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Dalton Trumbo: The Life and Work of a Hollywood Icon

Cody Blair

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Early Life and Career

Dalton Trumbo was born in Montrose, Colorado, on December 9, 1905. He grew up in a small town in Nebraska, where he developed a love of reading and writing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Trumbo moved to Los Angeles in 1935 to pursue a career in screenwriting.

TRUMBO

by Bruce Cook

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Trumbo's first major success came in 1937 with the release of the film The Brave One. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it established Trumbo as one of the most promising young screenwriters in Hollywood.

Hollywood Blacklist

Trumbo's career was cut short in 1947 when he was blacklisted by the Hollywood studios. The blacklist was a result of the anti-communist witch hunt that was sweeping the United States at the time. Trumbo and nine other screenwriters were accused of being communists, and they were banned from working in Hollywood.

Trumbo refused to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC),which was investigating communist activity in Hollywood. He was convicted of contempt of Congress and sentenced to one year in prison.

Return to Hollywood

After serving his sentence, Trumbo returned to Hollywood in 1951. He was still blacklisted, but he found work writing under pseudonyms. In 1956, he wrote the screenplay for The Brave One, which was released under the name "Robert Rich."

In 1960, Trumbo was finally able to use his own name on a screenplay. He wrote the screenplay for the film Exodus, which was a critical and commercial success. Trumbo's return to Hollywood was a major victory for the blacklist victims.

Later Career and Legacy

Trumbo continued to write screenplays throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He wrote the screenplays for such films as Spartacus, Johnny Got His Gun, and Papillon.

Trumbo died in 1976 at the age of 70. He left behind a legacy of brilliant screenwriting and political activism. Trumbo was a fearless defender of free speech, and his work continues to inspire filmmakers and activists today.

Dalton Trumbo was one of the most important figures in Hollywood history. His work spanned genres from war films to comedies, and he was known for his sharp wit and political activism. Trumbo's career was cut short by the Hollywood blacklist, but he returned to Hollywood in 1956 and continued to write screenplays for some of the most acclaimed films of the 1960s and 1970s.

Trumbo's legacy is one of courage, integrity, and artistic excellence. He was a fearless defender of free speech, and his work continues to inspire filmmakers and activists today.

**Alt attribute for the main image:**

Dalton Trumbo, a renowned Hollywood screenwriter, sits at a desk in front of a typewriter. His face is furrowed in concentration as he works on a screenplay.

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Dalton Trumbo speaks at a rally against the Hollywood blacklist. His face is full of passion and determination.

TRUMBO

by Bruce Cook

4.5 out of 5