Contact CU Independent News Staff Writer Nikita Mamochine at nikita.mamochine@colorado.edu
Let’s go back to 1947, at the beginning of Cold War. Relations between the United States and the Soviet Union are tense, to say the least, and being a communist in America is a threat to patriotism.
Enter Bryan Cranston as Dalton Trumbo, in director Jay Roach’s Trumbo, released in November 2015 and screened on campus this week. With a combination of comical and dramatic elements, Trumbo certainly is a film to see — especially for CU students.
The film is based on true events revolving around the achievements of Dalton Trumbo, one of the Hollywood 10, a group of motion picture producers and writers who were questioned by the U.S. Senate for suspected communist affiliation. They refused to give the courts a satisfactory answer, and Trumbo and several of the Hollywood 10 were blacklisted — that is, they couldn’t work in Hollywood.
Corruption is prevalent throughout the film. Trumbo secretly published scripts for motion pictures using fake names to stay under the radar. The film portrays the widespread fear of communism present in America, but does so in an entertainingly theatrical way. The comedy brings amusement to this dramatic time in America.
The production of Trumbo illustrates a classic Hollywood vibe. The film incorporates historical Hollywood elements such as noir and a retro style, with the set design accurately representing the 1940s. Items such as typewriters, antique cars, and black-and-white televisions added to the retro feel. With a veteran cast including Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Louis C.K. and John Goodman, the film demonstrated a variety of artistic emotion and excitement.
Trumbo is not only artistic, but it should also make CU Buffs proud. Dalton Trumbo was born in Colorado and attended CU from 1924 to 1925. CU also named a fountain for a Trumbo, which is located on the northwestern side of the University Memorial Center.
