White Mountain Jewish Film Festival Presents TRUMBO

Guest Speaker: Rick Winston Reception Hosted & Sponsored by The Heyman Family In 1947, Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) was Hollywood’s top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs. Trumbo directed by Jay Roach is set in the late 40s-early 50s and tells the story of Dalton Trumbo and others who stood up to Congress over what they felt was an illegal investigation and censorship of people’s beliefs and free speech during the Second Red Scare after WWII. At the time, Congress, as well as many members of the Hollywood elite, unjustly blackballed writers, actors, directors, and others identified as Communists. Some faced jail time; some lost their homes; all faced difficult realities. Using words and wit, Trumbo ultimately wins two Academy Awards and exposes the absurdity and injustice under the blacklist which entangled everyone, including gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren), John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, and Otto Preminger. “Democracy isn’t a gift. It’s a responsibility.” Dalton Trumbo Guest Speaker Rick Winston returns to define the background for the film as well as that period of history in this country. He is the author of “Red Scare in the Green Mountains: Vermont in the McCarthy Era 1946-1960.” Winston was the co-owner of Montpelier’s Savoy Theater for 29 years, and he served as programming director for the Green Mountain Film Festival for 14 years. He has taught film history at Burlington College, Community College of Vermont, Goddard College, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and he has presented film history lectures throughout Vermont.