# Dalton Trumbo

> American screenwriter (1905–1976)

**Wikidata**: [Q350666](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q350666)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalton_Trumbo)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dalton-trumbo

## Summary
Dalton Trumbo was an American screenwriter and novelist, best known as one of the Hollywood Ten—a group of filmmakers blacklisted for refusing to testify before Congress during the anti-communist investigations of the 1940s and 1950s. His defiance of the blacklist, combined with his prolific writing under pseudonyms (including the Oscar-winning *The Brave One* as "Robert Rich"), cemented his legacy as a symbol of artistic resistance and free speech in Hollywood.

## Biography
- **Born**: December 9, 1905
- **Nationality**: American
- **Education**: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles
- **Known for**: Screenwriting, political activism, and defiance of the Hollywood blacklist
- **Field(s)**: Screenwriting, novel writing, journalism
- **Occupations**: Screenwriter, novelist, journalist, playwright, film director, film producer, actor

## Contributions
Dalton Trumbo authored numerous screenplays, novels, and essays, often addressing social and political themes. His notable works include:
- **Screenplays**:
  - *Johnny Got His Gun* (1939, novel; 1971, film adaptation) – A pacifist anti-war novel later adapted into a film.
  - *Roman Holiday* (1953) – Co-wrote the script (uncredited due to the blacklist); won an Academy Award posthumously.
  - *Spartacus* (1960) – Broke the blacklist when Kirk Douglas publicly credited him, marking a turning point in Hollywood’s political censorship.
  - *Exodus* (1960) – Adapted from Leon Uris’s novel, further solidifying his post-blacklist career.
  - *The Brave One* (1956) – Won an Academy Award under the pseudonym "Robert Rich" due to the blacklist.
- **Novels**:
  - *Eclipse* (1935) – His debut novel.
  - *Washington Jitters* (1936) – A satirical novel.
- **Political Activism**:
  - As a member of the **Hollywood Ten**, he refused to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1947, leading to his imprisonment for contempt of Congress.
  - Continued writing under pseudonyms during the blacklist era, ensuring his work reached audiences despite industry censorship.

## FAQs

**Who were the Hollywood Ten?**
The Hollywood Ten were a group of screenwriters, directors, and producers (including Dalton Trumbo) who were blacklisted by Hollywood studios after refusing to testify before Congress about alleged communist ties during the Red Scare. Their defiance became a landmark moment in the fight for free speech in the entertainment industry.

**Why was Dalton Trumbo blacklisted?**
Trumbo was blacklisted in 1947 after he and nine others (the Hollywood Ten) refused to answer questions from the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) about their political affiliations. They were cited for contempt of Congress, jailed, and subsequently banned from working in Hollywood by the major studios.

**How did Dalton Trumbo continue working despite the blacklist?**
Trumbo wrote under pseudonyms (most famously "Robert Rich") and through "fronts" (writers who lent their names to his scripts). His Oscar win for *The Brave One* (1956) under a false name exposed the absurdity of the blacklist, and his public credit for *Spartacus* (1960) helped dismantle it.

**What awards did Dalton Trumbo win?**
Trumbo won two Academy Awards for Best Story:
- *The Brave One* (1956, as "Robert Rich")
- *Roman Holiday* (1953, posthumously awarded in 1993 after the blacklist was lifted).
He also received the **Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement** (1970) from the Writers Guild of America.

**What was Dalton Trumbo’s most famous screenplay?**
*Spartacus* (1960) is often considered his most iconic work. Kirk Douglas’s decision to publicly credit Trumbo for the script was a pivotal moment in ending the blacklist, restoring his reputation and allowing him to work openly again.

**Did Dalton Trumbo write any novels?**
Yes, Trumbo was also a novelist. His most famous work is *Johnny Got His Gun* (1939), an anti-war novel about a severely wounded World War I soldier. He later adapted it into a film in 1971.

**Where was Dalton Trumbo educated?**
Trumbo attended the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Southern California, and the University of California, Los Angeles, though he did not complete a degree at any of these institutions.

## Why They Matter
Dalton Trumbo’s defiance of the Hollywood blacklist transformed the film industry’s relationship with political censorship. By continuing to write under pseudonyms and eventually breaking the blacklist with *Spartacus*, he demonstrated the resilience of artistic integrity in the face of oppression. His work—both literary and cinematic—challenged societal norms, advocating for pacifism, free speech, and social justice. Without Trumbo, the blacklist might have persisted longer, stifling creative voices and reinforcing McCarthy-era fear. His legacy influenced generations of writers and activists, proving that art could be both a weapon against injustice and a tool for cultural change.

## Notable For
- One of the **Hollywood Ten**, a group blacklisted for refusing to testify before HUAC.
- First screenwriter to **publicly break the blacklist** with *Spartacus* (1960).
- Won **two Academy Awards** (one posthumously) despite being blacklisted.
- Authored the **anti-war classic** *Johnny Got His Gun* (1939).
- Wrote under the pseudonym **"Robert Rich"** to bypass industry censorship.
- Received the **Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement** (1970).
- His screenplay for *Roman Holiday* (1953) was initially uncredited but later recognized with an Oscar.
- Educated at **three major universities** (University of Colorado Boulder, USC, UCLA).
- Worked across multiple genres: **drama, war films, historical epics, and satire**.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Dalton Trumbo was born **James Dalton Trumbo** on **December 9, 1905**. He attended the **University of Colorado Boulder**, the **University of Southern California**, and the **University of California, Los Angeles**, though he did not graduate from any of these institutions. His early career included journalism and novel writing before transitioning to screenwriting in the 1930s.

### Screenwriting Career
Trumbo’s screenwriting career began in **1936**, and he quickly gained recognition for his sharp dialogue and politically charged narratives. His early works included:
- *Road Gang* (1936)
- *Love Begins at 20* (1936)
- *Fugitive in the Sky* (1936)

By the 1940s, he was one of Hollywood’s highest-paid screenwriters, known for films like:
- *Kitty Foyle* (1940)
- *A Guy Named Joe* (1943)
- *Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo* (1944)

### The Hollywood Blacklist and Political Activism
In **1947**, Trumbo was subpoenaed by the **House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)** as part of its investigation into alleged communist influence in Hollywood. Along with nine others (the **Hollywood Ten**), he refused to answer questions about his political beliefs, citing the First Amendment. As a result:
- He was **convicted of contempt of Congress** and sentenced to **11 months in prison** (1950).
- He was **blacklisted by Hollywood studios**, preventing him from working under his own name.
- He continued writing under **pseudonyms** (e.g., "Robert Rich") and through **fronts** (other writers who claimed authorship).

His Oscar win for *The Brave One* (1956) under the name "Robert Rich" exposed the flaws in the blacklist system. The secret was widely known in Hollywood, and the Academy eventually awarded him the statuette posthumously.

### Breaking the Blacklist
The turning point came in **1960** when **Kirk Douglas** and director **Stanley Kubrick** publicly credited Trumbo for the screenplay of *Spartacus*. This bold move, followed by **Otto Preminger** crediting him for *Exodus* the same year, effectively **ended the blacklist** for Trumbo and paved the way for other blacklisted artists to return to work.

### Later Career and Legacy
After the blacklist, Trumbo resumed writing under his own name, contributing to films like:
- *Lonely Are the Brave* (1962)
- *The Sandpiper* (1965)
- *Hawaii* (1966)
- *The Fix* (1968)

He also adapted his novel *Johnny Got His Gun* into a film in **1971**, directing it himself. The film, a harrowing anti-war statement, won the **Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival** and the **Writers Guild of America Award for Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium**.

### Personal Life and Death
Trumbo was married to **Cleo Fincher Trumbo** and had three children. He remained politically active throughout his life, advocating for civil liberties and free speech. He died on **September 10, 1976**, leaving behind a legacy as one of Hollywood’s most principled and influential screenwriters.

### Awards and Honors
- **Academy Award for Best Story** (*The Brave One*, 1956, as "Robert Rich")
- **Academy Award for Best Story** (*Roman Holiday*, 1953, posthumously awarded in 1993)
- **Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement** (1970, Writers Guild of America)
- **Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival** (*Johnny Got His Gun*, 1971)
- **Writers Guild of America Award** (*Johnny Got His Gun*, 1971)

### Influence and Cultural Impact
Trumbo’s defiance of the blacklist inspired future generations of artists to resist censorship. His work—both on and off the screen—championed free expression, pacifism, and social justice. Films like *Spartacus* and *Johnny Got His Gun* remain culturally significant, while his life story has been the subject of documentaries (*Trumbo*, 2007) and a biographical film (*Trumbo*, 2015, starring Bryan Cranston).

His archives, including scripts, letters, and personal papers, are housed at institutions like the **Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research**, ensuring his contributions to film and political history are preserved.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Integrated Authority File
3. www.acmi.net.au
4. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1957)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. CiNii Research
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. SNAC
9. Internet Broadway Database
10. Find a Grave
11. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
12. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
13. Discogs
14. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. LIBRIS. 2006
17. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data
18. The Movie Database