey looking for a place to rest, as he negotiates the life of a writer with no name. (No wonder he could write such a brilliant screenplay for Exodus!) The film contains many clips of sage comments by Trumbo, as well as nice historical documentary footage, interviews with Hollywood stars and Trumbo's family members, and a nicely told description of the major events in Trumbo's life, such as the story of how Kirk Douglas revealed that Trumbo had written Spartacus under an assumed name.I highly recommend this film, especially to a younger generation that wants to learn more about the potential effects of intolerance to intellectual freedom.

This is the perfect companion to the recent Hollywood movie, TRUMBO. Trumbo writes so beautifully. Such wit, humor and meaning he conveys in his letters. I loved this and it is, in fact, quite important in its ideas and principals. It was moving to hear all the great actors and actresses who read his letters with so much involvement and emotion.

The film does a terrific job of examining Dalton Trumbo's unyielding beliefs, hiscantankerous personality, and most importantly his words.His letters are read by terrific actors like David Straithairn and Donald Sutherland,and it's in these readings that we get an insight into how sad and deep America'sfear of intellectuals and artists really is.The film has flaws, including rushing through some of the most important turns inTrumbo's professional life (e.g., his return to finally being able to take credit for hiswork in 1960) and there's a slight lack of emotional punch to the whole thing.But this is intelligent filmmaking, and Trumbo's words will ring in my head for a long time.

This documentary not only shows the disastrous effects of blacklisting on Trumbo's professional career, but reveals the incredible damage the vicious witch hunt did to his family. But, unlike others whose lives were completely ruined, the Trumbos persevered as a unit while Trumbo eventually had the last laugh - creatively if not financially --reclaiming his public status as an award-winning writer.Highly recommend this along with other documentaries and movies about the destructive era orchestrated by duplicitous members of HUAC as well as by the unscrupulous McCarthy: "Edward R. Murrow: The McCarthy Years"; "Point of Order"; "Guilty By Suspicion"starring DeNiro; Woody Allen's "The Front"; and Clooney's "Good Night and Good Luck"

You may see this movie as well as you may see The Grapes of Wrath - and you may relate them both to president Bush Yale years complaining why he is shown such Commie propaganda. Well ... and you may remove the disc and silently ponder ..and what I? Was the message of Trumbo's against US ? Was his Message against someone ? if so say against whom ? No that Message its strength was then as some messages today would fill us with something against them . Them who need such space to fill it with suspicion and hate - with carte blanche for anything what they can turn into " WMD in 45 minutes of deployment". How cheaper is to load people with irrelevant issues of same sex marriages - the issue what is concern for only 2 consenting adults- and made us to American Idol - Colloseum crowd with text us thumbs up or down. Why ? How cheaper is to sponsor New Adam's families by stigmatizing the older natural one - just give them worthless money and Freedom to blame other ones. Turn a joke to reality show for homeless . This Movie is not about just Trumbo who was relatively lucky one - thanks to the quality of people around, it is about those people who persisted to present day when they been corrupted by the choice - by the choice of Milton Friedman - Freedom to choose - pay will be done by someone else. In this Mr. Trumbo had not made that choice - while others do. Man whose personal imagination made for some life difference - while brooding through the damp of systemically visualized cheerful pornographic violence. Good film to think about and what is changed. Trumbos got never chance they weed them out at personal department. I remember Rosenbergs their Judge their lawyer and the Crowd do you changed ever ? Stage is set up.

Be careful when ordering this it's a documentary and not the drama with Brian Cranston. Big disappointment when sitting down to watch when you find you ordered the wrong item. My fault but . . . make sure you want the documentary.

absorbing

Thought I bought the 'film', not the documentry!!:-(..