Hollywood Exiles 10. Exile
Mar 25, 2024
Mitzi Trumbo, daughter of blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, shares her poignant childhood experiences during a tumultuous time in Hollywood. She recounts the unique challenges her family faced due to her father's exile and explores the emotional scars left on families during the Red Scare. The conversation touches on resilient artists like Charlie Chaplin and the secretive struggles behind films like 'The Brave One,' revealing the complexities of artistic survival amid political persecution and the lasting impact on subsequent generations.
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Trumbo's Secret Work
- Dalton Trumbo secretly wrote for the King Brothers Studio under pseudonyms after being blacklisted.
- His daughter, Mitzi Trumbo, remembers her father’s dedication and the secrecy surrounding his work.
Geer's Sanctuary
- Will Geer, blacklisted actor, found refuge in Topanga, creating the Theatricum Botanicum.
- His daughter, Ellen Geer, now runs the botanical garden and theater.
Two Hollywoods
- Two Hollywoods emerged: one for big studios avoiding blacklisted artists, and another for blacklisted artists working on low-budget films.
- This division reinforced conservative mentalities and ostracized those with different viewpoints.
