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Dalton Trumbo

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description Dalton Trumbo Overview

Dalton Trumbo was a prominent American screenwriter and novelist whose career was defined by his literary output and his political stances. As a member of the "Hollywood Ten," he was imprisoned for contempt of Congress and blacklisted by major studios in 1947. During the blacklist era, Trumbo wrote screenplays under pseudonyms, winning two Academy Awards that were initially credited to other writers. His public credit on the 1960 films "Spartacus" and "Exodus" helped bring an end to the Hollywood blacklist.

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Why was Dalton Trumbo sent to prison?

Trumbo refused to answer questions from the House Un-American Activities Committee about Communist Party membership. As one of the Hollywood Ten, he was convicted of contempt of Congress and served time in federal prison.

Which Oscar-winning films did Dalton Trumbo write under other names?

Roman Holiday won the screenplay Oscar while Trumbo's authorship was concealed, with Ian McLellan Hunter initially credited. The Brave One won another Oscar under Trumbo's pseudonym Robert Rich.

Which films publicly broke Dalton Trumbo's blacklist?

Spartacus and Exodus both publicly credited Trumbo in 1960. Kirk Douglas announced Trumbo's authorship of Spartacus, while director Otto Preminger hired and openly credited him for Exodus.

Did Dalton Trumbo write the antiwar novel Johnny Got His Gun?

Yes. Trumbo published Johnny Got His Gun in 1939 and later wrote and directed its 1971 film adaptation.