Pbenjay's Blog

Snowed in has turned out to be a pleasurable and educational experience for me.  Although physically attached to the keyboard,  I have been watching and listening to an amazing documentary about Dalton Trumbo.  Our friend Paul gave it to Peter and I am embarrassed to admit that I did not know who he was.  It’s because (my lack of awareness) I tended to get lost in the story  and then run to the ladies’ room while the credits were running.  Further, even though I went to numerous Oscar parties,  we never seemed to vote for the screenwriter.  Now however, since I met Peter and he has educated me in  deeper appreciation of movies especially the making of such and the people are involved in that process – well now I read the credits.

As it turns out this documentary was just WONDERFUL and the cast of actors who read and spoke was stellar.  Donald Sutherland, Michael and Kirk Douglas, David Straithemand Liam Niesson  just to name a few.  Their distinctive sonorous voices gave a glorious depth to the writings of Dalton Trumbo.  He wrote the MOST eloquent letters during his lifetime.  To say he had a command of the English language is such a trite understatement and not worthy of use in descriing Trumbo’s talent.  Again I have to say how ridiculous it was of me NOT to know that he wrote the screenplays for Exodus, Pappillion, Spartacus, and The Brave One.  The Brave One won him an Academy Award which he could not pick up!! Which brings me to the REAL essence of this movie.  Dalton Trumbo was blacklisted by that most heinous of American tragedies – The House Un-American Activities Committee.  How the Hollywood Ten suffered and how lives were destroyed and careers abruptly halted is a thing of shame.  A great documentary showing the evils of McCarthyism and the genius of Dalton Trumbo.