One of the Hollywood Ten
One of the Hollywood Ten | |
---|---|
Buena Vista International (Spain) | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 109 minutes |
Countries | Spain United Kingdom |
Language | English |
One of the Hollywood Ten is a 2000 Spanish-British bio-picture. The film was written and directed by Karl Francis.[1]
The drama focuses on screenwriter/director Herbert Biberman and his efforts to make what would become the historic political film, Salt of the Earth in 1954, produced without studio backing after he was blacklisted for belonging to the American Communist Party.[2][3]
Plot
The film opens at the 1937
He first comes under scrutiny more for his
Sondergaard suggests that her husband should direct a screenplay about the real-life 1950-51 strike waged by
Because the film has no studio backing and most Hollywood players fear being associated with Biberman and the project, he eventually casts local residents from Grant County, New Mexico and members of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, Local 890 to fill most of the roles. Juan Chacón, the Union Local president, is cast as the fiery Ramon Quintero opposite Mexican actress Rosaura Revueltas as his wife Esperanza. Will Geer is one of only five Hollywood actors to accept a role in the production.
The
Cast
- Jeff Goldblum as Herbert Biberman
- Greta Scacchi as Gale Sondergaard
- Ángela Molina as Rosaura Revueltas
- Christopher Fulford as Riffkind
- Antonio Valero as Juan Chacón
- John Sessions as Paul Jarrico
- Geraint Wyn Davies as Michael Wilson
- Sean Chapman as Edward Dmytryk
- Peter Bowles as Jack L. Warner
- Owen Brenman as Dalton Trumbo
- Jorge de Juan as Floyd
- Teresa José Berganza as Henrietta Williams
- Jorge Bosch as Joe Morales
- Daisy White as Sonya
- Luke Harrison Mendez as Dan
- Trinidad Serrano as Joan
Background
Salt of the Earth caught the attention of Welsh writer-director Karl Francis when the film was released in Europe. He became determined to film The Making of Salt of the Earth and worked with fellow-Welshman Nigel Walters, the director of cinematography, for years to make the film.[4]
Jack L. Warner, Humphrey Bogart, Edward Dmytryk, Howard Hughes, Dalton Trumbo, and George Jessel are among the real-life personalities depicted in the film.
The film was produced and shot in Madrid. Outdoor filming was done primarily in the miner towns of La Unión and Portmán (South-east of Spain)
Critical reception
The New York Times film critic, Stephen Holden, generally liked the film, especially its message, but found some of the acting and the screenplay problematic. He wrote, "One of the Hollywood 10 has a strong performance by Mr. Goldblum and a refreshingly sulfurous view of 1950s Hollywood caving in to fear. As hard-hitting as the movie is, some of its performances are thuddingly overstated, and its screenplay wears its didacticism on its sleeve. One of the Hollywood 10 may be a useful film, but it is far from a great one."[5]
Leslie Camhi, writing for
Variety magazine film critic David Rooney was critical of the film's direction and believed the film is only worthy of cable television. He wrote, "A fascinating chapter in Hollywood history gets unremarkable treatment in One of the Hollywood Ten, which centers on blacklisted director Herbert J. Biberman...[but] the pedestrian approach employed by writer-director Karl Francis gives it the look and feel of a lackluster cable movie, which would appear to be its commercial destination."[7]
Distribution
The film was released in Spain by
It was featured at the Commonwealth Film Festival, Great Britain; the New York Jewish Film Festival; the San Diego Jewish Film Festival; the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival; the Washington Jewish Film Festival; and other film festivals.
See also
- The Hollywood Ten - (1950, documentary directed by John Berry)
- The Majestic
- Hollywood blacklist
References
- ^ BFI
- ^ TCM.com
- ^ TV Guide
- ^ Kodak. Motion Picture Imaging, web site. Last accessed: 22 November 2007.
- ^ Holden, Stephen. The New York Times, "Back to an Era of Slurs, Paranoia and Persecution," 11 January 2002. Last accessed: 22 November 2007.
- ^ Camhi, Leslie. The Village Voice, "Left Out in the Cold," 9 January 2002.
- ^ Rooney, David. Variety, film review, 9 October 2000.