Trumbo review

During the 1940’s, Dalton Trumbo was one of Hollywood’s most respected and highest earning screenwriters. He was also a keen supporter of worker’s rights and was one of many Americans who joined the Communist Party during World War Two. 

After the end of the war, however, and amidst increasingly hostile relations between the US and the Soviet Union, members of the Communist Party, like Trumbo, were viewed with suspicion. A group called the House Un-American Activities Committee was even used to investigate those thought to have Communist sympathies.

In 1947, Trumbo was one of ten people who were charged with contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions posed by the committee. As a result of this, Trumbo served eleven months in prison and was blacklisted. This meant that he was effectively prohibited from working in the film industry. Trumbo circumvented this, however, by writing scripts under various pseudonyms and by getting friends to take credit for his work. During this period, two of Trumbo’s scripts – The Brave One and Roman Holiday – received Oscars, although he was unable to take credit for them.

Jay Roach’s film follows Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) through this dark period up until 1960 when he was welcomed back into the Hollywood fold after being publicly credited for his work on the hit film Spartacus.

To Trumbo’s credit, it manages to avoid the po-faced seriousness that might easily befall a film with such subject matter. Indeed, it is less concerned with making political points and more with illuminating the personality of Trumbo himself. 

Bryan Cranston imbues his character with a dry wit and quiet intelligence that makes him both likeable and fascinating to watch. There are also strong performances from a talented supporting cast that includes Michael Stuhlbarg and Louis C. K, although it is Helen Mirren who really gives a scene-stealing performance as a delightfully venomous gossip columnist.

Both funny and compelling, Trumbo offers an interesting and long overdue look into one of the darker periods of Hollywood history.

Star Rating: 4/5