Kate Lardner Movies
A documentary adaptation of the popular regional theatrical monologue -- in which such heavyweights as Paul Newman, Nathan Lane, and Joe Mantegna essayed the lead on various occasions -- Trumbo recounts the life and times of legendary Hollywood scribe-turned-HUAC scapegoat Dalton Trumbo. As with its source production, the film takes as its base material highly personal, detailed, and emotive letters written by Dalton Trumbo to his son, Christopher; the latter, in turn, molded the missives into a screenplay for this production. Here, however, in lieu of one actor portraying Dalton, a number of celebrities take turns narrating from the script, including Lane, Paul Giamatti, Brian Dennehy, Donald Sutherland, and others. As a visual accompaniment, the film intercuts home-movie footage from the Trumbos' lives; incisive interview material with Trumbo, his family, friends, and collaborators; and haunting glimpses of the HUAC trial hearings with the Hollywood Ten, led by Senator Joseph McCarthy; as well as extracts from The Sandpiper, Johnny Got His Gun, Spartacus, and other productions authored by Trumbo. Peter Askin, who helmed the stage play, directs. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Allen, Brian Dennehy, (more)
- 1982
Having agreed to submit to a genetic research project headed by Dr. Paul Flynn (Lane Smith), cancer victim Cindy Oliver (Kate Linder) leaves Flynn's hospital--and promptly dies. Soon thereafter, several other people who'd come in contact with Cindy also turn up dead. Investigating, Quincy (Jack Klugman) comes to the sobering conclusion that Dr. Flynn's experimental cancer-cure serum has spawned a mutant respiratory virus--which is not only fatal, but may also be unstoppable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
