Dalton Trumbo Quotes

A collection of quotes by Dalton Trumbo.

Dalton Trumbo (1905-1976) was an American screenwriter, novelist, and playwright known for his contributions to the entertainment industry, especially during the mid-20th century. Born in Montrose, Colorado, Trumbo moved to Los Angeles in the 1930s to pursue a career in writing.

Trumbo gained popularity for his left-leaning political views and was among the prominent members of the Hollywood Ten, a group of filmmakers who were blacklisted during the McCarthy era for their alleged communist affiliations. This blacklist ultimately barred them from working in the film industry. Despite this setback, Trumbo continued to write under pseudonyms or selling his work to others to get his stories told.

His most notable works include the novels "Johnny Got His Gun" (1939), a powerful anti-war story that won him international acclaim and was later adapted into a successful film; and "Exodus" (1958), a historical novel that explores the establishment of Israel. Trumbo's screenplay for "Roman Holiday" (1953) earned him an Academy Award, although at the time he was not credited due to the blacklist.

After years of struggle, he was finally credited as a screenwriter for the films "Spartacus" (1960) and "Exodus" (1960), signaling the end of the blacklisting era in Hollywood. Trumbo's fight against political persecution left a lasting impact on the film industry and society as a whole. His story was later depicted in the 2015 film "Trumbo," starring Bryan Cranston in the eponymous role.