Reds (1981)

Synopsis of Reds

Few filmmakers other than Warren Beatty would have had the courage and vision to fashion an epic film from the life of famed American Communist John Reed (who is the only US citizen buried in the Kremlin). The film is an effort to humanize a political movement that has previously been depicted on screen in a series of unsubtle and prejudicial broad strokes. The film begins in 1915, when Reed (Beatty) makes the acquaintance of married Portland journalist Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton). So persuasive is Reed's point of view--and so charismatic is Reed himself-- that Bryant kicks over the traces and joins Reed and his fellow radicals. Among the famous personages depicted herein are Emma Goldman (Maureen Stapleton), Eugene O'Neill (Jack Nicholson) and Max Eastman (Richard Herrmann). The second half of this nearly-200-minute film skims through the years when Reed, now a Russian resident, becomes disillusioned by the harsh realities of Bolshevism. Despite the celebrity line-up of real-life "witnesses" to the events depicted in the film (ranging from novelist Henry Miller to comedian George Jessel!), historians took Reds to task for its oversimplification of events and its laundering of the notoriously promiscuous Louise Bryant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Theatrical Feature Running Time:

195 mins

Director(s):

Warren Beatty

Writer(s):

Warren Beatty, Trevor Griffiths

Producer(s):

Warren Beatty, Dede Allen, Simon Relph

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

PG(Adult Situations, Violence, Adult Language, Not For Children)

• 1982 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Supporting Actress
• 1982 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Supporting Actor
• 1981 - Directors Guild of America - Best Director
• 1981 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Director
• 1981 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Director
• 1981 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actress
• 1981 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Cinematography
• 1981 - National Board of Review - Best Director
• 1981 - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actor
• 1981 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Picture

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