‘Trumbo’ Tells the Story of Blacklisted Screenwriter

‘Trumbo’ Tells the Story of Blacklisted Screenwriter

In 1950, the United States Congress tried to end the career of Dalton Trumbo, the highest-paid screenwriter in Hollywood.

Now, that story is being told in the new movie, “Trumbo.”

In 1947, Dalton Trumbo appeared before the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee. The committee was looking for members of the Communist Party. It suspected many film industry members belonged to the greatly feared political group.

Dalton Trumbo was one of the suspects. He refused to answer the committee’s questions.

The committee blacklisted Trumbo. That meant no one would work with him or buy his screenplays.

Actor Bryan Cranston plays Dalton Trumbo. He portrays² him as a difficult and disagreeable man, but also as a beautiful speaker. In “Trumbo,” the title character fights the government’s actions with sharp thinking and a fierce spirit. The political pressure does not intimidate³ him.

HUAC COMMITTEE MEMBER: "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist party?"

DALTON TRUMBO: "Many questions can be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’ only by a moron⁴ or a slave."

Bryan Cranston says the movie’s message attracted him more than Trumbo's showy character.

"This man, who was a prolific⁵ writer, the highest-paid screenwriter in Hollywood at the time and a member of the American Communist party, and summoned to Washington to make a statement under oath, under the penalty of imprisonment⁶, to withgo his first amendment⁷ rights and be compelled to give testimony⁸ with a very un-American question: 'Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?'"

SCREENWRITER: "You talk like a radical⁹, but you live like a rich guy."

TRUMBO: "It's the perfect combination! The radical may fight with the purity of Jesus, but the rich guy wins with the cunning of Satan."

Trumbo's sharp humor does not win him many friends. In 1950, he is sentenced for contempt of court. He is no longer permitted to work in Hollywood and loses his wealth. But he is talented and resourceful.

TRUMBO: "I'll write you a movie."

STUDIO EXECUTIVE: "And, you don't want your name on it."

TRUMBO: "No, you don't want my name on it."

Society reporter and intense anti-communist Hedda Hopper was one of Trumbo's greatest enemies. Actor Helen Mirren plays her in the movie.

HOPPER: "Whisper a movie you've written in secret. Maybe I've even heard of it."

TRUMBO: "Maybe you have…."

As it turns out, Hopper probably had heard of it. Dalton Trumbo won two Academy Awards for screenplays he wrote while blacklisted. He wrote them under different names. “Roman Holiday” won the Oscar for best writing in 1954. Three years later, Trumbo’s screenplay for the movie, “The Brave One,” also received an Academy Award.

Jay Roach directed “Trumbo.” His movie’s humor and its skilled cast do more than entertain. “Trumbo” also provides a frightening reminder¹⁰ of what happens when political power is abused and civil liberties are attacked.

Words in This Story

blacklist – v. to say that a person, company, etc., should be avoided or not allowed to do something : to place (someone or something) on a blacklist — often used as (be) blacklisted

portray¹ – v. to play (a character) in a film, play, or television show

intimidate – v. to make (someone) afraid

contempt of court – n. (law) speech or behavior that does not show proper respect to a court or judge

talented – adj. having a special ability to do something well

cast – n. the actors in a play, film, or television show

1 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

2 portrays   

v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The museum collection vividly portrays the heritage of 200 years of canals. 博物馆的藏品让运河200 年的历史再现眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The film portrays Gandhi as a kind of superman. 这部电影把甘地描绘成一个超人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 intimidate   

vt.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• You think you can intimidate people into doing what you want?你以为你可以威胁别人做任何事？
• The first strike capacity is intended mainly to intimidate adversary.第一次攻击的武力主要是用来吓阻敌方的。

4 moron   

n.极蠢之人，低能儿

参考例句：

• I used to think that Gordon was a moron.我曾以为戈登是个白痴。
• He's an absolute moron!他纯粹是个傻子！

5 prolific   

adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的

参考例句：

• She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories.她是一位多产的作家，写了很多小说和短篇故事。
• The last few pages of the document are prolific of mistakes.这个文件的最后几页错误很多。

6 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

7 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

8 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

9 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

10 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。