Yes, the movie Trumbo (2015) is based on a true story. It is a biographical drama film about the life of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who was blacklisted by Hollywood during the McCarthy era for his political beliefs. Trumbo won two Academy Awards for his screenplays for Roman Holiday and The Brave One, both of which were written under pseudonyms due to his blacklisting.
What is the true story behind the movie Trumbo (2015)?
Trumbo is a biographical drama film that depicts the life of Dalton Trumbo, an American screenwriter who was one of the Hollywood Ten - a group of filmmakers who were blacklisted from the industry due to their alleged involvement with communist beliefs during the Red Scare of the 1940s and 1950s.
The film portrays Trumbo’s struggle against the system as he fights to clear his name and continue his career as a screenwriter. The movie is based on the 1977 book “Dalton Trumbo” by Bruce Cook.
Trumbo was one of the most successful screenwriters of his time, with credits such as Roman Holiday, Spartacus, and Exodus. However, in 1947, he was among those summoned to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) regarding their alleged involvement in communist activities. Trumbo refused to answer the committee’s questions, citing his First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association.
Trumbo was subsequently blacklisted along with other Hollywood writers, actors, and directors. He continued to write under pseudonyms, and the film explores how he used his anonymous screenwriting work to challenge the film industry’s censorship and promote more progressive, anti-war themes.
Trumbo eventually regained his status as a successful screenwriter in the late 1950s when the blacklist began to lift, and he went on to win two Academy Awards under his own name.